City Museum, St. Louis

Make a Smilebox slideshow

When Dorie told me that they were stopping at the City Museum in St.. Louis on their way home, I couldn't resist following along!

http://www.citymuseum.org/home.asp

Yes, this museum is worth the drive! It is amazing!!

Pam

Much better…

Oh, my… my camera is uploading pictures as I type… sigh… life is good!

Monday morning the 10 of us piled into the vans and headed to St. Louis!

Sunday night we checked the forecast and realized that the temperature in St. Louis on Monday and Tuesday was going to be over 100 degrees. And Humid.

We had gotten a FABULOUS deal on a hotel room downtown St. Louis on HOTWIRE. So we HAD to go! $59 for a night at Hilton at the Ball Park!

Have you ever done this? You drive up to this 4 star hotel that you booked cheaper than the Super 8, your feeling all proud of yourself, until you start unloading your “luggage” which consists of things like blankies, stuffed animals, Wal-Mart sacks, coolers, and a duffle bag! “Hey Yalll, we just stayin’ da night!”

Yeah. Country Meet City.

All pride aside. And after you tramp in there with 8 children. No. Wouldn’t matter how nice your luggage was.

Needless to say, we loved the Hilton! And we tried to get a second night, but didn’t succeed. Instead we were in the Holiday Inn Express which cost $99 with no electricity and no breakfast. Yes, I’m still bitter, but I guess I am supposed to let it go, because I have ransacked my purse today TWICE and I cannot find my bill! I don’t even remember what town we were in!

Sigh.

The pictures are finally done, so I’ll stop rambling....

The view from our window!

Leah Quickly Spotted the TGI Friday's across the way...

So it was about 100 degrees outside when we arrived at this restaurant for dinner that night. All 10 of us. Yes, 2 adults and 8 children. They seated us in a huge booth by the door. The air conditioning could not keep up and it had to have been around 90 inside. Unfortunately the service was slow and inattentive. And after she informed us of the 18% added to our bill for being a party over 6, it was not hard to figure out why she had been so inattentive to us. We did get that tip removed, and probably weren't as patient as we would have been had we not just spent the last hour corralling 8 children in a hot booth!

We did get coupons for free appetizers or desserts for NEXT time we go to TGI Fridays. Thanks.

Anyway, our room was beautiful, the view was beautiful... see Zach checking out the TV...

The beds were heavenly. Heavenly. A soft, fluffy down comforter with a duvet cover. Click here for an idea of what they looked like. It was SO soft and Wonderful! I told Leah that I really liked this hotel until I got in the bed, now I LOVE this hotel!

We were thrilled that the new Holiday Inn Express also had a down comforter with a duvet, but it was not as soft or as fluffy, and then there is the matter of the electricity thing, but I'm over that. Really. No, Really.

From the pool (second story, inside) we had a view of the Cardinal's Stadium on the other side of the hotel.

Pool. Thankful not to be sitting outside in the 100 degree heat.

Jadon Jumps...

Kiahna Kool...

Leah... um... Leah... sorry... nothing starts with "L" except maybe lemon or laugh... Leah Lemon... Lame.

Lucas Licks. (good one)

I don't know where Zach was by now, back at the room checking out that TV again I believe.

We visited the arch after our TGI Friday's experience. Hoping for more tolerating heat. It didn't get much better. We weren't planning to go up in the Arch this time. We had done that just last year, but I caved and took them back the next day. Jadon loves the arch and begged and cried to go up. I think that may have been his only temper tantrum of the trip.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Pam

Would you please just END!!

The day that just needs to end.

When you wake up in a dark hotel room to the sound of breathing, and that’s it, only breathing.  It is not a good sign.  It was almost 9 am Indiana time when we woke up this morning in a dark hotel in Illinois.  Storms had taken out the power while we slept, and the eagerly awaited shower, and breakfast would have to be forsaken for throwing together everything in the light of the cloudy sun coming in the windows.  No refund was offered, and when I asked for one, I was told the story of the damage all over and how no one would be reimbursing them. (I have yet to call Holiday Inn, but it is coming)

So free breakfast turned in to $25 breakfast at McDonalds.  Yummy.  I never would have paid to stay at the Holiday Inn Express (which was very nice and new) if I couldn’t justify feeding 5 kids and myself on their deluxe sounding breakfast.

