Last Day of Preschool

Popcorn's last day of preschool was today. All the families came with blankets and sat picnic style in the gym while the kids sang songs. We watched a slide show and had Chick-fil-a (Chick-a-lick, as my Mama Jo says) and cake. I forgot my camera, so here is an after-the-fact shot.

My Baby is all Grown Up

When I was living in Indiana my friend and I hatched an idea for a consignment sale for kid items: Kids Market. That year we organized, advertised, sold booth space to get some up-front cash and pulled the thing off. At $6,000 in gross profits it was a great success. We repeated it the next year and landed near $8,000. Then my friend and I both moved, leaving it in the hands of others.

The other day I was talking to my friend about our joint venture and we were musing about what Kids Market must be like now.

Today I contacted the woman who runs KM (also a good friend)to ask about the gross profit. In just six years it tripled ($24K). Yea!!! Now it is getting so big that they are having to go to two sales/year. Also, they're going to online registration and a bar code system to scan items at checkout. My baby is all grown up.

The accomplishment of having established something so successful is gratifying. Even though it is only a consignment event, it was something done in excellence that continued because the foundations were well laid.

My Buy-out Option

One year ago this August, Gem and I made a pact: she makes her bed every day for a year without missing even one day, and I will buy her a dog. I started getting nervous in November. By January, when she still hadn't missed a day, I began plotting. In February I announced option number two (my buy-out option).

The plan: Since we will be at Nana's house for two weeks this summer, which happens to be about 3 hrs. from Chicago, I proposed that we make a day of it and go to American Girl Place. Since Gem loves American Girl, this was a huge temptation. And guess what? It succeeded!!!!!!!!! Yea!!!! No dog hair. No kennel for vacations. No vet bill. No pet smell. No picking up poop. Mom has triumphed!!!

The grand total of this event will set me back almost $300. I got the day at American Girl Place package, which includes two tickets to the live stage production, two for a meal in the cafe (we're doing afternoon tea), a t-shirt for your doll, a photo shoot and a portrait of you on the AG magazine cover, $120 to spend at the store, and a package containing all these vouchers delivered to your door in a pretty red envelope with ribbon tie.

She is thrilled. Her dog sitting for the neighbor has netted her nearly $120 (after spending some) and she is planning to blow every last cent at AG Place. And Nana will be with us, so you know that she will be swimming in cash.

Congratulations to Gem and to me! I haven't had to say a word about her bed for a year and she has earned her reward. $300 is a small price to pay for a little bit of peace in our home. Besides, I'm looking forward to seeing the joy on her face during her special day.

Breakfast of My Champions

When I was a kid our house was know as the cereal house. We got that nickname because when a neighbor kid slept over they looked forward to selecting their breakfast from a six foot long pantry shelf that looked more like the cereal aisle at the grocery store.

I guess it's no surprise, then, that Popcorn refers to cereal as breakfast. If you ask him if he would like eggs or waffles he will reply, "No, I want breakfast." This, of course, means cereal. And according to him, there is only one type worth eating: not Krispies, not Crackers (shredded wheat-never have figured out why he calls them that), not even Cheer-chohs, but Braisin Bran!

What Denver Was All About

Jesus told us, "My sheep hear my voice." He also tells us that the Holy Spirit will be our helper/counselor. Like any Christian, I hear this voice--often. Sometimes it tells me to walk down the other side of the aisle at Wal-Mart. I don't obey and when I go back into the store to get the chips that I'd forgotten, guess where they are? Sometimes He reveals things about Himself to me--his kindness, love, forgiveness, joy over me being His child. Sometimes He tells me to go with my friend on her speaking engagement to Denver. This time I obeyed.

About two months ago, my friend, Ava, casually mentioned that she was going to speak at a women's conference in Denver. The Holy Spirit (HS) gently nudged me--you should go with her. What a nice thought, I mused. Won't that be great...when the kids are older and I'll be able to do stuff like that?

A month later Jon and I went to Ava's house for a Bible study. Afterward, she mentioned the speaking engagement again, this time just 2 weeks away. The HS again nudged me--no, pushed me. "Go!" He said.

On the way home I mentioned to Jon that I thought that God wanted me to go to Denver with Ava. He agreed that if God told me to go I better go.

The next morning I told Jon that I was going to make travel arrangements. What?!!! You're really doing this?

Days and days passed, but I was patient.

Week of the event-- Jon, have you prayed about whether or not I should go with Ava? No.

Five days before the event-- I was about to read Narnia to Gem when the HS told me that now was the time to talk to Jon about Denver. I told Gem that she would have to wait and went to talk with Jon. I brought up the subject then let it go and went back to read to Gem. When I came downstairs Jon was booking my flight.

I had called Ava for details about the event and found out that it wasn't really a conference, but a ladies' tea. Ava would be the only speaker. She was going to teach on blood covenant.

When I told the kids, Gem said, "So you're going all the way to Denver to have tea?"

When I arrived in Denver my mind was in a fog (altitude? air travel? so excited I could hardly sleep?). It stayed that way the whole time. But what an experience!

The first night I got to go to dinner with two ladies from the hosting church. They were so excited about Jesus. It was wonderful to be with them since I was excited too.

