Fall...

I love kicking my feet through the crunchy red and yellow leaves, the blue skies overhead, and the sun warming my back. What a treasure these past days have been. Fall seems to ease it's way into summer, and without notice frost overtakes the lovely season. I want to hold onto autumn forever.

Monkey Business

Photos

On Friday night we had a good friend of ours do a photo shoot for us! It was fun and crazy. Of course the kids were not in the least cooperative so that made it challenging for Polyana to say the least. But she still managed to snap many good ones. Bribing with cookies helped a little!

Here are just a sample of my favorites. And if you are interested in her work check out her website under my links! She is great and affordable!

My Love Bug

Michael Vs. Mouse

This is the email that Michael sent me this morning: I hope you find it as funny as I did!

I’m exhausted… I was out-waited by mouse last night. After I came home I treated myself to a snack which I haven’t had in a long time – rice!

While I’m eating it, I see out mouse come through the front door and under the couch. Naturally I got the broom and tried to pry him out of there with no avail. Finally I saw him move out to under the heater behind the rocking chair. So I tried to pry him out of there, again with no avail. Finally I decided that he would have to come out at some point so I waited until he came out so I could smack him! He did come out but he ran parallel to the heated and went to the corner under the heater by the windows next to the red candles on the wall. I thought I finally had him because I knew exactly where he was. So I prepped myself. I had the broom raised, I calculated where on the broom I should hold on so it would last precisely against the wall when he came out.

And then… I saw him getting ready to make his move. He began to slowly scan the area, still under the heater but out just enough that I could see a little bit of fur. This was my moment. This was his time. And right when I thought his life was over, he backed up into the corner where I couldn't see him, but I knew he was there, there was no other place to go. So once again I decided. I would wait until he came out and would kill the little bugger (which incidentally, he is actually very cute. West Bloomington mice are much better groomed than East Bloomington mice). So I waited, and waited and waited, for about 15 to 20 minutes, but my need for sleep and lack of sleep got the best of me. So at ten after midnight, I made my way to bed, defeated, humiliated and shamed. I was out-waited by a mouse.

I love you Cari, I miss you tons.

Looking forward to seeing you at lunch,

Michael

Sleep Deprived

You know you need more sleep when:

You pour coffee into your kids sippy cups...

Baby de Mello

Looks like the newest de Mello decided not to reveal his or her identity on Monday. How sad for Tia Cari. But isn't Sarah and her bump looking great! Love you dear friend.

The Great Hair Debate

Michael and I don't disagree on much.. except on the subject of his hairstyles! But I am happy to say that I am finally coming to like this new Beatles -do! Michael you are gorgeous!

Star Bella

The video is of Sunday at the Children's museum. Bella's dream of being on stage came true. We went to the CM for our family night. The kids had a blast. Half of it was geared towards older kids, but the other half was a dream play world. I really enjoyed getting down to their level, and exploring everything that they found interesting. I think I had as much fun as they did.

Bella was especially thrilled that she got to be on t.v. with Elmo, and she loved the Nature exhibit since she was able to play with "bugs" in a real stream. Caleb enjoyed the ant tunnels!

For those who are interested every third Sunday is FREE! You gotta love that! It is crowded but if can handle lots of loud kids, it is worth the drive!

Another BIG step

After much debate, and convincing on Michael's part...

Caleb is sleeping in Bella's old toddler bed!!!

I was very nervous about the prospect of him being able to climb out of bed and escape his room. Especially since we are still having troubles with Bella staying put. However I am surprised to say that at least tonight was relatively easy and stress free!

We put him in bed at 7a.m. Said good night and partially closed the door. I was sure that he was going to take advantage of his new freedom and march back out into the hallway and declare victory.

Sure enough about 10 mins. later he toddles out, only to have Daddy put him firmly back to bed.
I was laughing the entire time. It was just too darn cute to see him.

And that was that. He didn't get up again. He talked for awhile, and quickly fell asleep. Praise the Lord!

But I am not nieve to think that this is the end of it. I have the crib handy nearby just in case this ends in disaster! Daddy wanted this so badly- mostly because it cleared a ton of space in Caleb's bedroom so he could play with his cars and animals. ( Caleb not Michael) So the agreement is, I will tackle daytime naps and he will tackle bedtimes when he is home.

