Upcoming posts

Ok--

It's nearly midnight and I have no business being up this late with all I have going on this weekend, but I wanted to leave a 'what's coming' post.

Nate's birthday party

Nate's birth 'day' in general

My clumsiness that has occurred lately

My Mac being in the shop (thus, not a lot of posting lately)

Tears due to my Mac being gone and clumsiness (also, reason why there won't be any pictures for awhile)

Upcoming football game on Saturday

Encouraging conversation with a friend

Potty-training and dry nights!!

So, are you intrigued!?!?

-Krista-

Pirates & Computers

Are they not the cutest, roughest, toughest, handsomest, little pirates you've ever seen?!?  They are Spiderman lovin', gigglin' Pirates.  Nate was telling me one afternoon that he didn't want a pirate birthday party because he didn't want to write on his face because it would hurt (actually he really did want one because in Kindergarten that is the current trend with his buddies).  So I told him it wouldn't hurt and we got one of my eyeliner pencils out to give it a try.  I think the pictures will show you that Nathan & Micah really got into it.  It was a fun afternoon :)  

*Side-note:  We didn't have a pirate party afterall.  haha.  He liked Handy Manny for the theme of his party better (if you don't know who he is--think: "Dora the Explorer meets Bob the Builder".  

I had my computer in the kitchen last week so I could listen to music.  I walked out to get something and when I came back this is what Micah had done.  He put his "computer" next to mine.  If I'm sitting on the couch writing (like right now) he comes over and says, "I wok on my 'puter too."  He's such a cutie!

Dear Lord Jesus. Amen.

A few days ago at lunchtime, Micah asked if he could pray before our meal.  Of course we are always overjoyed when either of the boys express an interest in doing so.  His prayer was simply this: "Dear Lord Jesus. Amen."  My first thought after he finished was that his prayer was incomplete.  I mean, he didn't even thank God for the food we were about to eat, much less throw in any extras, like thank you for our family, our home, etc.  Upon further reflection however, I have come to the conclusion that it would benefit most of us to grasp the power in that simple, incomplete prayer. (I'm obviously not saying that Micah does at this point). If we would come to the point of total surrender and total submission to God and allow him to truly rule our hearts as the one and only Lord of our life, if we would put away the idols and false gods (anything that we put before God) that hinder our daily walk with Christ, if we would learn to live by faith in all we do, not leaning upon our own strength or understanding and not trying to simply "follow the rules," but rather completely trusting God to take the worthlessness that we are and to transform us into something truly worthy, totally apart from anything we can do, trusting him to provide our every need and to teach us what real joy and happiness is and to allow us to experience it, yes, if we would just acknowledge him as Lord, there would be no need to pray anything more than: "Dear Lord Jesus. Amen."  Maybe that is a deep analysis of a simple child's prayer, but there is truth to it.  We use the word Lord quite regularly in Christian circles.  More often than not it is used as another name for Jesus, rather than His title and desired role in His relationship with us.  He is the Lord!  "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).

Danny 

Big Store Shopping

A few weeks ago we were having lunch at the Bischof's home (we met our 2nd month in Austria, nearly 5 years ago) after church and she asked if I had been to a store called Metro.  I told her I had only been once with another friend whose husband had a card there thru his work.  But that had been a year or so ago.  You see, it's a store like Costco or Sam's. You have to be part of a corporation, group, or something like that.  Our church plant isn't at that point yet.  Anyway, she knew we had purchased a deep freeze a couple of months ago because the boys are growing and eating more (my freezer that is part of the fridge is 2 1/2 drawers).  My schedule lately just doesn't leave room for me to run to the store every other day.  So she gets an envelope out of a desk and pulls off a card attached.  She said she rarely goes and gave me her card to use!  We've had it for about a month and a half and what a blessing it has been!  My freezer is full and I've saved a lot of money with the bulk items that I did purchase.  They have a few things that are "imports" that Danny & I have also enjoyed  :)  

I know it's kinda funny to write about this, but it was such a small gesture and she knew I liked shopping and I had told her of the 'big stores' we have in the States.  haha.  She figured I'd feel right at home.  We really enjoy watching God grow our friendships with people.  When we first met this family we couldn't communicate.  But thru our learning of German and their learning of English-- our lunches, play dates, hikes, Bible studies are so much more enjoyable!  I just wanted to share how someone was used to bless me this past month :)

-krista-

No more Training Wheels!

One afternoon after Nathan got home from Kindergarten, he wanted to ride his bike.  Danny got it out, took his tools and removed the training wheels.  We told Nate he was ready to learn to ride like a big boy.  He was a bit nervous and really struggled to keep his balance.  But Danny is so patient and we practiced going up and down and up and down our little street.  After a few minutes Nate said, "Ok, let's put them back on."  Danny said that they weren't going back on to the bike.  There was some discouragement on Nate's part.... but we kept telling him how good he was doing.  We practiced for about 25 min. then as you can see the clouds were rolling in and lunch was waiting, so they had 'quiet time' and played inside. 

The next afternoon right after Kindergarten again, Danny told Nate to get his bike.  He really didn't want to but this time we let him ride about 20-30 feet from Daddy to Mommy.  He had a goal instead of the long road in front of him.  He kept blaming his bike for his lack of balance and falling.  So we told him that HE was the boss of his bike and that HE should tell it where to go.  The bike wasn't the boss... he was!  haha.  He can't take off or stop very well on his own so we'd let him get going and the other parent would 'catch' him.  He started handling that well and we'd step further back... he did a lot of crashing, but never really got hurt.  He learned to fall first :)  Danny taught him the first day how to catch himself and how to put his leg out and so on....  Once Nate said to Danny, "I think my bike is trying to break my bones."  HA HA!  Anyway, after about 30 min. I had to rescue Micah with a band-aid (he tripped and scraped his knee).  When I came back outside I saw Nathan--riding his bike-- ALONE!  He did it!   He stopped in front of me and said, "I did it.  I'm not hurt!  I'm the boss of the bike!"  Awww!

Another milestone has come and I'm constantly being reminded of how fast time is going by with my boys.  Nathan will be 5 yrs. old 2 weeks from today!  Oh, my Baby is growing up.

-krista-

Micah bringing Nate his helmet: