Rob gets into the Halloween spirit.

The perfect shirt.

Daddy and Rob on a hike.
Grandpa and Rob on the four-wheeler.

My Dream

Usually, those last little dreams you have just before you wake up in morning are completely random. At least, that's my case. However, the dream I had this morning was particularly detailed and deeper than any dream I've ever had. This is how it went.

Matt, Robby, and I were touring an old, dilapidated school along with a large group of people. The building was huge, so I assume it was some sort of university at one time. While touring a part of the building, the ceiling started caving in, trapping many people and ultimately killing them. The rest of us fled into what I assume to be some sort giant, stone foyer, filled with crumbling fountains and statues. The ceiling in this room started to cave in, also. Many people fled, knowing that it would eventually collapse all together, but many stayed behind. While we were of the group fleeing, we stopped and noticed the group that was choosing to stay behind. I thought, Why aren't they running for their lives? Don't they know the ceiling is caving in and they're in danger? Amongst the chaos, I somehow observed that there were three kinds of people in this group; people who were oblivious to the ceiling caving in, people who were too scared to move because the ceiling was caving in, and people who were in denial that the ceiling was caving in. I then told Matt, "We have to try and save these people! We have to get them out!" We ran around the room, yelling out, "You need to get out! The ceiling is caving in and you're in danger! Get out now!", but no one moved. Resolved to the fact that these people weren't going anywhere, I then turned to Matt and said, "If we die, we'll go to Heaven, but if they die, many of them will go to Hell." Matt agreed, seeming to understand where my train of thought was headed. I then spotted a large stage at the far-end of the room and I went and walked onto it. Next, I started preaching to these people, "The ceiling is caving in and all of us will die like the people in the other room. We will all see our Judgement Day. How will God judge you? Will He send you to Heaven or Hell?" I then went through some of the Good Person Test and many of the people were driven to their knees by the Truth. Some people shook their fists angrily at me, cursing and spitting. Others trembled in the corner or ignored me to look at the statues. Nevertheless, I pushed on, praying for the words to say. Just as I finished with repentance and faith, the ceiling gave way. Huge pieces of stone came tumbling down on us, crushing many of the people. I heard people screaming and crying out, scrambling to find safety...

...and then I woke up.

I didn't quite understand the depth of it until I started waking up more. I have never had a dream like this before and it even surprised Matt. I don't want to say or suggest I had some sort of "vision", but I do admit that the subject matter does hit home and it really shook me up and still is even after the fact.

Where the Wild Things Are

When Newsweek asked Maurice Sendak (author of "Where the Wild Things Are"), "What do you say to parents who think the Wild Things film may be too scary?"

Sendak humbly replied, "I would tell them to go to hell."

From what I've read in the review, this movie is deceiving. Unlike the light-hearted, whimsical book, the movie is dark, violent, and full of strong, atheistic overtones; not to mention profanity, blasphemy, and one incredibly disrespectful child.

Still thinking of taking your kids to see it? Sendak sounds like just another God-hating, bitter old man to me. We need to be praying for this man and other authors of children's books. We also need to be praying for discernment as parents to lead our households in a godly manner, being wise and careful to monitor every possible attack on our children - no matter how innocent it may seem. Satan is a wise one.

"Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
There's a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little eyes, what you see."

North Idaho Trip

Sorry this is so late. Getting back into the swing of real life seems to be a challenge this time around for some reason. We had a wonderful time visiting my dad and step-mom in Sandpoint over the past week; with the added bonus of catching up with a childhood friend, my half-brothers, and finally meeting my baby nephew, Chase. A week was far from long enough and none of us wanted to leave.

Our drive up was rather uneventful and went by quickly. We made the drive in about 12 hours, which is pretty good considering all the stops we had to take so Rob could burn some energy and I could visit the restroom...again. We were greeted with open arms as usual and Kathy, my step-mom, didn't waste any time spoiling Robby as soon as she could with new clothes and toys waiting for him. We ate dinner and talked for a bit and then crashed out early.