I remember putting Bella into her toddler bed and she did great. She was so obedient that she wouldn't even get out of bed to pick up her beloved baby! Hmm... where did those days go?

I will keep you posted with how this one ends up. That's the thing with parenting, it always involves a ton of trial and error...

Jesus is Playing inside my heart

Every morning I have been attempting to do a small devotional with the kids. I say attempting because their attention spans are so limited, and they are easily distracted. Some days are better than others. But still I forge on, and trust that the Holy Spirit is doing His job!

This morning went like this:

Mommy: Bella, Did you know that we are going to Brazil to tell people there about Jesus?

Bella: Yes.

(Oops I forget that her age group lacks no knowledge!)

Mommy: Jesus wants us to tell people about him. And there are people in Brazil that have never heard of Jesus before.

Bella: Oh, Who is Jesus.

Mommy: Jesus is God's son. He is our friend. He is with you when you ask him to come.

Bella: Oh , Can Jesus come now, and sit beside me? ( we were eating cinnamon roles)

Mommy: Yes He can. But you can't see him.

Bella: Huh? (completely confused)

Mommy: If you ask Jesus to come into your heart , he will.

Bella: ( Looking down her shirt- smiling- this thought to her was very funny!) Jesus, can you come into my heart? ( Still looking down her shirt)

Mommy: ( Praying for a clear way to explain this to her. ) Jesus wants to make your heart clean. He will forgive all of your sins. And make your heart feel better.

Bella: Why?

Mommy: Because God loves you. Jesus died for you on the cross so you can have a clean heart.

Bella: Oh... okay... Can I have some juice.


Alright then- At least we are pointed in the right direction. Right? I now have my daughter believing that there is an invisible man that is always sitting at our dinner table, and that Jesus is playing inside her heart. That is the information she relayed to her father at lunch. Shouldn't that be a little scary for a three year old?

I know that I have taken Bible classes, and that I am about to embark on the mission field. But I am a little lost here. Any seasoned mom's or dad's that have any advice or good resources, we can use? Please HELP :)

Caleb Update

Right now the little Man in our family is in his room on his way to sleep. I can hear him declaring very loudly, "Nao Nao Nao Nao!" To who and why is a mystery. But it is his new favorite word so let the man have his fun right? Lately he has been playing in his crib for up to a full hour before shutting his eyes- I wish that I had a camera in there to watch him and his silly antics. What a guy!

Yesterday he had his late 15 month Dr. appointment. It went really well. He weighs 26lbs 9oz and is 32 1/4 inches. He looks like a stocky boy- but really he is average. Only in the 50-60%. I was a little surprised, my tired arms and back tell a different story. I wonder if he and Bella are going to look like twins soon since he is quickly catching up to her. It's interesting.

The Dr.'s take on his Portuguese vs. English is also interesting. She thinks that the reason why he speaks more Portuguese words and responds better to that language is because he is trying to relate to his Daddy. I guess boys at this age especially try to mimic their fathers. Hmm... interesting for sure. The next few months will be fun to see what language wins out. My vote is English since he hears that more... Or maybe both will be a first language?

He got his immunizations too. He cried like a mad man! His right leg right now is very red and swollen. That is suppose to be normal for 1 in 4 patients. But it looks painful and I can't help but feel sorry for him. I am also seeing signs of the EM rash he got when he was six months old. ( if you want me to expound on that let me know and I will.) It will take a few more days to see how that plays out, but at least now we know more about EM, and know what to expect. Please pray for him.

Ahh.. finally silence emanates our home- our man is asleep. Writing about him makes me miss him. Should I dare take a peak?

A new bed

So it's official.

Bella- My baby girl. Is no longer a baby.

Tonight she will be sleeping in her very own grown up twin bed.

It recently dawned on me that the reason she hasn't been sleeping very well at night could be because she no longer is comfortable in her toddler bed. Duh! How clueless can we be sometimes?

I did think it was odd that she prefered our bedroom floor. I just figured that she liked sleeping near us. But last night as I was tucking her in I noticed how her legs were hanging off the sides, and it struck me how HUGE she was. Later that night I observed how careful she was even in her sleep not to move too much, or she would fall off. Poor sleepy girl.

So we prayed and searched for the perfect replacement. And God provided, just like that! We found a very plain, simple, but much bigger twin bed at Ikea clearance! I am always amazed how this happens. I have never seen beds in their clearance section before- but low and behold today there were many to choose from. Thank you Jesus!