That was the first of 3 meals paid out today.  That wasn’t all it was cracked up to be!  Feeling fat and greasy about now.

Drove 5 hours home, split up by school shopping in Indy.  Ending when 3 year old (who will be 4 this month and SHOULD be ending these awful temper-tantrum any day now!) decided she was done.  After drawing the stares of everyone in Target we left the store for home.

Only to end up in traffic because it was 5 pm in Indy.

Only to go through a drive through and have them forget my fries, and give me a Chocolate shake when I ordered Jamoica!  I muttered something about this being the last person today to rip me off and stopped in where the very nice lady at Arby’s gave me fries and a shake.

I continued to endure, tolerate, enjoy the rest of the drive home.

Only to get home and recall the DISASTEROUS state that we had left it in!! 

I can’t upload my pictures because one of my 2 usb ports is not working all of the sudden.  So when I have the camera plugged in I can’t do the mouse, and then I can’t do the… you know what I mean.

So, I’d love to show you the pictures of our trip to St. Louis.  The City Museum, the Gateway Arch, the BEAUTIFUL HILTON Hotel with a view of the Arch and all the FUN we had!  But, I can’t.

Maybe tomorrow?  I’ll try to sneak that in between hair cuts, summer school, grocery shopping, and school registration.  Oh and there is this house!  I should ground myself from the computer for a month!  But, I want to catch up on all the blogs I missed first!

Tomorrow WILL be better, and HIS mercy will be new!!

Pam

The week rolls to an end…

Hello!  Our house is still teeming with activity and children!  Yes, more than the normal!  Today is the last day that Dorie and her 3 children will be spending here with us.  It has been so much fun for all of us.  A little hard at times with so many children around the same age.  Mostly, it was us two with our 3,3,4,5,10,10,11 year olds.  See.  Fun. 

Arguing.  But, many sweet times.

The wonder of toads……………………............the dismay of "time-out"

Dorie's son, Josh, who is 3, had never seen a toad.  We found one at the neighbor's pond.  It became his new best friend!  So cute!  He took it in the van with us, and we were loading things up.  All the sudden everything fell out of the back of the van and out popped his little head, yelling, "it's okay!  I lost my toad, but I know where it is!"  We did find the toad, eventually, and all was well.

A week just full of precious moments like that.  Seeing the wonder of the country in the eyes of good friends.  New appreciation for things you take for granted is always a blessing.

We've been enjoying good food along the way too!  YES, WE cooked!!  Which is an accomplishment for both of us and we are very proud of ourselves!  Of course we had fresh meat from my friends who dropped off their extras!  We enjoyed a steak dinner last night, with grilled steak, zucchini, tomatoes, sweet corn, and mushrooms and onions on the side!  And for dessert coffee and banana split pie!

Another night I made key lime pie!  The 5 minute kind that you find on the back of the light graham cracker crust package.  May I suggest that you buy more than just 2 yogurts, just in case someone eats one or two before you get to the pie making business!?! 

My little pie (yogurt) lover, displaying her delight...

No one seemed to have any problems finishing this off... and it is also solid enough that if it slides off the plate onto the floor you can pick it right up and no one is the wiser!  Of course you had to have just swept the floor so there is no dirt, and always obey the 10 second rule!  LOL!  Mom's need to know these things!! 

We do own a whole drawer full of silverware.  I promise!

We were so blessed to be able to get away to hear Beth Moore, live-via-simulcast, Friday night and Saturday.  We were both very ready for a break from our kids.  Not to mention that they were very ready for a break from us!  They had a blast with three babysitters who came over and played with them!  What a blessing it all was.

