It Was A Sad Day When...

I saw in the news that our town had finally succumbed. We would be getting our 1st Chuck E. Cheese. Now all you 'cool' moms are thinking that I'm crazy...I mean, what an awesome addition to the neighborhood, right? Ha! Not for me honey, the last time I was in a Chuck E. Cheese was about 10 years ago, before I even had kids (I was dragged in there by another couple who had a little boy and they evidently thought it was just the coolest place on the planet), and I would have really been happy to avoid a return visit.
We have become desperate for a reason not to go...Greg actually looked at me one day and said, "I really think it would be a sin for us to go to Chuck E. Cheese. Look at the place...it looks like a casino for kids! Doesn't the Bible say something about "avoiding the appearance of evil?" Ok...so we were really desperate!
My kids have been great about it though, and if I'm not mistaken, the place has been open about a year, and we have not yet patronized it. I told the kids right up front that a Chuck E. Cheese visit would not be like our McDonald's drive thru stops (like every five minutes, already!), but would be for something special like a good grade card or something similar to that.
Last week, I had an idea straight from Heaven. Trick or Treat was to happen this week, and it also happens that we are in revival. There's nothing more frustrating than to try to dress everybody up, fly around town begging for candy, and then quit 30 minutes early, quickly change clothes, and take 4 completely sugared up kids to sit through an hour and a half service. So not worthwhile! Since trick or treating is something that the kids enjoy, I decided to make them a deal...would they be willing to trade Trick or Treat for Chuck E. Cheese? It was a unanimous and enthusiastic "yes" vote, and I'm happy to report that I finally found a decent use for the place.
Tomorrow is the big day, so by the evening my mental state may be completely altered, and my mind forever fried, but the kids will be happy and hopefully poorer in calories and cavities. So...I'm signing off for the time being...it may take me until Monday to fully recuperate. So long for now!
p.s. I'm also happy to report that Chuck E. Cheese also gives tokens to kids who bring in a good report card! Since our kids just got theirs yesterday (and they were swell students this quarter), we may make off better than we thought! Just don't tell my kids about this...they'll try to drag me back in January...

Happy Birthday to...

WILLIAM ERIC NICHOLS!!!

Another Week~How Time Flies!

It's hard to believe that we are approaching the last week of October 2009. Summer went quickly for me, but since school has started and every day is packed from start to finish, it seems like time is somehow in fast-forward! This past week was especially busy. On Tuesday night, our students presented their annual fall program entitled "Go Light Your World". Mrs. Pouzar and I have the primary responsibility for the school programs, and we often find it difficult to come up with material that "fits". We like drama and music, but we also like a strong Biblical theme, humor, and emotion. The program also has to encompass grades PreK-12. No small feat.
This year we decided to do a missions theme, and knowing we would be pressed for time, started brainstorming our own program. With the Lord's help and a group of 26 enthusiastic and talented kids, we were able to pull off a 45-50 minute program that encompassed all of our objectives. The crowd was AWESOME (thanks to all who came), the kids did an outstanding job, and we probably spent less than $20 on the whole thing. Mission accomplished.
Today we had planned to take a field trip to Sauder Village in Archbold, and we were pretty excited to see the new things they had going on up there. The weather, however, had other plans for us, so we headed south to the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton. I could probably go there every six months because I never really get to see everything, and today was no exception. I was with the preschool and kindergarten (along with a couple of other moms), and they loved every minute of it. We really had to keep them moving! Everyone was able to view an IMAX film there at the museum, so that took about an hour of our time. The kids loved it...one fell asleep, poor guy, he was so tired!

I crack up every time I look at this pic. We took it the day after the program because one of the little girl's candles kept flopping down during the program. I don't have much creativity, so this was the best I could do. Kudos to the little ones who practically had their heads cut off because the poster board was rubbing under their necks...they were so patient! If you can't tell, they were supposed to be little candles...they sang "This Little Light of Mine" (the 'cool' version) :)

Love these little ones...I get to spend three days a week with them...

Birthday Girl...4 years old!

