New Favorite Link

Here is a link to a site I found while trying to get ideas on planning family meals. I have a very hard time getting ideas for meals and having them planned out ahead of time. I believe this is because we never know how our evenings are going to turn out. So, I thought I would share this site with all my fellow readers.
http://www.familieswithpurpose.com/
Maybe something on the site will benefit you as well!

Humbled

One word....that is all that I can use right now as I read my devotion this afternoon...

Humbled.

This school year has started out very busy for one of my children, Colin. He debated over the summer about whether or not he wanted to play football. At the end, he decided not to play. Then I ran into one of his coaches and he asked me where he was and I filled him in on his decision not to play and asked if Colin would please give it a try. So he did....and so he loves it. Along with football, Colin was asked to join the Beta Club. This is like a middle school version of the Honors Society. WOW! Knowing the grades and attitude I had in school, this was a big shock for me to see my child have an opportunity in such a club. But today, I opened an email from Colin's guidance counselor and his band director has asked Colin to be the Band Assistant to the 6th grade band this year. He will be giving up a Spanish class and will take it next year instead. This has really made me think all day about the impression that Colin is leaving on those at this school, both teachers and students.

I have been reading through Matthew, Mark and now Luke. And the first chapter of Luke speaks about the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. And speaks of how and why they were conceived. Colin is such a special child for those that read this and know his beginning, but God has truly blessed me with Colin and I am forever grateful for what he has accomplished in his young life thus far.

I am not trying to toot my own child's horn by any means, I just realized from my reading that I tell Colin how proud I am of his accomplishments, but I am more humbled by what he is doing in his life and in those around him.

Lastest reading material

Ok, so I had sent a call out on FB about what I should read over vacation this summer. I received some feedback and ended up reading My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Excellent book and easy read. I was so impressed with her writing and how each chapter in the book was from the perspective of each of the characters. I loved the story line, even though it was very sad and now I am not so interested in seeing the movie.



Which brings me to my next book (series). TWILIGHT

I get many ill remarks from my friends about these books, but I am wow'd by how REALLY good they are. I had several people mention them to me and my interest never really fell to them, but I thought I would give it a try.



Note: Prior to reading My Sisters Keeper, I mostly read christian fiction like, The Shack, Karen Kingsbury and Francine Rivers books, so this was a big style change for me.



Anyways, I am now obsessed with the Twilight Series. The most disappointing part was that I had seen the movie prior to reading the book. But, I loved the movie and was glad there were no gory, vampire parts to it. So, after reading 497 pages of Twilight, I have now moved on to the 563 page New Moon book. And the next 2 books in the series are even longer. I had someone tell me once that they read the entire series in a weekend because they couldn't put the books down. I give a thumbs up to that one because it is very hard for me to stop. And I hate finishing books because I want them to keep going. I want more and more and more.



One downfall for me is that I now have the Twilight movie and watched it again over the weekend since I had just finished that book. It really disappoints me that movies and books cannot coincide with one another and bring all the greatness of the books into movies. It is somewhat irritating to me, but at least there is something to watch to go along with it.



So where will I be on November 20th.....? That's right, at the debut showing of New Moon.

Ok...ok...ok...Already!

I guess since it is the end of summer and I will no longer have 4 children in the house keeping me insane and busy, I will continue my blogging experience at this time. Well, maybe, ok, well at least for today.

I don't really have any real reasons for not blogging except that Facebook holds my attention for hours on end. As if I don't have anything better to do than read what other people are, or are not, doing. And don't get me started on Bejeweled! I can't stay away from that game and my continued playing of the game comes from the fact that each game only lasts 1 minute. Try to justify not playing that one. At the start of each game I tell myself this is it, last game. Ok, well maybe just one more.

I have been very busy with visitors, vacations and saying good-bye to friends. My sister-in-law (SIL) and I traded kids this summer. My niece, Grace, came and stayed with us, while Caleb went to spend time at their house in Indiana. It was so much fun and VERY quiet at our house for 8 days. Then the kids and I made the long trek to Indiana for the fair. I have decided to rename that trip now...it is now the Paulus family vacation. Since I only get back to Indiana once a year (for the fair), that is time spent with my parents and siblings. I love being with them and miss them dearly so I can't say I am strictly going back for the fair. Even though that is where the majority of our visiting takes place. I also laugh that this is where I spend most of my time with my sister, Tara, who just happens to live 30 minutes from us. But we go to Indiana to hang out.

After the fair this year, I drove back to Indiana with my own children. We unpacked, shopped and repacked for a weeks vacation with the Eichelberger family at Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee. What normally is a 7 day vacation, from Saturday to Saturday, lasted one more day this year. It was great at the time to spend one more day together, but whoa, made up for the lack of sleep all week this week.

Since the beginning of summer, my mother-in-law visited us and we spent a wonderful time at Carowinds and Charleston. Rob turned 40-something and I turned 30-something and we celebrated our 10 year anniversary! Time sure does fly when you have children and full schedules.

Now that school is approaching, our baby girl is going off to Kindergarten! She is very excited and she will have the teacher that we really liked. Caleb is going into 2nd grade and is again with a friend, 3 years in a row. Colin is in 7th grade and has decided to try football. He has had one practice and was very sore this morning, but our church youth group is white water rafting this weekend, so he is missing 2 practices. We are proud of him for trying football, not really sure how much he will enjoy it, but at least he is trying. Caden will be attending 2-day a week mothers morning out at our church. I am looking forward to those 2 days and either working out or working on my side job. As for Rob and I, well we are still surviving, keeping our heads just enough above water to enjoy the view. I can't complain about much, just the lack of time we get to spend together, but I guess that comes with parenting and growing up.