If you read my posts often, you know how much I adore Beth Moore.  If you've known me over the past 3 years, you may be concerned that I have a Beth Moore addiction!  I am sure that I do!  I absolutely love hearing her speak.  I have said on many occasions that I need an IV of her!  If she could just follow me around in my daily life speaking all that life and truth AND ENERGY into me!  I am just sure life would be better!

Of course, I was not disappointed this time either.  Beth spoke on the parable of the sower.  The theme verse was Luke 8:8

"Still other seed fell on good soil.  It came up and yielded a crop a hundred times more than was sown."

She spoke of receiving our 100 fold blessing.  The average yield in Palestine was 7-15 times.  She spoke of treasuring the wonder, not allowing satan to come and steal away your seed, by protecting our hearts.  Of expecting the tests.  Digging roots.  Stopping the choke.  Retaining the Word.  Pressing forth to your 100-fold.

Each point hit me in a different way.  I could see how I have been victim of each one.  How many times God has spoken to me and the enemy has come and stolen away the Word.  The circumstances have made me believe that what God had said couldn't possibly ever be true for me.  And the Word, and the Hope, was stolen yet again.

In testing, Beth said, "Here is where we find the break down in our Christian system.  Believe until life gets hard"  It is so hard, life that is.  And it is also hard to believe that God is going to bring good, joy, peace, love, back into your life, EVER, when you are in those hard, testing spots.

From my notes on that... "God had given Joseph a vision.  We are tried until it was proven true in us.  The Word is used for refining and purging us.  To give us the integrity and character we are going to need.  To prove us genuine.  It's showing that you really were the right choice.  Burns out the fake in us."

When the third session had begun, Beth was praying.  One thing that she said struck me and I rushed to write it down (before it was stolen from my heart) as soon as she finished.  She said in the prayer, "We need to know if we should still Hope for something Lord, or if there is something we should set aside."

That has been the cry of my heart for so long.  Am I hoping for something that will never be?  Am I making up the things that I think You have said to me?  Am I crazy?

My hope still lies in seeing HSSH's life restored to fullness.  I don't really know what that means.  I know what I would like that to mean, and I have to work on letting go of that. 

Is it time to let go of that hope and move on?  Is that what you are saying to me God?  Is that what You want me to do?  Because the circumstances sure back up that idea. 

As Beth finished up she talked about "Pressing towards that 100-fold".  How things take longer than we think they should.  She said "Anytime God has called us to do something, we get in the middle of it and wish He could start something else!  We think, I wish I'd never started this thing! You've got to finish.  Persevere for it.  Harvest doesn't come quickly.  It will take time.  It will demand perseverance out of you."

I don't claim to understand.  I don't claim to know what the finish looks like for us.  I do know that this isn't finished yet.  I don't know why it isn't.  It sure looks finished.

I SURRENDER TO YOUR WILL FATHER.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.  BUT I DO KNOW THAT I WANT TO FINISH THIS THING.  I WANT YOUR PLANS TO PLAY OUT.  I WANT YOUR WILL FOR MY LIFE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.  I WANT MY CHILDREN TO RECIEVE THE BLESSING OF HAVING A MOTHER WHO WAS GENUINE AND REAL.  WHO LOVED HER GOD AND EVEN IF SHE HAD IT ALL WRONG, THOUGHT SHE WAS DOING WHAT HE SAID.  HELP ME DEAR FATHER.  I CANNOT TAKE ONE STEP ON THIS ROAD WITHOUT YOU.  IN JESUS NAME.

****************************

In the morning, Dorie and I will be headed out for a couple days on a little road trip!  Then she will go her way and us ours.  Meet you back here on Wednesday.

Pam

Touring the Countryside…

I’ve found it interesting to show someone around our small community and see it through their eyes!  To see the awe and excitement of yet another Amish buggy!  Or the thrill of jumping on the trampoline or climbing the tree house.  Swimming in the pond, riding a horse, or going to the park to see the bison.  And let’s not forget about that loose cow!!    Puts a new appreciation in my eyes of our small town and it’s charm!