Michael is at IKEA now for the third time tonight. Once to choose the bed, second time to pick up the bed, and the third now to exchange mattresses. We misjudged and need a MUCH larger one to fit her new bed. Phew what a process! But we are thankful, happy, and comforted that our Bella girl will get the rest she needs!

Tear- How did she grow up so fast? Three in only a couple of weeks? THREE???? My goodness- I am turning into one of those sappy, over emotional Mamas! Blow my nose- wipe my eyes-sigh I'm ok!

Apple Pickin!

As tradition, we go apple picking every year with Chris and Michelle. This year we were able to include Adriah, Bella's friend. It was fun, and the weather was absolutely perfect! I just love autumn! I hope to go at least one more time before all the apples drop and the ground freezes. Brrr...I am not a big fan of winter at all! A friend was telling me of a place in Jordan that has pony rides and games for the kids. I love things like that! Next weekend Michael?

Family Night

Mr. Happy Pumpkin
We began our night with Nacho Bar at home. Then the real fun started!
It was really fun to spend time with the kids doing an activity. Gabriella wasn't too fond of pumpkin guts! She mostly watched.
Caleb Loved the guts- and threw them on the floor- mashed them in his hair! It was great!
Isn't that face so adorable! She is so excited. She helped me make roasted seeds. They were yummy!
Our artist! Daddy had fun too! I can hardly wait till next week!

Complaining...

When I don't feel very good, I turn into a blubbering, crybaby. Today I am sick. So today I am crabby! Everybody please watch out! Mama is in the room!

Unfortunately I am not feeling the kind of sick where you are hanging onto the toilet bowl for deal life. I've been there many times. But not today. You think I am crazy. BUT. The one good thing with that illness type is that your husband stays home from work, takes care of the kids, so you can hide in bed and sleep the day away. Heaven right?

It use to be when I didn't have children, that being ill, was a blessing in disguise. It meant that I could relax, rest, and get better. Such is no longer the case.

I have a headache- Baby boy still wants to eat, play, cry, scream, and jump on all the furniture. Also Today Mommy is particularly fun to poke and pull at.

My throat aches- Little girl chooses this day to throw the biggest fit ever had in her short lifespan. She also chooses NOT to take her nap, and have many meltdowns throughout her afternoon. Also Today Mommy is particularly fun to dare. Sadly Mommy lost many bets.

My back is falling apart- Or so it seems. Baby boy and Little girl want to be held. All day. At the same time. Standing up! Because it's not as squishy. Says Little Girl. 60 pounds collectively. Pain.

Bella: Mommy can I have you? ( have means hold to her)

Mommy: Honey my back hurts. Not right now.

Bella: Oh Mommy, it's going to be alright. Take some medicine.

Mommy: I did. It's not working.

Bella: ( obviously thinking really hard) Oh Pray for that then.

Mommy: Can you pray for me?

Bella: No. I'm too tired. My back hurts. I need some medicine. You pray for that.

Mommy: ? ( seriously what do you say to that?) Noooo you can't have medicine. ( I need a lock on that cabinet)

Bella: ( disappointed) Oh, So can I have you?

Perhaps tomorro I will feel better? Atleast it will be Friday!

Life at Bethany

We have fallen into a very pleasant routine here at Bethany. We start our day eating breakfast in our kitchen looking out into the courtyard. We have two beautiful trees facing us, depending on how the sun is shining, the leaves almost look golden. It is lovely.

Gabriella's new breakfast favorite is oatmeal. Perfect for a cold morning. I look forward to Caleb saying repeatedly as I am cooking. "Brekfst. Brekst. por favor mamamamamae."! It's hilarious! And I love it!

The rest of the day we play, visit with our neighbours Bekah, John Mark, and "Zaza" ( Isaiah Grace), going on walks, and of course playing in the park. I've discovered that in order to save some of our nicer kids clothing that I may have to invest in some play gear. Mud and dirt I guess goes hand in hand with daily park playing in the fall. The kids love it. And of course laundry here is easy and free!

I have been cooking more in attempt to eat healthier and save some good ol cash. With such a huge kitchen I am finding that I really enjoy preparing meals. And the kids don't mind me being busy either. They have plenty of space to play around me. Last night I made roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and corn. And tonight I am attempting my first chicken noodle soup... we'll see how that turns out!

