first time bowling

croup

yep, the croup has hit my house! Jaden has it, and if I had a doctor to go to, they'd probably tell me the same. It's amazing how fast it set it. One day I'm fine, the next a small cough, and then i wake up w/out being able to breath and talk at the same time. I will admit that after some hot spagetti o's (yeah, kids choice), my voice is sounding a lot better. I'm hoping by tomorrow that my voice will be back. My boss told me to take two days off, I wasn't planning on taking even today off. She's fronting me next month's vacation day so I actually have a pay check...THANK YOU LISA!!!

can we coexist?

If you've ever seen the bumper sticker that spells out coexist w/a bunch of different religious signs, and asked yourself, can we really coexist? Then, you might what to check this site out.
http://www.canwecoexist.com/
My church did an outreach on this subject, a subject I've never heard any other pastor preach on. The week one was good, week two was great, and week three was awesome.
I'm not sure how much longer this site is going to stay up, but check it out. Listen to the music if you like, but definitely listen to the messages!! And, if you're in MI near me, come check my church out sometime if you like :)

Blessed

I wasn't going to post all of this, but yesterday, after being blown away by Him one more time, I just couldn't hold back.....

To say that money has been tight since becoming a single mom would be the understatement of the year. I went from being a stay at home mom to having to find something to make ends meet while not going bankrupt on daycare. To find a job that not only met my needs and paid ALL the bills has been one of my biggest struggles. Thankfully I have family that will watch my boys so that I don't have to pay daycare, and God has provided jobs to meet my availability which is a miracle in itself most days.

Amazingly, through it all, I have yet to be late on a major bill nor have I bounced any checks....till this month. Word to the wise, if you're going to not pay a bill or in my case over look paying a bill, your electric bill is not the one to skip/forget. By time I realized that it hadn't been paid, it was too late to stop the cycle. See, I don't have $100 laying around to pay a forgotten bill. Most weeks, after grocery shopping, I don't even have $10 laying around. Then Shaun was in between jobs and my child support got messed up. And, well, as if that wasn't enough, Discover took a payment out that they weren't supposed to. What does this all equal?? Two months of shut off notices from my electric, and you guessed it, bounced checks.

So, why am I thankful? One, I'm thankful that after two months of shut off notices, God has provided, and we haven't gone even a second w/out power. I'm thankful that somehow, when I needed it the most, God had my boss start up a raffle thingy, and I've won gas money when the choice was to eat or drive. I'm thankful for friends who have provided a meal here or there, or maybe even just some pop money when I was thirsty. Mostly...mostly I'm thankful for a God who knows all, sees all, and provides all!!!

Jaden's Eye Appt

Thanks to everyone who had Jaden in their prayers for his eye appointment. The appointment was the quickest Jaden has ever had, but that's bc he didn't dialate his eyes which was nice! The doctor said Jaden's vision is perfect...YAY! So we'll wait to see what next year holds. The doctor said Jaden's eye MIGHT grow into his face to where he wouldn't need surgery, but if not, still aiming for around 5yrs old so that we can hopefully get it done in 1 surgery vs multiple.

Almost November

Wow, I just can't believe how this year has flown! So much has happened, it's hard to take it all in at times. This month has been rather hectic. I've had some financial speed bumps that put me out exactly $350 which I didn't have in the bank to be out, and I'm still trying to recoop from it all. I think I'm through the worst, thank God bc it could have been worse.
The sermon serious at my church on coexisting ended this week. I must say that the sermons just got better and better as the weeks went on. And, I started back up in the nursery which I missed SO MUCH! I'm glad I took a year off, and I'm even more glad that I'm no longer director, but I was ready to be back.
I'll be getting laid off from work here soon. I decided w/Shaun's new job not allowing me to work any days and w/the fact that I would make more off unemployment, that I will not be going back to Jackson Hewitt this winter. I'm currently looking for children to watch to help make up some of the income I'll be losing. So, if you hear of anyone, give them my name! I'm looking forward to having some time off to relax and be w/the boys. Besides, I'm sure my mom will be happy for the break from the kids as well.
I got new neighbors last month, and they drive me crazy! They party all night every night, and they have too many cars so I never get to park in front of my house. I was hoping not to move again until it was into something perminant, but I'm thinking I will be moving out of here by April one way or another.
Tomorrow Jaden has his yearly eye appointment. Jaden's teacher seems to think he has a problem seeing. I do believe his eye has gotten worse this year, but we'll see what the doctor says. Other than his eye, he is enjoying preschool a lot! He gets upset when they don't go outside to play, and it really frustrates him when Asher can answer the review questions I ask b4 he gets a chance.
Asher and I enjoy our mornings together. Potty training is NOT going well. He can go when he wants to, but it's the wanting that we're struggling with..lol He's still as stubborn as ever, and I still claim he gets it from his daddy bc his mom has never been stubborn a day in her life..LOL You all are dying laughing right now, I know :)
Well, I'll be posting soon w/Jaden's eye appt results. And of course I'll post halloween pictures, the costumes are homemade. Shaun let the boys decide what they wanted to be which of course was TMNTs. They don't sell costumes small enough for the boys so it took some brain storming, but I think we did good. Shaun found what I used to make the belly, and the sweatsuits. I found the weapons and the idea for the shells. I've always loved to pain so decorating them wasn't an issue, and I actually think they'll look authentic and SO CUTE! So, keep watching for whats to come!

Nottawa Fruit Farms

Verhage Farms

So, a week later, I'm finally posting pictures of Jaden's first field trip. They went to the apple orchards. I let Jaden ride the bus which he thought was SO COOL! Asher and I were there waiting for him to get off.

Then we got to go on a hayride and eventually pick apples.



The boys ate the apple skin and all. Jaden even ate the core. Let me tell you, that's the last time I peel and cut an apple for them..lol.


Then they got to see how apple cider is made. The apples come from outside and get sprayed down. Then they go up the belt and down the machine that crushes them to bits. After that, they pile the chunks on top of each other in layers. The layers get stacked and put underneith a press that squeezes out the cider.







Then it was time to enjoy freshly squeeze apple cider and donuts, and then it was time to go home :(

His next field trip is bowling for Halloween. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it bc I don't think I'll want Asher to come that time, but we'll see.