Great find!

Just found this website for making math worksheets... also free vocabulary games, math games, logic games,etc

It's a BOY!

That brings the count to 4 boys, 2 girls. Everyone's fine with that (except for my dad who was so sure this was a girl, he convinced Mom to buy "her" a lace hanky in France!); the children just say we can have a girl "next time!" Or twin girls to even things out... yikes!

I'll try to post a picture of the ultrasound later.

Tonight Matt and I are going here for dinner!!!

What were we thinkin'?

Okay, so I have been home all week. I think I whined enough about that in the last post. Matt has been working late, and had to work this morning. So, when he came home this afternoon, sweet thing said, "let's go out for dinner!" YIPPEE! Everyone had a bath (including me!) got all spiffed up and off we went. Early -- we left at 4:45 so we'd miss the Sat. p.m. crowds. Went to this Italian "family style" restaurant someone told Matt about (and we had a gift card), thinking it would be safe. Weeeellllll.... picture big noisy, tacky place covered floor to ceiling with pictures and souvenirs from Italy (one table even had a bust of the pope in the middle; we didn't sit there)... we sat in a huge booth and well, let's just say our five dear ones were not exactly the poster children for the QF lifestyle (LOL, did I really just describe my family w/ those letters??). Tonight BWF stood for "Big WILD Family." Kim, I think we'll adopt y'all's policy of just NOT going out w/ the whole gang; at least for another 10 years or so.

You know, though, the evening didn't end there. After that lovely dining experience, we all went to Sam's. I can't really bear to write any more. This expedition went a little smoother b/c of a "serious discussion" in the parking lot before we went in, but you know I think I'll just leave it at that.

On the bright side... now I have that huge bag of chocolate chips downstairs...

We did have a fun, cozy afternoon reading the last few chapters of Duncan's War. Wow, do I ever have a greater appreciation for our freedom to worship... and a great desire to live for "Christ's Crown and Covenant!" (We also read about this in the little devotion book we did last spring called Finding Jesus in Genesis by Susan Hunt. ) I won't say any more, b/c I know you're about to read it, Kim... but it was a great ending!

I take it back

Okay, did I seriously write, just two days ago about how content I have become just being at home? Because today, I am NOT!! It has been 4 weeks and 2 days since I've hopped in the car (okay, the suburban) and gone ANYWHERE, w/o having to arrange for a chauffeur. And today is a day I would like to just go somewhere. See people. Visit a friend... Sam's (we're out of almost everything)... library... drivethru at Chick-fil-a even!

So I'm feeling a little stir crazy. But we all are well, and the children are getting along, there's not too much laundry to put away, the house is relatively clean, and we're mostly sticking to our school routine... and I felt the baby move the other night. Tiniest little flutter...

So I do have a full and thankful heart.

And today I changed a diaper all by myself, for the first time in a month! You know, it's the little things that encourage me... this too shall pass, this arm shall heal... I shall drive again...

I could draw some spiritual conclusions here about freedom, and submission, and humbling myself... but I think I'll just go make lunch and get us back on schedule.

We're reading a book called Adam of the Road that is just okay, we don't love it. Yesterday I looked up at the end of a chapter and three of the four listening children had disappeared! But we will finish it b/c we have to find out if the poor boy ever finds his stolen dog and lost dad. History is more interesting to them... the boys just love reading about the Celts who paint themselves blue and make their hair stick up with mud before a battle. I'm just waiting for them to try acting that one out! At the moment, though, they are playing gladiators with their shirts off. That is the fun part of that game; not wearing a shirt! Boys' version of playing dress-up, I guess.

thinkin' on the good things

focusing on the positives of the broken arm experience:
1. my dear children are learning to be very helpful
2. I am learning to ask for more help
3. learning to type with one hand (but it's not very fun)
4. becoming more content and actually thankful to be at home (can't really drive anywhere)
5. learning not to care quite so much that all the laundry be put away
6. learning to take things slower and make them simpler
7. treasuring my dear husband more for all his kindness and help
8. Mom has been here lots over the past three weeks
9. now she's in France (positive for her!) but we are managing just fine
10. good friends taking care of us
11. I can take this cast off for a shower
12. it is healing, slowly, but I can do more now without pain
13. it is a visual reminder that my strength must be in the Lord... I'm too much of a klutz to rely on myself.