Stay tuned for further updates...as time permits.............
Until next time!

1 Timothy 2:15 - Motherhood

"But women will be saved through childbearing - if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety." 1 Timothy 2:15

I have a hard time believing I was called to be a mother. Ok, yes we have 4 wonderful children, but I lack several attributes of mothering. One of those being self-control. I often retaliate back at my children by how they are acting. I usually wonder if I do this because I was the youngest and view my children as a younger sibling to me, so I fight back at them in the same way.

I just listened to a talk radio show about mother's and how they are sanctified by childbirth, whoa, I am still wondering when I will feel that? That knowledge of knowing that I am meant to be here, in holiness, for my children. I pray God opens my heart and mind to my motherhood for my children.

Happy Birthday to Caleb!

On April 22nd, 2001, Caleb Mancel Eichelberger was born weighing in at 10lbs. 8 ozs and 22 1/2 inches long. He was HUGE! Probably the worse of my 4 deliveries, but what a complete blessing he has been to our family! He turned 8 last week and his excitement and enthusiasm is unbelievable. (As you can see from the above photo.) Since he was turning 8, a grown up age, he had been asking for a pocket knife. We believed that it would be a great gift for him since he is showing signs of maturity and responsibility. He was very excited. Rob had given him advice and lessons as to how to use the knife, including how to open and close it. (Rob needed his own lessons because he cut himself as he was teaching him) Caleb took it with him where ever he went that night and started whittling wood at Colin's baseball game. He was very good at using it correctly and taking care of it. Well, that didn't last 24 hours...you see the next day he and Chloe were fighting over a QUARTER! It was Chloe's quarter and I asked Caleb to please return it to her, so he did, and he stepped outside our front door and by a window, that was opened, and stated to Chloe that he was going to pull his knife out on her. So, the knife is now sitting back in its case waiting for the day that Caleb shows a little more maturity and self-control! But Happy Birthday Caleb!

Sent Away...and funny!

Two of our really good friends, R. and D., took Caleb and Chloe with them for a few days to the lake. A very nice treat for me, but I miss them dearly. Anyways, last night R. called me and told me the following story...
They were all sitting down to eat dinner and they were having a hodge-podge of items. One of those being homemade mac and cheese. Now my kids love my homemade mac and cheese, but Chloe decided she really didn't like it. Which was fine, but Caleb turned to R and said, "It's okay, she's a vetra-narian."

Oh, I love my kids!!

Redeeming Love

A wonderful friend of mine here in South Carolina introduced me to a Christian author that I had never read. Her name is Francine Rivers. She has written several books as a Christian and one of hers has over taken me. Redeeming Love is a book based off the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer...WOW! I am not going into detail about the book at this time, but I cannot put this book down and I do not like to read. (Ok, well maybe it is just because I don't have the time)

If you are looking for a good read, check out this book and many of her others. Truly amazing reads!

http://www.francinerivers.com/

Updates

So, after sometime, I finally figured out how to make my blog pretty! I hope ya'll enjoy the new color and design. Keep coming back for more updates!

Trying to stay afloat

Spring Break is here. We have had a sick child, Caden, since last Thursday and today he is finally on the mend. Sunday and yesterday were pretty scary, as we thought he was getting dehydrated. But he woke up this morning and had a wet diaper. We are very thankful for not having to take him to the doctor or hospital for fluids. We are without health insurance at this time and were not sure what would have happened had we taken him. There are definitely times to praise God and this was one of those times! Thank you!!!!

Psalm 138

I just opened my Bible to this passage, please read the scripture and what follows...

I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart;
before the "gods" I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
When I called, you answered me,
you made me bold and stouthearted.
May all the kings of the earth praise you, O Lord,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord is great.
Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O Lord, endures forever
do not abandon the works of your hands.

This passage has a lot of meaning this afternoon....

Please remember us in your prayers right now!

Childs humor

Here is one for the baby books...

This morning, Rob was looking at a book that Caleb had wrote for school. The title of the book was..."The boy mets the doods. Vrgin two"

Translated..."The boy meets the dudes. Version two"

This book is very graphic coming from a seven year old, but the boy in the story was actually standing up for a bully. The title completely caught us off guard and Rob looked at me like, what is this? We got some good laughs after he left.

Discouraged

I have to tell ya'll that I have been too discouraged to update, because my husband and I never had a date night. He ended up working until 7 that night, so I again got my hopes up to do something fun and got shot down. So, although I did not make it to Ikea with just my husband, we did load up the kids and "ran" through the store in about 1.5 hours. I still enjoyed it and we got some great ideas. Now I am ready for some updates to our house!

Since then though we have been to Illinois and back for Rob's grandpa's funeral, got stuck in a rare snow storm in North/South Carolina for 3 hours and dealt with sick kids for the past 2 weeks. Our house has some sort of contaminant in it and it won't get out. Everything from fevers to throw-up and today, I believe I have been hit with the butt flu. Awful!!

Tonight!!

I just had to add another post...ha ha ha, maybe this will be a trend! Anyways, tonight my husband and I are going out on a date!! I am so excited. Even though we have nothing big on the agenda, we will probably eat some where VERY cheap and then we are heading to the new IKEA that opened up this past Wednesday!! I love IKEA and cannot wait for this evening, to actually walk around the entire store with no children in tow...that in itself is an awesome date!!