Thursday, December 29, 2016
Thursday
Sarah did a great job summarizing our fun day. It was much needed. I still can't seem to find my way to a routine. But it was good to just go out and enjoy the children with nothing else to think about, even if it was hard. They've been patient with me.
Incredible Pizza
Our family enjoyed a "Family Fun Day" at Incredible Pizza earlier this week! Everyone enjoyed go-carts, laser tag, bumper cars, XD theater, and the trampoline park!
They had a little kid area that Adelina, Titus, and Andrew enjoyed playing in.
There's a funny story with the go-carts. As many of you know, I am often mistaken for much younger than I really am. Calvin had to ride with me because he wasn't tall enough to ride by himself. The following happened:
Me: He'll be riding with me.
Attendant (doubtfully): Are you 18?
Me: I'm 21.
Attendant (shocked look then doubtful again): When is your birthday?
Me: Spouts off my birthday, then asks if he needs to see my license.
Attendant: Yes
That is the first time anyone has ever said yes after I asked if they need to see my license! :) I showed it to him and he let Calvin ride with me.
The cheering squad
Bumper cars! Daddy had a little too much fun with this!
Everyone had a blast on the trampoline park! They even had an area where you could play dodgeball on the trampolines. This got a little carried away and Daddy & Mommy were very sore the next day. :)
Sherrod, Andrew, and I did not jump but sat with Maya instead. She did so good the entire day!
The spinning tea cups were so much fun! Knox was so excited that he could do it by himself!
The XD theater ended up being a big hit with the big and little kids so we did it 3 times!
This was supposed to be a funny picture of Sydnee and I looking scared in front of the dinosaur XD theater ride poster, but it turned into me looking scared with her pretending to dump root beer on my head! LOL!
The kids enjoyed riding the cars
This was such a fun trip and we enjoyed being able to get away for a day together!
posted by Sarah
They had a little kid area that Adelina, Titus, and Andrew enjoyed playing in.
There's a funny story with the go-carts. As many of you know, I am often mistaken for much younger than I really am. Calvin had to ride with me because he wasn't tall enough to ride by himself. The following happened:
Me: He'll be riding with me.
Attendant (doubtfully): Are you 18?
Me: I'm 21.
Attendant (shocked look then doubtful again): When is your birthday?
Me: Spouts off my birthday, then asks if he needs to see my license.
Attendant: Yes
That is the first time anyone has ever said yes after I asked if they need to see my license! :) I showed it to him and he let Calvin ride with me.
The cheering squad
Bumper cars! Daddy had a little too much fun with this!
Everyone had a blast on the trampoline park! They even had an area where you could play dodgeball on the trampolines. This got a little carried away and Daddy & Mommy were very sore the next day. :)
Sherrod, Andrew, and I did not jump but sat with Maya instead. She did so good the entire day!
The spinning tea cups were so much fun! Knox was so excited that he could do it by himself!
The XD theater ended up being a big hit with the big and little kids so we did it 3 times!
This was supposed to be a funny picture of Sydnee and I looking scared in front of the dinosaur XD theater ride poster, but it turned into me looking scared with her pretending to dump root beer on my head! LOL!
The kids enjoyed riding the cars
This was such a fun trip and we enjoyed being able to get away for a day together!
posted by Sarah
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Holiday Thoughts
This time of year is rough. I really can't explain it, but even Christmastime is hard. Those of you who know me know that we do not celebrate Christmas. We stopped celebrating it when Sarah was only 7, so William never knew anything of it. Yet, it's still harder to get through without him here.
In some ways, grief has softened me. It's made me more sensitive to the needs of those around me. It's made me deeply aware of their sorrows. It's made me more apt to reach out to the suffering.
But in other ways, it's hardened me. I am impatient with people who show a lack of concern for others. I resent pettiness. I am more cynical of people and more apt to withdraw or stay home.
Maybe that's why this time of year is so hard. People on both sides of the Christmas argument have no patience for one another. There is little love shown. People talk about sharing Christ's love but what they really mean is doing it when it's easy, when their desires are met. People seem to care more about taking up an offense or nursing the chip on their shoulder rather than loving one another. It makes me more tired than usual.
But in the midst of watching Christians tear each other apart and families with their aggravations, there have been gestures of greatness. Twice this season we have been invited to something wonderful, even though our friends weren't sure we would attend. I'm thankful. I'm so, so thankful for the friends who reach out to us, knowing we might say no. I'm ever-so-grateful for the friends who are able to take the risk without allowing it to make them feel judged. I am unbelievably humbled by those friends who make some changes to their plans in order to accommodate my convictions and include me.
You know what the "reason for the season" is? It's Christ. For this season, for every season. And Christ cares about our relationships. Reach out to someone hurting today. It doesn't even have to be a stranger. I'd bet you know someone within your close realm of influence who could use some extra grace. Be that "cup of cold water" someone needs...
And to those who have done that for us, thank you. Your grace gives me such a deep love and admiration for you. And makes this season bearable.
But in other ways, it's hardened me. I am impatient with people who show a lack of concern for others. I resent pettiness. I am more cynical of people and more apt to withdraw or stay home.
Maybe that's why this time of year is so hard. People on both sides of the Christmas argument have no patience for one another. There is little love shown. People talk about sharing Christ's love but what they really mean is doing it when it's easy, when their desires are met. People seem to care more about taking up an offense or nursing the chip on their shoulder rather than loving one another. It makes me more tired than usual.
But in the midst of watching Christians tear each other apart and families with their aggravations, there have been gestures of greatness. Twice this season we have been invited to something wonderful, even though our friends weren't sure we would attend. I'm thankful. I'm so, so thankful for the friends who reach out to us, knowing we might say no. I'm ever-so-grateful for the friends who are able to take the risk without allowing it to make them feel judged. I am unbelievably humbled by those friends who make some changes to their plans in order to accommodate my convictions and include me.
You know what the "reason for the season" is? It's Christ. For this season, for every season. And Christ cares about our relationships. Reach out to someone hurting today. It doesn't even have to be a stranger. I'd bet you know someone within your close realm of influence who could use some extra grace. Be that "cup of cold water" someone needs...
And to those who have done that for us, thank you. Your grace gives me such a deep love and admiration for you. And makes this season bearable.