Some pixs of my kids the past few days…

Kiahna horse back riding… she loves them!

Jadon’s turn…

Lucas chooses not to ride…

Swimming…

Sipping Homemade Root Beer from the Drive In…

Taking a vacation in our own hometown… Interesting concept.  What could beat that… Oh yeah, taking one NOT in your hometown!!  Maybe next week!?  Having fun anyway!!

Pam

On an adventure…

We are mid-adventure with Dorie and her children’s visit to our country home from the city! 

I could write about 1,000 things right now, but time to write is the problem! 

One of the neighbor’s cows are loose in our woods at the moment.  It’s been out there a few days and no one seems to be able to find him.  The kids hear him moo every once in a while, but we have yet to see him!  Dorie’s daughter, Michelle, has declared this the most exciting thing ever! 

Mostly we are running around trying to have "fun” while discipline and supervising 4 kids under 5!  Fun.

Looking forward to a little mom escape on Friday evening and Saturday as we go see Beth Moore via simulcast from Louisville!!  YEAH!!!

Then we are just crazy enough to be considering a little road trip come Monday morning, following Dorie for awhile, and seeing some site!

Yeah, were nuts.

Pam

Time Warp Testimony Tuesday #1

Today I am going to go back into my journal and share from February 2006.  Beginning at my trip to Dorie’s house, and my visit to the prayer room near her house.

2/3/2006… I feel the presence of the Lord as I sit in this room.  I want to weep.  I had so much unrest as I let HSSH rob me of my peace of mind again.  As I sit here there is an overwhelming feeling.

2/4/2006… “Every Word of God is pure, He is a shield to them that put their trust in Him.”  Proverbs 30:5  Oh Lord, I need YOU to be that shield for me.  I put my trust in YOU.  I confess that I became filled with fear-anger-frustration about what HSSH is doing to our marriage.  About what kind of lawyer he hired. 

As I sat in that prayer room yesterday, I had this overwhelming sense of Your presence that brought tears to my eyes.  The longer I sat there watching the other people there, hearing the Word spoken and sang, I broke down.  Dorie prayed with me Jeremiah 29:11 and other Scripture.  I had my cry and opened the Word again.  I drank deeply in the Word letting it sooth my wounded heart.  It was a place that my mind is not sure what to do with.  But, my soul yearns to go back.

2/6/2006…I dread returning to my life.  This has been such an awesome break from reality-spiritual growth-rest-relaxation-conversation- just a blessing!  You are so very, very good to me!  You care so deeply and intimately about my life.  My pain.  My sorrow. 

“The name of the Lord is a strongtower, the righteous run into it, and are safe”  Proverbs 18:10

2/7/2006…Oh Lord my God, You are my refuge and my strength.  You are holding on to me as I dangle over a pit of despair and fear.  I know how easily it would be to fall today.  HOLD ME IN YOUR RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND!!!  Help me to handle one issue at a time.  I have a notice of a certified letter which will be divorce papers.  I have the normal adjustments it takes to get back into the swing of being a mom again.  Only by Your Almighty Grace can I do this.

“For I the Lord thy God will hold your right hand, saying unto you, fear not, I will help you”  Isaiah 41:13

Pam

Fox Hole Friends

You know what a fox hole is, right?  One of those holes you dig in intense battle to hide in.  The people that join you in those holes quickly become your friend as you face death and destruction together.

God gave me a friend like that.  It is one of the most incredible friendships I have.  One, because of the way it came about.  Two, because we can talk about anything.  Three, because we have come so far together - so far apart!

Because of the sensitivity of their story, I won’t use her real name.  And I won’t be posting any pictures.  It’s a bummer, but it’s the nature of the battle.

Before HSSH left, I was already addicted spending lots of time researching important topics on the Internet.  Mostly adoption issues.

I met Dorie on a Yahoo site.  She and her dh were in the beginning stages of adopting a baby.  We had lots in common and chatted easily.

As time went on and difficult things developed in their adoption, I was there for her.  And then my life came crashing in.  She was there for me.

