JACOBISM'S

Jacob can be such a funny kid... The other day as we were driving home ( from where I can't remember) and he and Meagan are having a conversation in the back about the male and female's role in this world. It went something like this Jacob: "Meagan boys are the ones that work when you get older and girls just get to play, you know like mommy and daddy do"
Meagan: (just as serious as could be) "Okay sounds good to me, I don't want to work anyway"
It surprised me that Meagan was okay with this because she is a very independent driven little girl and doesn't usually do well with Jacob telling her how anything is supposed to be. ( I love that since I don't leave the house for a job I just "play" all day :) )

We were walking by the movie theatre the other day and Jacob said " hey we just saw that movie (referring to Horton hears a who) in the elevator there yesterday"
Whenever we watch a movie at home he always wants to turn the lights off like an elevator :) ( I don't correct him because it is tooo cute!!!)
His favorite dessert is Muddy muddy pie ( it's Mississippi Mudd but he couldn't pronounce that so we have renamed it).
One summer we had mosquitos really bad so therefore we constantly had mosquito bites all over us, he had his shirt off and noticed his nipples and said "Look I have bug bites here) So for a while everyone had bug bites, I told him what there were really called and he couldn't pronounce nipple so now they are called "dimples" Since I have been nursing Ryder he talks alot about dimples ( way too much about dimples). The other day in Sunday school they were talking about samson and they colored a picture of him, well he had his shirt off and he was missing his "dimples" so Jacob made sure to add those onto him :). Funny funny kid I wish over the years I had been writing down all his Funnies , oh well gotta start somewhere right?

piggy banks

Our children's museum here was having a piggy bank contest in different age categories ranging from pre-k thru 5th grade. Meagan and Jacob both made awesome paper mache piggy banks. Well, Meagan's was a pig Jacobs was a dinosaur. BUT, I forgot to take a picture before we went to the contest :(. Jacob's won first place and they are keeping it on display in the museum through May!!! He won a $50 savings bond and a baggy of prizes ( he was just excited about the baggy ) He will also have his picture in the paper and be on the news :) . Meagan did not win in her age group and was very upset ( I was disappointed for her also) she really should have either won or gotten honorable mention, because the bank that won was a coffee can wrapped in construction paper. I know I am being biased, but hers is really awesome and she put a lot of work and love into her "princess piggy". So hers is on display in the Haustein house thru May, you are welcome to come and admire it!!! :) I am so proud of the both of them.

My Story (or some of it)

I had a moment at church today... And was reminded of my journey through life so far.
When I was 13 I decided to be baptized, I remember feeling so intense about God and so on fire for his word, wonderful feelings, I knew absolutely God's way was the right way. Well, Satan attacked me and his attacks were fierce. I was not prepared for the temptations I had to face that year and years to come at school and at home. I made horrible decisions that would affect me and my family forever. I carry these scars still with me today but I carry them in a different light than I ever thought I would be able to do. God saved me from my "choices" and brought me back to his. Over the years I have felt a gentle nudging to share my story but not the push to do so. Just the quiet voice letting me know he was preparing me to share my story with others who may be dealing with those same temptations and not have the strength or courage to fight them off. Well, last summer the urge got stronger to share my story, still no push just more of something I need to do soon. So I have been praying, about courage to share, and the words to come when the time is right. Throughout this year I have felt God has really been placing me in areas to prepare me even more for me to find my courage and words. Today in Church was a BIG I am really talking to you Wendy,, get ready your time is NOW!!!! Maybe not necessarily to share my actually story but to be involved with others who I can help and encourage to fight those temptations and to let them know, "I have been there I know how you feel, and I know God is BIGGER than those temptations".

Camping Trip

We went camping Easter weekend at Cloudland Canyon State Park in Georgia. We had beautiful weather, and lots of fun at this gorgeous campground. Ryder got very sick and he and I had to come home early :( We have had a sick kid every time we have gone camping, first it was Meagan with strep and an ear infection then Ryder with ruptured eardrums, and again Ryder with the flu and (even though he JUST got tubes) another horrible ear infection :(. Despite the sick kids we have so much fun and wonderful family time. We are just going to try try again and hopefully no one will come down sick our next camping trip.

My Heart Swells !!!!

Meagan our little go-getter is taking guitar lessons and doing very well (if I do say so myself, but her teacher also agrees!). She is always making up songs and dances and always has new ideas. The other day I was trying to get her to focus on practicing and she said "but, mommy I don't want to practice, I just want to write songs!!!" she then proceeded to sing me a song (about a horse going through the backdoor :) ). Anyhow it was a very cute song and when she was finished she said, "don't you think that sounds like a country song?" I said yes it does but you still need to practice. :) Well, she had guitar lessons today and told her teacher about her goal to be a song writer and that she had written a song and wanted to play it for him, he was very impressed not only with her talent but also with the confidence she has in herself. I was so proud that she wanted to share her song with him and that she has such a confidence in herself not to worry about whether or not he would think that song was good enough. GO GIRL!!! He was also impressed with her creativity and told us we have something to watch in her she has a definite talent.

Pay it forward..The Big Give.....KINDNESS

I watched Oprah's Big give on Sunday evening and was brought to tears, it was so neat to see those people get so excited about helping others. Why can't we all be like this everyday? Obviously we can"t buy people houses or cars or other extravagant items everyday, but the little things really do add up. Two weeks ago John was in the drive thru of a fast food restaurant, he went to pay for his food and the cashier said the lady in front already paid, this made John's day . I've heard of stories of people receiving money in the mail or grocery's dropped at there door while in the middle of hard times. Random acts of kindness. This reminded me of the movie Pay It Forward, do good to others not so you are benefitted but because it will benefit many. It's good to see God's hand at work in the little and the BIG things...
I've made myself a list of little things I would like to accomplish for others.
1. Making sure I send thank you cards, these always make me feel good, and I have been a little too lazy with this in the past, SORRY!
2. dropping thinking of you cards in the mail occasionally ( I love to make cards, I need to put this to good use)
other small things like this, that are easy to do and help brighten days.

Birthday Parties

Whew it's been busy here with Birthdays, first my dad's and then two days later it was Brenda's. The kids decided on a Rock Star theme, so we hung music notes up on the wall and from the fan, they painted there hair on Saturday for my dad's party (we couldn't for Brenda's because we didn't want them going to school with colored hair!!) We had fun celebrating with all.

OUR JOYS

I walked into the living room to find Jacob holding Ryder and talking to him. This was so precious, I had to snap a photo.