A Little Girl's Question

Traveling in the car today, Alayna asks out of nowhere, "If you die and go to Heaven, what do you do up there if you are dead?" I explained that once you die you are either face to face with Lord in Heaven or you are separated from Him forever.  But either way, your body is dead but your spirit lives on.  We then talked about all the fun things that we like do to...eat yummy food, play with dogs, laugh and giggle, dance and sing.  Life would be how God intended it, with no pain or sickness or sorrow.  I think she understands that life goes on once you die.  You can spend it with God doing those fun things or not.  She understands what Hell is.  A place of torture without God.  All this talk I think is a result of prayer.  I have been praying that Alayna starts to understand what it means to have a relationship with God.  One where you confess your sin, admit He is Lord, and ask Him into your heart.  She knows right from wrong and she knows He forgives.  Now she is starting to understand and put into perspective everlasting life.  She is amazing to listen to.  She asks great questions.  Alayna is figuring out for herself where she stands with God.  She loves Him and is thankful for Him.  But pretty soon, she will know Him through the power of the Holy Spirit.  For it is He that is drawing near to her as she asks to draw near to Him.  It is both beautiful and powerful to observe.  


** Our conversation lead to another connection.  Cailin said that we would meet Aunt Mandie when we get to Heaven.  We talked about meeting her for the first time.  My eyes got blurry.**

A Glimpse

Is it bad when I can't remember the web address to my own blog?

I don't like Pizza Hut anymore. There I said it, and my family (esp. Billy) will just have to deal with it.  If I can recall this accurately 3 out 4 kids have had the stomach bug right BEFORE eating there.  I don't blame Pizza Hut.  But somehow it happens.  Ella was not feeling great today (apparently).  She "threw up" twice.  Nothing big.  She managed to let it be known that she officially wasn't feeling great.  She wet her pants just before we left.  It wasn't from pee pee.  The toilet is clogged at the restaurant.  Sorry.

I found out today that Alayna says prayers at AWANA.  Prayers of thankfulness for Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber.  Just putting this out there, that they are not spoken of (often) in our house nor do we have a need to show them gratitude.  Upon hearing this, I pulled over the car.  The kids could tell how upset this made me feel.  I calmed down, knowing that she knew better and she was doing it for the laughs.  Yes, a topic Billy needs to address with her.  On a brighter note, she has been doing a sweet job saying her prayers at night.  So well, that she has her two copy cats following her. That is another reason, on a list of many...not to say prayers of thankfulness for Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber.  Moving on...

Cailin is very handy with her hands.  She recently learned how to put a ponytail in her doll's hair.  She moved onto my hair and her own hair.  She wants to learn how to braid.  She is working on it. Her goal right now (her personal goal) is to be able to tie her own shoes. Again, she's working on it.  She actually practices this stuff all day.  Cailin also has been interested in crocheting.  I have just completed my very own crochet project...potholders.  I am going to attempt to make some scarves for the kids.  I am very thankful for my new hobby and for my teacher.  But it's new.  New to me. Everytime I sit to work on a project Cailin asks if she can help.  Eventually I give in.  It's quite a sight to see my hands on her hands trying to work together.

I do have another kid.  Eric Matthew.  He's doing well.  Still into sports and music.  He is currently into MadLibs.  You know, where you fill in random nouns, verbs, and adjectives in order to make a silly story.  He is also in the middle of reading a chapter book, beyond his reading level, about Ronde and Tiki Barber.  It's about their start in middle school as football players.  He is also getting ready for the Christmas show at his school.  He gets to play Jingle Bells on his guitar in front of his grade with his fellow musicians.  He is all over the place.  Speaking of that, he leaves his stuff all over the place.  He runs all over the place...usually throwing a ball off the wall and catching it.   With Eric everywhere, it could drive a person crazy.  But I wouldn't like it any other way.  Well, I would like at least his stuff put away.

Billy and I are doing well.  We are currently in a great Bible study series in 1 Peter.  I will save that for another post.  Who knows? Maybe weeks won't pass by before I write again.  Though I might start taking classes for my Masters Degree.  Sooo.....