Playing memory...

My sweet little sidekick...she's so good and flexible with mommy's day to day routines that never seem to be the same! She's totally along for the ride...all the time!

Now it's Friday night. The kids are exhausted and already sound asleep...before 11 p.m. Yay! Tomorrow I will make a couple of different kinds of soup, and begin preparation for next week. The Halloween Fest in our town is Monday evening, and we have revival beginning Tuesday through the rest of the week. I have found that being prepared for revival takes concentrated planning when you are gone all day every day! It's one thing to drop into your seat at church completely exhausted and frustrated (because you are truly exhausted), but quite another to be exhausted yet mentally and emotionally prepared to allow God to work in your heart in spite of your physical state.

Now I'm rambling, so I'm going to wrap it up for tonight. Hope all of you enjoy your weekend!

Scenes from the weekend...

It was a lot of fun to spend a few days in Cincinnati this past week. Greg and I were able to take off Friday, so we left after Ryan's practice Thursday evening, and arrived at Grandma's in time to enjoy some pizza before crashing for the night. On Friday, after a huge breakfast at grandma's, Greg played in GBS's golf tournament with Adam, Mark, and another guy (can't quite remember who), and Valerie and I(along with 5 children)attempted to do some shopping. The kids enjoyed the two-story carousel at Florence Mall. I don't have any pics of that little adventure, cause my battery died. Allison totally loved the ride, and cried when she had to leave her horse.

Homecoming '09 was a good time. We enjoyed this year's format. Saturday's picnic was a great substitute for Homefest. The kids loved the facepainting booth (ok, so I did too)...

Lil' Livvy...

The boys enjoying a little cousin time with Kaden...

Loyal alumni :)

My s-i-l, Megan, looking great at about 36 weeks...

Evan and Khara...

Ryan hoping she can paint an "M"...

Not bad!

Can't see Evan's very well, but she did an awesome job!

Uncle Adam picked a chilly day to be in the dunk tank!

Evan enjoying a good laugh with Uncle Mark...

Livvy, Evan, Khara, and Kaden...

Livvy ~n~ me...

Uncle Mark found a turtle on the golf course...

On Saturday we left Cincinnati in time for the boy's final football games this season. This pic is terrible, but Ryan's coach (purple shirt) had told the team that if they won a certain game, he would shave his head and let them paint it before the final game. They won, and he made good on his promise. Ryan loved painting a big "M" on his head!

The sun went down just after the games began, and it was freezing!

Since I had Educator's convention on Monday, we arranged to meet Adam and Valerie in Dayton on Sunday night after church so they could watch the kids for me. We attended the boy's awards service on our way out of town, and especially enjoyed listening to the testimony of a young man who now plays football for Defiance College. He came from a large family, and was homeschooled up until 7th grade. At the age of 10, he lost his mom to breast cancer. His world was turned upside down, of course, and he was forced to enter a realm that was completely foreign to him as a very young man. Philippians 4:13 became an important verse to him during those days. He went on to play high school football, and now he is in his senior year of college, and captain of the team. He very capably conveyed the message of Christ being our sole source of strength and help, and showed how God used bad circumstances in his life to bring forth good results.

The kids had lots of fun staying with Uncle Adam and Aunt Valerie overnight on Sunday, and then for the day Monday. Dad and I made the trip to Indy for CEC, and after a long, full day, met up with the gang again in Dayton to get the kids before heading on home.

Aubrey was probably ready for some peace and quiet!

Lots of miles, lots of smiles...it was a great weekend!

The Birth of a Blog

Happy Wednesday! Hopefully all of you are having a great week. There has been a little too much excitement for my liking over the last couple of days, but at least I can say without a doubt, "I'm not bored!"
I wanted to let you know about a new blog that I have just begun. It will be a little more personal and contemplative, and a little less newsy. I didn't feel that a journal-style post would be fitting on our family blog, so I've created a new place. Feel free to check it out at http://www.stephanieburley.blogspot.com/, and give feedback on topics that interest you.
Thanks!
Stephanie