I remember standing at my living room window having the thought that I didn’t know who of my friends would be here for me when life had just fallen to pieces.  Realizing that the person I had communicated with the most lately I had never even met.

Dorie and I continued our relationship, and I had many friends I could SEE come to my rescue also.  She got unlimited long distance, so phone calls became a daily thing, as we unloaded our lives on each other and cried on each other’s  our own phone receivers, to each other.

A few months after HSSH left, I really needed a break from my kids, my life, my HSSH, my reality, myself!  I did probably the most daring thing I had ever done in my life, and I bought a ticket to fly and meet my Internet friend!

It was exciting and fun!  We ran around while her wonderful dh watched her kids!  We were so alike in so many ways that we even came out dressed identical one day!  That was too funny!  It was a break from my circumstances that I so desperately needed, in more than one way.

On that trip God met me in an incredible way.  Near her home there is a House of Prayer.  Here in our area they were beginning one too.  I was excited, and oh so naive, to get the chance to go and check it out.  What I found was the Spirit of God in a way I never knew existed.

In the midst of my pain, frustration, agony, God met me.  Brought me a friend who took me to a place that would blow my “God box” wide open.

Do you have a God box?  I sure did.  A place that you try to keep God contained.  It’s all nice and neat and comfortable.  I pulled Him out when I needed Him and He stayed there until I needed Him again.  It looked a certain way and was decorated with certain things based on the church I attended and the experiences I had.

This was the beginning stages of my adventure in figuring out for myself that MY GOD doesn’t fit in any box. (Although, I don’t deny that I sure keep trying to make Him fit in one in many ways)  He is wild and amazing.  More incredible and more capable than I ever imagined.  HE is so very, very good to me. 

As I sat in the prayer room for the first time, I began to weep.  The Sprit of God was so great in that room.  It was what my soul was longing for.  It was less than an hour that we were there, and it changed me.

I have made a few more trips out there to see Dorie since then, and she is making her second trip out here this week!  Our battles still rage, just mentally on some days, and just different enough that we understand each other’s emotions without stepping on each other’s toes.  The perfect fox hole friend.

God is so amazing!  Love you Dorie!  Just keep swimming!!!

Pam

Pictures of My Birthday

All of us.

Grandma helped Leah make me this cake!

I took James and Zach school shopping Saturday.  They bought these shirts.

Oh, NOW James isn’t so sure he wants the world to read his shirt…

Too bad, I gotcha anyway…

It’s kinda hard to read the whole thing (through the campfire smoke), it says, “The three best things in life are girls football and parties”  We tried to convince him of what it should say, Jesus, Mom and sisters!  But, he didn’t know that he would have bought it if it’d said that.  At least he’s honest.  Someday James, someday.

Pam

Another year

I was in the Doctor’s waiting room this past week, waiting while my two oldest got their sports physicals done.  I leafed through a multitude of magazines.  Something in one of them struck me enough to write it down. 

Why I love my age.  “Maybe if you’re younger you have more energy – but that’s a big maybe.  Because at this stage of life, I have more patience, understanding, wisdom, resources, and a husband.  I didn’t get him until I was 39, but I got a good one.  -Angela Bassett

When Leah and I spent the day at Cedar Point earlier this summer, there was lots of talk about the rides, how old they are, which ones were there when I was young.  Leah asked me if I ever wish I was young again.  My response was “do I have to repeat all the same things I’ve already lived through?  If I do then, NO.  If I get a different life, then yes.”

When I checked my blog roll this morning, I saw that Leslie's Blog said, “In the Arms of God”.  Leslie went to Heaven yesterday after 32 years.

Today is my 36th birthday. 

I thank God for my health, patience, understanding, wisdom, and resources HE has given to me.

I am thankful I can spend the day with my 6 WONDERFUL children.  My church family.  And I have a friend (and her kids) from out of state traveling today to come and spend the week here with us!

Thank YOU Jesus for LIFE!  May I live it for YOUR glory!

Pam