NOW THAT'S A HOUSE!

Avery & Ella: "Daddy, will you help us build a house with these cardboard boxes?"

Many hours later . . .


I would call this a mansion!

Inside the door there is a popsicle stick deadbolt (it really works to lock the door!)

The windows open ...

...and close from the inside.

There is a special latching system on the roof ...

... that holds the windows open.

Two happy kids :)

And one great engineer. I mean Dad.

GREAT WOLF LODGE 2009

About 3 years ago we had our first visit to Great Wolf Lodge (different location that time) and we were very excited to plan a return visit for the end of winter break. When I posted our February calendar on the refrigerator early this month, the 22nd-23rd simply said "Surprise Trip". Avery and Ella have been guessing, pleading, and otherwise trying to get the surprise out of us all month! We were all very discouraged last week, with Avery's extended stomach bug, and prayed hard that God might make her well in time for our trip. He was so good to do just that!

One of the things that we really enjoyed the first time is the elaborate themed lobby. There is a huge tree as the centerpiece, with smaller friendly (and talking) trees and animals all around. It feels like you are in the middle of a big lodge in the forest.

Avery was definitely not her energetic self, but she did a great job of letting us know when she needed a break. For sure her favorite place was the regular pool, a place where she could just float around (preferably with Mom or Dad). There were cool water animals floating in the pool and she loved climbing on the giant water snake and falling off.

Ella really enjoyed the "medium" (that is not-too-big) water slides and the lazy river. We discovered on Day 2 that we could move around the lazy river without tubes, letting the current carry us.

We had a very spacious room -- two big beds, a mini kitchen and living room. Lots of room to spread out and relax. We brought all of our food and enjoyed snacking and relaxing in between trips to the water park.

I found Ella giving Eric a shoulder massage after our first afternoon in the water park. She let me know that she does this for Daddy "all the time."

In these hard economic times, and with the uncertainty of Eric's job, we were so thankful to find a GREAT deal -- more than half off the regular prices! We thanked God tonight that He provides us with so many good extras, in addition to everything we need.

To see the full album from our fun trip, visit our Great Wolf Lodge Picture Gallery.

ELLA ENCOURAGER

Well, Ella is not "enchanted" like that fun movie that we like so much. But she is definitely an encourager. Yesterday, as I spent my birthday caring for Avery, Ella was very concerned that it might not be turning into such a great day for me. She asked if she could call Eric at work and I heard her asking him what he had planned for me when he got home. She wanted to make sure I had presents and something special to look forward to. Shortly after that, she headed down to the "crafties area" to work on a couple of projects.

I received a birthday crown with the title "40 is a Blessing" and a "Map Card". The Map Card is an Ella-original -- a card that gives instructions on each page about where to turn next to see the message/picture (e.g. "pick up flap", "turn card after reading"). A Map Card gives directions -- just like a map! When I thanked Ella for making me feel so special, her response was, "It's your birthday. You deserve it!"

Last night, just before bed, I checked our voice mail. There was a message from my mother-in-law, Susan. Susan volunteers at a nursing home and she took Ella there with her yesterday morning. Eric's grandpa is a resident there and this is what Susan had called to tell me:

"Ella spent so much time with Grandpa while we were there. She worked hard to help him make the craft (a yarn snowman) and he got such a kick out of her. I heard him laugh out loud for the first time in 6 months because of her."

The name Ella means "bright light". And her middle name is Grace. I thank God every day for my Ella Encourager! She is surely a bright light and full of grace in our family and to those around her.

9 TIMES (and counting...)

My poor little Avery has been throwing up since Tuesday night. Fever. Bad headache. Weak from not eating. The whole deal. I feel so sorry for her. She has been keeping track of how many times she has thrown up. This morning she said, "That was 9 times. I've never thrown up 9 times before." Ohhh... neither have I :(

DROPPING IN

We love our good friends, James & Kristin, and their three beautiful children! It is a treat to live around the corner from them because they are so good about just "dropping in". I remember being in Jordan and how much we enjoyed the casual custom of dropping in on friends. That doesn't happen very often in the U.S. and we are so glad that this is the custom between our two families.

Yesterday afternoon the doorbell rang unexpectedly, leading to a wonderful visit with our friends. We had the delight to see Ellie stand on her own for the first time -- yay!