Sunday was my dad's only day off, so we made the most out of it, but didn't go anywhere. Kathy made a wonderful pancake breakfast for us and then the boys headed outside to find something to burn. We are a family of pyros! Two burn piles and one almost burnt woodshed later, the boys finally made their way back inside. The afternoon was spent chatting and napping (by Rob and I) and then my brother, Matthew (yes, it gets confusing), his fiance, Sara, and their baby, Chase, came over for dinner. It was great seeing my brother after so long and finally meeting the two new additions to the family. Sara is the sweetest girl and I'm excited to someday call her my sister-in-law. And Chase - I grew quite attached to him during the week! What a cutie! The boys played Wii while I held Chase (oh darn) for the rest of the evening.

Monday, all we did was go on a photowalk in the woods and veg, so I'll skip to Tuesday. Tuesday morning, Matt, Rob, and I headed to Coeur d'Alene (my birth place, about an hour away) to do some window shopping and to meet up with my childhood friend, Della. How sweet it was to see her again after seven years! We treated her and her son, Malachi, out to lunch and chatted. She has recently made a profession of faith (praise the Lord!), so we all went to the Christian book store so I could price a bible for myself and to try and find her a better one (little did she know, we went back and bought one for her as a surprise). At that point, Rob and I needed a nap, so we said "goodbye" and headed back to Sandpoint.

Wednesday, we were invited to breakfast at Della's house for a traditional Papa Bob (her dad) breakfast. Unfortunately, the lunch we treated her to the day prior gave her food poisoning and she had to reschedule. Since we were back in Coeur d'Alene anyway, we decided to do some window shopping and eat lunch. The weather was rainy and cold, so we didn't do much else and decided to just head back to Sandpoint. Later, when Dad got off work, we all (Matt, Rob, me, Dad, Kathy, Sara, and Chase) headed back to Coeur d'Alene to eat dinner at Red Robin, my dad and step-mom's new favorite. There we met up with my other brother, Jeramy. I didn't even recognize him as he was walking up behind us! It's been too long. We had a great dinner and visit with everyone, laughing and poking fun at Kathy's blondness (love ya, Kathy).

Thursday evening, we all went out to visit Kathy's mom, who I haven't seen since I was about 13 or 14 years old. She finally got to meet Matt and Robby, who immediately attached himself to her without hesitation. Soon, Matthew, Sara, and Chase joined us and we had a nice family dinner together, laughing, talking, and reminiscing. Dad introduced Robby to great-grandma's piano, so we were "serenaded" by my tone-deaf son. It was a good evening and I was sad to leave.

Friday was nuts. Back to Coeur d'Alene to meet up with Della so she could lead us to her house near Hauser Lake for breakfast. It was wonderful to be able to see my Papa Bob and Mama Pat again! When I was growing up, they were like a second family to me. Malachi and Rob played as we "adults" chatted and caught up some more. We then took a walk down by the lake and then had to say our goodbyes. I didn't want to leave at all. On the way back through Coeur d'Alene, Matt dropped me off at Shari's to meet up with Kathy, Sara, and Chase to eat lunch and then do a "girl's day out". I must not be very girly, because I spent a lot of time herding them out of stores instead of window shopping myself. I bought a few clothes for Robby and an outfit for Chase and then we headed back to Sandpoint to drop Sara off, only to find a huge line of traffic blocking the entrance to town because of construction. Luckily, Kathy knew a round-about way, so we got into town, only to find a long line of cars trying to get out of town. We decided it would be best to just hang out with Sara and Chase for a bit and wait for traffic to die down. I got to feed and hold Chase one more time and then we headed home. While we were gone, Dad, Matt, and Robby went out on an adventure of their own, heading up a mountain to check out the view and scout for deer. Sadly, Matt got to spend more time with my dad than I did, but I'm glad he had a good time. I really wish I got to see him more.