I woke up the next morning early (5am in NC/3am in Denver). I did my Bible study on blood covenant and got so excited about the covenant that God made with Jesus/HS before the foundation of the world. Then I got ready for the day while listening to "Big House" by Audio Adrenaline. I would have been so embarrassed if there had been a camera. I looked like an iPod commercial.

Then I got into my car and started driving. I drove and drove and the HS kept telling me where to turn. It was kindof fun and got me guessing. Eventually, I hit 6th street in downtown Denver and knew where I was going--my uncle's house.

He had no clue that I even in town and it was only 7:30 in the morning and he usually sleeps in on Saturday. It was the last day of skiing at Vail and he was up early to hit the slopes. I called him from my cell phone and watched him cross the window to check caller ID. I called again when he didn't pick up, but this time when he crossed the room he glanced out the window and did a double-take.

After he got over the initial shock, we had breakfast and talked. I told him what God is doing in my life and in Jon's and about how exciting it is. It was a nice visit.

Then it was off to the ladies' tea. Ava presented blood covenant and then prayed with individuals afterward. I also prayed with a few ladies. I was so touched by one woman I prayed with. It was a blessing to be used to minister to her.

Later that evening, the host asked Ava how much money had been given to her in the offering. Ava hadn't counted it, but said that she would. As she began tallying, the host laughed and turned to me and asked, "Don't you feel like you're on the inside--like you're really not supposed to see this part?" I replied, "No, not really."

But in my heart, I did feel like I was on the inside--of something much bigger than I could comprehend--something that God was up to. I don't know why I was supposed to go to Denver. I'm just glad I did.

Tho Long, Teeth!

Shakespeare lost his first tooth on Saturday during a meal--must have swallowed it. Today he pulled out its neighbor. Yea,Shakespeare! I bet the Tooth Fairy will bring the big bucks tonight.

Filthy but Fun

Camping was so much fun when I was a kid. I have images in my mind of what it was all about: sweatshirts in the morning, cards at night, and hiking, swimming and camp fires in between. It was all about playing and being a family.

Other impressions are there too, but have only recently come to the forefront of my mind: Mama Jo with a broom in her hand, determined to overcome in the battle with the dirt; mom handing out apples at every meal, because apples are easy; Dad doing the bag drag to the car, out of the car, back to the car, back into the house, with both mom and dad cleaning between each step. What an ordeal camping is for an adult!

We went camping over the weekend to Stone Mountain State Park. I got a full dose of adult camping, but what a beautiful place and a wonderful campground (with new showers). The kids had a grand time.

Despite two nights of storms in a new and leaky tent (now returned to the store), Sinatra and Popcorn up during the night, a camera that refused to work (pictures are courtesy of our friends) and layers of filth all over us, we did manage to have fun.

The kids were thrilled that their friends were with them (a family we've known since we lived in Indiana). They brought along their scooters and rollerblades and all 8 of them overtook the campground.

One of the highlights of the trip was a waterfall that doubled as a natural slide. I had not packed swimsuits but let them go anyway. I think the whole trip was worth that experience.

The big kids got to go with the dads fishing. Jon caught one rainbow trout and four others. The kids mostly played in the stream and scared all the fish away.

On the last day we hiked to the top of one of the mountains (very small). We didn't have a baby pack so I carried him. It was worth it! Beautiful scenery.

The overall experience was so tiring, but well worth it.

May's Books

I'm reading The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee and Gem and I are finishing the Narnia series. We're on chapter 7 of The Last Battle. The last chapter of The Last Battle is my very favorite of all the series. I'm also still ambling through the History of the Ancient World.

Next month I'm planning on leading our homeschool moms book club. We'll attack 6 classical novels this year. The first is Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes.

I also started writing a book (of sorts). It's more of a children's curriculum for understanding blood covenant. It's called Covenant Kids: A Kid's Guide to Understanding What the Bible is All About.

I heard a preacher say that if you really understand a subject you'll be able to explain it simply. If it takes big words and huge concepts then you don't really know it all that well.

I have been studying covenant off and on for the past 8 years or so. I just started a new study on it and the Lord put on my heart to communicate it to my kids. What a wonderful subject to communicate in a simple way. I figure that by the end of writing it I will have a thorough understanding of the subject and be able to communicate it to almost anyone.

Our Month at a Glance

Since I haven't had an entry in a month, I thought I would sum up April for everyone.

Sinatra is off and walking.

I went to Denver for 3 days because God told me to. Later entry.

The neighborhood garage sales added roller blades and a scooter to our garage clutter for a whopping $3.

The boys decided they wanted scooters too, so Shakespeare blew some of his savings on a new one and Daddy couldn't resist getting one with training wheels for Popcorn.

We finally bought a ladder for the trampoline. No more using the hose reel box to climb up.

We have picked at least 4, six pound containers of strawberries and Jon took his managers picking (for their employees) and racked up another 14 containers on our frequent buyer card.

The school aged kids are on a three week vacation. We just couldn't take it anymore with the beautiful weather. We decided to play now and go back to school in two more weeks. We may regret the decision, but we're enjoying the moment.

We are going camping tomorrow with friends--a state park.

Gem has raked in $80 from taking the neighbor's dogs out in the afternoons. A real job for an 8 year old!!!