Read me book

Ella has always loved to read.  Since the moment it was possible, she would say to whoever sat down on the couch in our playroom, "Read me book."  Whether you sat down to relax, to do work, or even do laundry or tie your shoe, she'd say, "Read me book."  So today, my house was somewhat clean and the laundry was even done and I sat down to read to her as much as I could.  I read until my voice became hoarse.  Then we played file folder games I had created when her sisters were younger.  Matching patterns, colors, animals, shapes, and so on.  Then we moved on to clothespin games. We ended up reading more and playing outside.

As a mom of four there are true moments of insanity.  All four kids talking at once.  All four wanting something different.  I've played four different games at once before.  It's a normal feeling to be tugged in so many directions.

Tomorrow I am going to sub at the kids' school.  And Monday and Tuesday I will work at the Corn Maze. I am thankful that our sports season is coming to an end. (Don't get me wrong...football and cheerleading has been a lot of fun for our whole family!)  Despite so many moments of busyness, there are in between moments of  fresh air: like reading to Ella, listening to Eric play his guitar, helping Alayna write and draw, and letting Cailin do my hair.

My fresh air today was playing "school" with Ella. It's those special moments that makes me so very thankful.  The girls and I piled on the couch again tonight and reread all the books that I read Ella this morning.

Not sure how this is going to sound, but I think that God wants us to sit on his lap and to get comfy, cozy and say to Him, "Read me book."  He wants us to open His word, so He can teach us His knowledge...His insights, His peace, His love.  He has the advantage of being so awesome, that He doesn't ever feel tugged in too many directions.  He is amazing enough to teach and love completely to all, at once.  We should probably take Him up on His offers.

I think I can...I think I can...

November can't come soon enough.  Football, Cheerleading, AWANA, Guitar Lessons, Working at the Corn Maze, Substitute Teaching, Helping at Elevate, Having a Mom's Bible Study and a Wednesday Night Bible Study, Fall Festivals, Field trips...  I am holding up through all the busyness, well...all but my immune system.  It's that time of year when we need to get adjusted to having the windows open for the next six months.  My mind is scattered on so many topics to write about.  This is where I give up.  I promise to return.  Focused.  Soon.

First Day of School '11

Apparently, the first day of school happened a while back.  Since these pictures were taken its been a whirlwind.  Each year we work on adding in a smooth flowing schedule to the morning and now weeks later, just when I thought they caught on to the way we work in the morning...they start doing their own methods and we end up falling behind and somehow everyone ends up in the bathroom at the same time.  Loading these pictures reminds me it's about time to buckle down on that schedule and start bribing them for doing it in order and without meltdowns.  

Ella still tries to get dressed when the big kids do, but I keep reminding her that the peanut butter and/or syrup will not match the tooth paste that will end up on her.

 Cailin wanted to wear the same dress Alayna wore last year.

 I do wonder if she had a few sips of my coffee...

 Wiping the toothpaste away...now I need to get them to remember not to decorate the entire sink with it.

 We added exercises to the end of our "Get Ready" routine...they really like it and I hope to add some yoga stretches in soon.

 Alayna started Kindergarten.

 Eric started Second Grade.

 Cailin started PreK.

So long Summer

We will miss you Summer.  

Back to Eric's Roots

After our excitement in New Jersey...after all the rides and mini golf...after sharing time with family and friends...and lots of cheesesteaks and nights of indulging in ice cream...we hit the road.  Our destination was Lynchburg, Virginia: Eric's birthplace.  He was so interested in knowing what his first house (or apartment) looked like.  The girls were thoroughly impressed with the mountains we could see in the distance.  And Billy and I enjoyed riding around talking about our first two years of marriage.  When we drove up to our first apartment a flood of memories filled my mind.  We called it the Summer of Saturdays because everyday felt like Saturday...no jobs to go to.  No responsibility except to go to Walmart and buy all the things we realized we needed, like a broom and a toilet brush.  During our adventure we drove around and met up with a friend who showed us the new sights at Liberty University.  Tired already from driving, we went for a walk by the James River.  We didn't stop there...it was off the the hotel pool for a swim before bath time.  Once all six of us were squeaky clean and ready to crash we head back out for a dinner together, by ourselves...which actually took place four days later.  You'll understand after you scroll down.