Saturday, we got up early, but later than we had planned (stupid cell phone alarm). We said a quick goodbye to my dad, who had to go to work. We packed up all our bags and belongings, let Robby eat some breakfast and play a bit, said our sad goodbyes to Kathy, and were on the road. I wanted to bawl, but amazingly I kept composure. I so did NOT want to leave! We stopped in Coeur d'Alene to eat breakfast, but the thick fog that morning slowed us down from getting out of town quickly afterwords. We ended up stopping in Post Falls for gas and then we were on our way. The trip home was absolutely horrid. Robby did NOT want to be in his seat at all and made it well-known all the way home. We stopped as much as we could and let him romp around, but it didn't make any difference. He still cried and screamed and struggled. The last five hours were a nightmare, but about an hour out from Twin, he fell asleep and it was peaceful the rest of the way. It was about a 13 hour drive home and we got in about 9:30pm. All of us completely drained, we just crashed, happy to be in our own beds again. We couldn't bring ourselves to make Rob get back in his seat the next morning, so Matt ended up going to church by himself. I'm thankful we made that decision because Sunday was rough for the little man.

So, there's our trip north. It was wonderful and I got to see a lot of people I hadn't seen in years. The weather wasn't great and I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted to (I spent a lot of time sleeping), but it was still good. Also, I dropped the ball when it came to sharing the gospel. I had a chance to at one point, but sinfully, I just changed the subject, something I'm now regretting immensely (please be praying for me). Now, it's back to life-as-usual. It's been a challenge getting Robby re-adjusted back to the normal routine for some reason and he's definitely been showing his true, sinful colors lately, but we're working through it. I'll hopefully get some pictures posted at one point or another, as I'm waiting for some that Kathy took while we were there. Thank you for your prayers for safe travel while we were away. I am quite bummed to know that this will be our last roadtrip anywhere for a long time. :(

North or Bust!

We're off to North Idaho to visit with family and friends for a week, so please be praying for travel mercies!

Prenatal Checkup - 14 Weeks

Today's doctor's appointment had a bit of a rocky start, considering I was almost 20 minutes late to my appointment to begin with. Yikes! Never go to Wal-Mart if you need to be somewhere in the next hour. Seriously - that place makes you forget about time.

I got there and they were still willing to see me. I got to talk to a doctor this time, oddly enough the same doctor that performed my c-section last time (and he remembered me), and the main subject was the "endgame plan" - how this was going to play out and what kind of delivery I could expect. I told him that we would like to try for a VBAC and he was all for it, but he also told me that statistically speaking and all things considered, the odds of me delivering on my own with a creeping blood pressure, high weight, and past c-section make the odds for me delivering naturally very slim and that I should "plan for a c-section". He said that if I made to 37 weeks and went into labor on my own, he'd happily do a VBAC, but if I'm 38 weeks with high blood pressure, gave over. C-section time. He said they would really monitor me to make the best decision, but luckily, they can't induce me this time with a prior c-section. Whew! I do NOT want to do that again! He said, "It sounds like it would be a waste of time anyways. Nothing was working on you!" Nope. Not a thing! I didn't get past 2 cm. So, we'll just have to play it by ear and hope for the best, but at this point, I'm just wanting a healthy baby without the circus that last time brought.

I'm very impressed with the care I'm receiving at St. Luke's OB/GYN. I've heard horror stories, but so far, it's a vast improvement from Dr. Dan. Take for example, the doctor tried to find the baby's heartbeat with the Doppler, but of course couldn't find it. I wasn't shocked. Dr. Dan couldn't find Rob's for the longest time, too, but instead of saying, "better luck next time", this doctor gave me a quick ultrasound to find the heartbeat, free of charge! So, I got the reassurance of seeing our little one kick and squirm (which I've felt for the past week or so, too) and got to hear his/her little heart gallop along (158 BPM). I had to wait awhile to get my ultrasound because they were busy, but it was definitely worth it.