Kate & Avery have always been good friends -- lots in common as the oldest child! Neither one of them is a "little girl" anymore (at least in their own minds!) :)

I love this shot of Joshua wearing Eric's slippers :)

Of course Mr. James is the center of play for the kids. Avery and Ella LOVE it when he comes over! Yesterday he was "the Boat", carrying all of the kids through the lava pit. What fun!!

As a task-oriented, agenda-driven personality, I could use a little more "dropping in" in my life. Hmmm ... who could I drop in on this week?

THOUGHTS ON LOVE...

Here are some awesome thoughts on love and Valentine's Day from one of my favorite Bible teachers, Beth Moore... "Oh That Bewitching Day"

VALENTINE'S PICNIC

My valentines...

Any excuse for a party is welcome at our house! We started the morning with special Valentine's donuts and little presents & cards all around. I actually received my present (a Cheesy Eddie's heart-shaped cheesecake) on Wednesday because it was delivered early and Eric was afraid it wouldn't be good by Saturday :) We contemplated grilling a steak for dinner, but my husband doesn't enjoy standing outside in weather under 65 degrees, so we decided upon an indoor picnic instead. The yummy food included brie & baguette, a meat platter (salami & pepperoni), grapes and shrimp. Sparkling flavored water to drink.

I'm thankful for my family, the people I love most and who love me back!

DAD'S QUALIFICATIONS

GM announced today that 10,000 employees will be layed off by April. While this is a slim possibility for Eric, the for-sure impact on his job is a significant pay-cut, effective May 1. Tonight we discussed all of this at dinner, using it as an opportunity to remind the girls that God is in charge and we don't have anything to worry about.

I loved their response :) They decided to write a list for President Obama. A list that tells the good things about their dad, and why Obama should hire him if he needs a job. Here is the list of Dad's Qualifications, by Avery & Ella:

Page two includes these qualifications

• fact knower
• computer expert
• pancake maker (and good!)
• good napper
• very helthy
• eats helthy foods
• safe driver
• good exerzizer
• good with budgets (I helped them with this one)
• knows how to do income tax
• loves Jesus
• good at teaching
• good at math
• chocolate lover
• loves apple fritter doughnuts

Who wouldn't want to hire this amazing man?!?

FITTING FUN

It is so cool to watch the girls' personalities develop and shape the way that they play. Avery often prefers to play alone and will either write, act, read or play something with her dolls. Today she was having a tea party with her dolls and teaching them manners.

In contrast, Ella would always prefer to play with someone (first choice being Avery!) and is VERY disappointed to play on her own. By herself or with a playmate, however, Ella's favorite activity is to build a fort in the family room and either read, jump, climb, or various other adventures inside the fort walls. Today (after Avery made it clear that she was playing alone), Ella decided to get her LeapPad and play inside her fort.

As I write this, Avery & Ella have wrapped up their individual activities and are playing ballet lessons together. Best friends once again. :)

SALE!

I love reading books that grow me as a wife & mom, woman, and follower of Christ. And I love good sales! So the sale at http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/ is too good to overlook! $7 books ... and these are life-changing books! A few of my favorites that I've already read include:

• Shopping for Time (this is a re-read!)
• Feminine Appeal
• Humility: True Greatness
• Living the Cross Centered Life (another re-read)

My order included these titles :

• When Sinners Say "I Do": Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage
• Girl Talk: Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood
• Love that Lasts: When Marriage Meets Grace

I also highly recommend their worship CDs (on sale for $6).

Thanks, Susanna, for the tip :) Check it out!

A COMFORTING PLACE

This school year, we have begun a great routine of devotions at breakfast time. We are using Keys for Kids, as recommended by my good friend, Kim. Yesterday our devotion was called "No Fakes" and the theme was that Jesus is our only true "passport" to Heaven. When we finished reading, Ella said to me, "Mom, isn't it nice to know that we'll go to a comforting place? Heaven."

It is nice to know. And very comforting. Isn't it?

If you are interested in getting a FREE monthly subscription to Keys for Kids magazine or their daily email, click here.

HOT AND COLD

This post is dedicated to Mom & Dad, Dad & Sharon, Trav & Anna, Terri, and all of our other friends and family who aren't experiencing ANY snow this winter!

HOT (lemonade stand)

COLD (giant snow pile)

HOT (picnic on the patio)

COLD (18 inches of snow on the patio)

HOT (climbing on the playset)

COLD (bobsled down the playset)

As I write this, we are enjoying a balmy, almost-40-degree day and the snow is melting! Soon it will be HOT again :)