We drove to the restaurant and waited with our little beeper for a half an hour.  Meanwhile, Billy began to sweat from head to toe...the soaking wet kind of sweat.  Terrible pain behind his eyes and completely ready to spew.  We still don't know what was wrong him that night.  So we headed down the road and back to the hotel with our McDonald's and Chic Fil A and ate in our hotel room.  Billy went straight to bed for twelve hours.  He woke up just fine...praise God!  And we hit the road again.  Just to let you know our trip finally ended with a spit ball fight in the van.  And we went to the Olive Garden four days later.  Together.  

Ocean City Boardwalk

The salty air. The view of a beach covered with umbrellas.  The life guards stands. The Music Pier.  The french fries.  The pizza.  The popcorn.  The attacks from sea gulls.  The mini golf.  The Surf Mall. The souvenir shops selling hermit crabs.  The fudge.  The Monkey Bread.  The lemonade.  The surrey rentals.  Ah. Yes. The rides.  Wonderland and Playland.  

The kids had a blast on the rides.  Eric and Alayna were braver than they anticipated they would be.  Eric ventured on to a SuperMan ride with Damian and Jordan.  He loved that high flying feeling.  Alayna dared to ride with Ava and Tabitha on a Big Kid ride.  The look on her face when this big ride (the name escapes me) was priceless.  I cracked up laughing the entire time.  When she got off and described it as a "stupid ride I am never going on again," I felt bad for laughing. But just look at that face.  Did you see how small her feet were compared to her cousins?  The kids were blessed with many memories...both with giggles and frowns.  Speaking of frowns...I had a sea gull attack me.  It landed on my head and tried to steal my french fries.  I ate dinner hiding under Ella's stroller.  The kids giggled.  A lot.   

More Pics...no video

Each trip we take and each holiday that rolls around, I tend to snap 10-20 seconds of video here and there.  I put them all together to make a short movie of memories.  That didn't happen this time.  Ugh.  The best moments on camera usually are candid.  The only video I have of our trip is in Ocean City while the kids are on the rides.  I can feel my stomach turn.  (No video viewing here.)   Here are a few pictures at the park, MomMom's house and at the zoo.  (NO animal pictures at the zoo...one only needs so many pictures of zoo animals on their computer.)

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Since Billy and I spent most of our lives in New Jersey, everywhere we turned there were more memories to laugh about and share with our kids.  The most significant though, by far, is sharing Aunt Mandie with them.  She died on August 4, 1999 right at the entrance to the development where I lived.  Now in Amanda Field's honor stands a sign and recreation complex dedicated to her: Amanda's Field.  A church in India and part of a Christian school in Mexico have also been dedicated to her honor, but to have the kids see where she went to heaven and play where her name stands is pretty special.

  

Just around the bend stands the house Billy grew up in from three years old til about ten years old.  "So he lived there when he was my age?" Eric asks.  "Cool."  We snapped this shot on a visit Billy and I took back in February.  The house stood right next to the road, right next to the road.  So the current owners, the couple that bought it from the Hasselmans' twenty years ago, decided to crank it...inch by inch, back further in the lot.  Pretty amazing!

Back at the park...Ella and Daddy both thought they were out the door too early.

They gathered up some steam to play, while Mommy sipped her Wawa coffee.  I filled up my travel mug everyday.

We called Ava "Monkey girl."

Cailin wanted to climb like a monkey, too.

How I wish Aunt Mandie could be in this photo!  (And how I wish I slept the night before!)

This is what Billy's old house looks like today. I practically screamed when I saw the house had quadroupled in size.  Billy knocked on the front door and pressed his luck to see if the owners were home.  The lady of the house answered and asked, "Are you a Hasselman?"  He got the grand tour. What a sight it must have been!

Mandie's memory still affects people today.  She died an fifteen year old girl.  And anyone who knew her, knew she was in love with Jesus.  Her journal entries stated, "It was the love of Jesus that saved me."  It's true.  Every year August the 4th rolls around and it hits me.  This isn't our home.  During my trip I began reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  It's about the vast love God has for us.  I am convicted of so much that I won't get into right now.  But I will end with this...

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:13-14

Make it count.