So, things are good. From the sounds of it, the baby's doing great. I have another appointment in a month and then a legit ultrasound sometime after that, hopefully telling us whether we're having a boy or girl. From what the doctor told me, the techs at their office are really good at "looking at babies", so hopefully our chances for finding out the gender are better than with Rob, the modest. So exciting! Please be praying that my blood pressure stays down this time, although it's way lower than it was with Rob, but still a threat. Also, I've been experiencing horrible sciatic pain since yesterday, which I understand is very normal with second pregnancies, so please be praying for relief for that on our trip coming up on Saturday.

That's all I have for now! :)

Snow?!

We were quite surprised to awake to a thick blanket of snow outside this morning and the weather showed no sign of letting up. It's made for a pleasant afternoon spent watching it from inside, snuggled-up warm and cozy. In my ten years of living here, this is the earliest I've seen it snow (other than the day I saw it snow in May, but I don't know if that would count as "early" or "late", really). Hopefully, we don't encounter any snow on our trip north this Saturday or on the return home next Saturday. Please be praying for travel mercies.

I'm trying to figure out how global warming plays into all of this - not particularly warm out there. Hmm.

Taco Soup Recipe

Since the weather here is starting to cool off, I thought I'd add my grandma's taco soup. One bowl of this soup can definitely warm you up on the coldest of days.

Taco Soup

1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 can whole kernel corn
2 cans stewed tomatoes
2 or 3 cans Nally's Original Chili
1 can kidney beans
1 can white or black beans
15 oz. V8 juice
seasoning salt to taste
garlic powder to taste
chili powder to taste (optional)

1. Brown beef with seasoning salt and garlic powder. Throw in onion.

2. In large pot, combine beef mixture and rest of ingredients. Simmer on medium for 1 hour.

3. Top with Fritos, cheese, sour cream, and avocado slices.

The Turtle and the Apple

Matt has taken being random to the Nth degree. If it was an Olympic event, he'd definitely medal in it. From day one, he has done everything in his power to find the most random, out-of-the-blue statements he can throw at me, just to catch me off guard. He'd be quite proud to know that after 6 1/2 years of marriage, he can still make me go, "Huh???"

This is a prime example of his said randomness - the epitome of his off-the-wall statements. This is his legendary story of The Turtle and the Apple. How it started, I really don't remember, but I'm sure he threw it out there to get a reaction and to make me laugh. It still works today. So, I give you...The Turtle and the Apple.

"Think of it this way - there's a turtle and an apple. The turtle takes a bite out of the apple. This upsets the apple, so the apple starts to eat the turtle. The apple all of a sudden realizes that it's an inanimate object and immediately stops eating the turtle. Now, the turtle's in a pickle - well, really an apple. The turtle then decides to start eating his way out of the apple, but accidentally bites into an apple seed. Because of this fatal mistake, the cyanide in the apple seed kills the turtle.

The moral of the story? When you find yourself in a pickle, be glad you're not in an apple."

Now I Agree with my ABC's...

I bought a pack of alphabet flash cards from the Dollar Spot at Target awhile back for Robby. I've started using them with him while he eats breakfast in the morning, since he's contained and can't steal the cards like he wishes. Each card has a picture, the word, and then the letter on the back. At this point, I'm just trying to teach him words, since he won't really say anything outside of babbling mixed with a somewhat recognizable word scattered here and there - usually "Dada". This is usually how our "sessions" go:

Me: *holds up card* "Apple...apple."
Rob: *nods in agreement* *indistinguishable babble*
Me: *holds up next card* "Bird...bird."
Rob: *nods in agreement* *indistinguishable babble*

26 times he does this. Just nods in agreement and gives me that look that says, "Yes, Mother. Good job. That's a bird. Daddy would be proud of you."

Despite his silent mocking, I'm glad he atleast knows how to nod "yes".

Lake Cleveland

Here's some pictures from our day trip to Lake Cleveland, last weekend. Lake Cleveland is a mountain lake in the Sawtooth National Forest near Pomerelle Ski Area near Albion. It was so beautiful up there and we all had a great time getting out of the house!

Meatball Subs Recipe

Definitely an easy favorite in this household. This is another meal I kind of made up as I went along, so please excuse the poor directions. Easily can be substituted for varying tastes and family sizes.