Caleb has his first baby love. Isaiah Grace. She is the first person he asks for when he wakes in the morning. I hear him singing, "Baba Baba, ZaZa ZaZa!" It's funny cause he really doesn't pay much attention to her when they are together except for an occasional hug and kiss. I am glad that we have a child safety lock on our door, or he would be escaping ALL the time to go see her.

Gabriella has made friends with everyone she sees. "Hi! What's your name? My name is Bella." Most of the time she even remembers her new friend's name the second time around. It is amazing that mind she has! That girl was made for community living. She is convinced that ALL of Bethany is hers.

A few of you have asked how candidacy went. So much has happened that I haven't had time to share. It was great. Lots of information, tons of encouragement, the testing was fun and interesting, and it was exciting moving on to the next step of preparing to leave. We have one more meeting tonight with Member Care and then we can start really organizing and getting going. I feel very comforted going out with BIM. They are a great organization who really loves the Lord and cares for their missionaries. I'll try to keep you updated with what is next! Thanks for asking!

Only a quarter to nine...

It is only 8:45pm, and I am almost off to bed. Not because I am particularly tired but because I want to be prepared for what I am assuming is going to be a long night.

Gabriella this afternoon had a 102 fever. She was so sweet all cuddly and tired. We gave her Tylenol and lots of liquid and prayed over her. By the time she had a bath and was asleep her fever had cooled down remarkably. That's the thing with fevers, you know that it is there doing it's job fighting the infection away, however the higher the degree gets the more concerned I am. It's a love and hate relationship.

At 8pm. I heard a loud cry from Caleb's room. I raced in there expecting to find a big pukey mess for me to clean up. Instead I was greeted with a very hot, sobbing, boy. I'll take the boy over puke any day! Into the living room we went for Tylenol and snuggles. He wasn't too happy with the medicine and let me know by spitting it all over my shirt. Thanks kid! I'll buy the grape flavor next time!

Just as I was settling him down, I hear a cry coming all the way down the hall. Mind you our hall is ridiculously long, and Michael is gone at worship for the evening. Two sick kids, one very long hall, and only one mama!

So I kiss the boy's screaming hot forehead, give him his beloved moose, pray that he falls asleep, and run a marathon down the hall. Please also keep in mind that we have boxes still packed in a unorganized fashion all along my path. Conveniently enough I stubbed my foot on the one with the bricks in it!

Let's catch up... pounding foot, long hallway.. two pitiful sad babies... one mama... and sticky Tylenol on shirt!

Finally I get to my Bella Bella. She is confused and disoriented. She wants her Daddy. I offer Mommy instead. She still wants her Daddy. I offer her Tylenol. Her eyes light up like it is candy and she opens her mouth eagerly. Good girl- Strawberry for you, Grape for your brother.
But she still wants her Daddy. I take her temperature it is only 98. Phew thank you Jesus.
I ask her if her tummy hurts. Yes it does, and I want my Daddy. I envision puke in my near future.

Hmm... are there cartoons on at 8pm? I doubt it. I offer Mommy again. She still wants Daddy but Mommy is okay if we are in the living room on the couch, with her baby, the pink blanket, and her baba with juice in it.

Caleb is no longer crying. The hallway seems shorter now somehow. The mama and the baby girl snuggle. The mama loves it, and wants to snuggle all night. What a honey the baby girl is. The Mama wonders when the baby girl got to be so big...? Sorrowfully the Mama relents and puts baby girl to bed when baby girl asks for it four times.

So here we are at 9:12. I am going to bed. Probably only to be woken up a few hours later. And once again I will happily maneuver my long hallway. Cause that's the the thing with sick kids, they melt your heart away, and you would move oceans for them, or atleast boxes. Nighty night.

Leading Worship

Tonight is Michael's first night leading worship at Youth Group. I am very excited! Mostly because I know that he is using some of the giftings that the Lord gave him.

I am also very proud of him for stepping out in obedience to what God was asking of him. I know that he was nervous, but still He obeyed! His obedience means many things to me. But one thing that stands out is the fact that I am able to trust my husband's lead. He is listening to what God wants of him, and obeying regardless of how difficult it may be. He hasn't taken the easy road, and I couldn't be prouder of him. It is easy to support him when I know that he is doing what God is calling him to. Way to go love!

I almost can't wait for him to come home to tell me all about it. I know that God has been preparing him for this night for many years.