Meatball Subs

1 lb. regular pork sausage
1 lb. ground beef
1 can or jar spaghetti sauce
1 egg
bread crumbs
grated parmesan cheese
garlic powder
shredded mozzarella cheese
hoagie rolls

Combine sausage, beef, egg, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and garlic together with hands in a large bowl. Knead together until fully combined. **Note: Seasonings (parmesan cheese and garlic) are to taste. Bread crumbs should be added until mixture sticks together in order to form balls, but not too dry that they fall apart. Add small amounts until desired consistency is achieved.** Form into 2 inch balls and place into hot skillet. On medium heat, cover, flip over when one side is brown, and cook until meat is no longer pink inside. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer on low for five minutes. Place meatballs and sauce on hoagie rolls and top with mozzarella cheese. Enjoy.

First Ultrasound

Baby #2 says, "Hello world!"
(Click to view larger.)

We had our first ultrasound today and I was blessed to be able to see our little "gummy bear" for the first time. Our baby is growing right on track and it's heartrate was 176 BPM. I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching ultrasounds. They fascinate me; especially when the little on starts wiggling around on the screen. They tried to give us a 3D picture, but the little one was snuggled up really close to me, so it blended in. I was told that they would try again at my next ultrasound around 20 weeks.

We are so very blessed!

First Prenatal Appointment

I had my first prenatal appointment today, and I was dreading it. I hate this part. Doctors sure know how to suck the joy right out of having a baby, it seems, but I was proven wrong, thankfully. I'm going with a different doctor this time; doctors, rather. I'm going to St. Luke's OB/GYN, so I'll have six different doctors looking after me. Something I wasn't thrilled about before, but I think it will ultimately work out to my advantage.

Since our second car is now dead (R.I.P. Gertrude), I had to beg from my aunt, who was kind enough to watch Rob and let me use her car. I went in and filled out all the necessary paperwork, as usual, and then waited. First, I saw what I assume to be a nurse of some sort. I wasn't really sure. She weighed me (I was lighter than I thought) and then she took my blood pressure, which was perfectly normal this time (I gave her fair warning beforehand, though). We then played 2o questions: "When was your last period?" "How was your last pregnancy?" "Would you every steal a monkey from the zoo?" (Okay, I made that last one up.) Then, I got to pee in a cup, strip down into a gown that was about ten sizes too small, and then wait some more (most thrilling part of my day). Finally, someone else came to visit me. A physician's assistant, who was incredibly nice and down to Earth. Very refreshing. We played another round of 20 questions and we talked about the nightmares of my pregnancy with Rob. Thankfully, it seems like I'll have a LOT more say in things. I found out that our hospital indeed does VBAC's (vaginal birth after c-section) and I might be a good candidate, but we would have to see how things are in the end to really make sure. I'll have to discuss things further with the actual doctor next time (October 8th) to find out what he suggests (I get the doctor who did my c-section). Of course, the issue of my weight came up, but only briefly. No nagging or scolding, just suggesting that I really watch what I eat and make sure to drink lots of water and watch my sodium intake to keep my blood pressure low. A pap and four viles of blood later, I was on my way home with an arm-load of books and information to look over.

They scheduled our first ultrasound (already!) for Monday morning, so I'm looking forward to that (somewhat - not the "ooh, warm goop on my belly" kind - the "oh, can I please find a hole and hide myself?" kind). The PA told me that I might end up with more than just the usual two ultrasounds (one around 12 weeks and one around 21 weeks) because of my issues last time and because of my unsure delivery state (VBAC or c-section). That's also the reason why I'm having an earlier ultrasound than usual, now. I think there might have been more wrong than what Dr. Dan was letting on judging by the PA's reactions to some of things I told her about my pregnancy/birth experience, but, of course, that doesn't matter, now. Rob's perfectly healthy and God spared us the worry, but I know better for this time and it sounds like I'll have better care. I'm very glad I decided to switch!

I will post pictures when I get them.

At the Fair

Can't get much cuter than that.

Needless to say, Robby loved the fair. Especially the animals! Matt and I enjoyed the fair as well, walking away with four blue ribbons, one red ribbon, and one green ribbon between us from our photos. A whole $14 in winnings (exactly what we paid to get INTO the fair)!

Little Climber

My son now thinks he's part mountain goat.

Robby climbed up on the couch all by himself yesterday. He half ripped off the couch cover in the process, but as he sat proudly on the couch, he celebrated with his usual clapping and shouts of something that resembles "I did it!". All that stuff on the back of the couch? Had to be relocated. And now there's no stopping him. He climbs all over the place. On the couch, on your lap, into your bowl or plate. Now I have the whole front of the couch lined with pillows, because he also thinks it's fun just to roll off. He wears a guilty look because I think he thought he was in trouble. As soon as I got up to take his picture, his partying stopped and he looked a little nervous.

Kids: Burden or Blessing?

The world sees children as just another financial expense or even a waste of their hard-earned cash, but God sees them as a blessing and a reward (Psalm 127:3). How selfish can we be when we see children as just a strain on our pocketbooks and savings accounts, but don't think twice about buying that new car or tv for ourselves? Yes, children are by no means cheap, but I couldn't think of a better way of "investing" what money God has provided for us and I will happily remain "poor" if it means I have my children. They were given to me by God Himself and I am truly blessed because of it. I wouldn't have it any other way - even if it meant we were able to have a house, a new car, and everything we've ever wanted.

You keep your "stuff". I'll love my kids.

"The poorest nations in the world see children as a blessing. The richest nation in the world, we talk about children in terms of how many we can afford. God help us. [Christians] are dying one generation at a time because we refuse to receive the gift that God wants to bring through the womb." - Pastor Voddie Baucham

(Excerpt from the sermon below.)

The Centrality of the Home in the Evangelism and Discipleship of the Next Generation

Squasherole

Quick, easy, and tasty - all in the microwave!

Squasherole

1/4 c water
1/2 tsp salt
1 - lb yellow squash or zucchini

Combine. Microwave for 8-10 minutes in microwave-safe dish. Drain.

2 TBS butter
1/4 c Ritz cracker crumbs
1/4 c pecans - chopped

Combine. Microwave 2 minutes in separate microwave-safe dish.

1/4 c mayonnaise
1 egg - beaten
1/2 c cheddar cheese
2 TBS butter
1-1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp dried onion

Combine, pour over squash, and microwave for 5 minutes. Add crumb topping. Microwave 5 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes.

See You at the Fair!

We painstakingly mucked through all our photos from the past year and whittled down our best to six photos each for this year's county fair. It was hard because we both have so many favorites! To see this year's entries, please visit these links:

Jenn's Fair Photos

Matt's Fair Photos

They're all entered and ready for judging, so wish us luck! If you plan on visiting the Twin Falls County Fair this year, make sure to look out for our work!

Breakfast Casserole Recipe

A friend sent me her quiche recipe, but I didn't have the pie crusts it called for. So, I got online and found an easy breakfast casserole that was basically the same thing, but simpler. It was a big hit with the boys and incredibly simple to make! I really didn't follow the directions to the letter. I added the amount of fillings that looked good and just made sure that the egg mixture mostly covered the fillings, but didn't overflow the dish.

Breakfast Casserole

1 lb. sausage, ham, or bacon
1 c. cheese, cubed
1 c. veggies (I used fresh spinach, but you could use mushrooms, peppers, onion, etc.)
6-8 eggs (or enough to make sure the whole casserole is covered)
1 3/4 c. milk
6-8 slices of bread, cubed (or enough to cover the bottom of the dish completely)

1. Grease 9x13 casserole dish.

2. Cook meat until fully cooked. Crumble or cut into small pieces.

3. Beat together eggs, milk, and salt and pepper to taste.

4. Layer bread, meat, cheese, veggies, and then eggs in dish. Let sit for five minutes.

5. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until brown.