Camping at Devil's Lake, J's first time

We got back from camping yesterday afternoon. What I don't like about vacation, is coming home tired and having to unpack! Even though this was only a 2-day camping trip, we still had a lot to unpack. Originally, we were going to leave early Saturday morning, but because of the cloudy weather we decided to wait. We tried getting J to take a nap but he was wide awake pretty much the whole time just talking and jabbering to himself. When we got to the camp, we registered and J found a little 4-legged friend. They had a resident cat named Elliot who was a beautiful orange and white tabby. J enjoyed petting it but then couldn't resist chasing him and finally Elliot had enough and ran back across the driveway to the house. J was very excited to be back at Devil's Lake (kept asking to go swimming) and doing this thing called "camping".


We met the first couple and went back to set up our tents. I was pleasantly surprised that our tent had plenty of room for the pack-n-play. I hadn't been quite sure if that was going to work out. We set out for the lake and all of us went swimming. The water was really nice once you got all the way in and got used to it. J swam with daddy and me and really enjoyed it. He did plenty of splashing and kicking and then he swam on my back while I had his arms around my neck. Soon after, the other couple showed up and we went back to have some dinner; brats over the camp fire.





Every Saturday they have a dance at the Chateau of Devil's Lake so we went after dinner. They had a brass band playing. I took J out on the dance floor and he just loved it! He was nodding his head to the beat. Once the song was over and I went to sit down, he was asking to dance again. This time daddy danced with him which was so cute. Then he was asking again so I took him out. Very fun. It was really warm in the chateau so I was dripping sweat and then J started to get real cranky so L and I decided to go back to camp. We put J to bed and I did our night routine in the tent. Every night I sing a song to him based on Numbers 6:24-26 and J was singing it with me for the first time. It was sweet. He called out for us for a little bit as he heard our voices but then he was quiet. We broke out the s'mores for dessert and then after talking for a while we headed off to bed in the tent.

We were all up pretty early and headed out to breakfast at the Log Cabin restaurant in Baraboo. It's one of our favorites. J started out really well focusing on coloring but once he colored his whole page, read the couple books I brought, he changed his tune and was not happy. One of those times where everything I offer he pushes away, he cries, he wants out, etc. Then the food came and he settled down again. Later, we packed up the camp site and spent the better part of the day at the lake again. Swimming was really nice. J got cold pretty fast but let our friend Cecile hold him and swim around with him for a while. Then he went in with daddy so I could stay and swim more. We went in the chateau for lunch and while we were there J kept asking for the band. The line was too long so we went home. We had a really nice time.

Giant pickle mommy

After breakfast yesterday, we played with a new game. It has different colored blocks you fit into a peg board. J mostly enjoyed naming all the colors of the blocks. It seems like he knows pretty much all his basic colors now.

For devotional time today, I continued in Luke 4. Jesus continued his ministry teaching in the synagogues. He read the scroll from Isaiah and spoke of the nature of his ministry. To preach the good news to the poor: Here the poor didn't mean financially poor, but in the Greek it referred to utter helplessness, afflicted, distress. God invites us to a feast of plenty when we are in relationship with him. So often we think of our needs as temporal things, yet Jesus is offering us the deeper riches of himself. To heal the brokenhearted: Here broken would mean to break the strength or power of something. Heal would mean to cure, restore. This makes me think of the hymn "There is a Balm in Gilead", where Jesus is our balm, we go to him to be healed. That hymn has always ministered to me. It takes my memory back to being healed of my deep depression the year after my son was born. Jesus was the balm that restored my health. To proclaim freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed. He finished the reading by saying that today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.

After J's nap, I told him he was having spaghetti for dinner. He was so hungry I asked him if he wanted to start. He said yes then was excited saying "scubiddy, scubiddy, scubiddy" his word for spaghetti. Daddy took over when he got home to relieve me for going to mom's night out with my Titus group. We had a fondue party and I made a Parmesan fondue (see recipe on my kitchen blog). The food was wonderful and we had some really good mommy conversations on all kinds of subjects. It was so nice to get a night away.

This morning after daddy left, we played outside for a bit. J took my hand and pointing down the drive said "walk?" We went on our longest walk yet without any stroller or his little car. Just both of us walking. This wasn't so good when I wanted to turn around and he got upset because he wanted to keep going. I had to pick him up and carry him which was a lot after a block or so. Soon it was time to head to the library for story time. J did join in a little bit with the singing and during the song "If you're happy and you know it" he was dancing, dancing. I was really enjoying his cuteness today. I had a good workout at the Y pushing myself to run for 20 minutes and walk for 10. Before lunch, I squeezed in a quick trip to the grocery store. When I pulled in, J says "I'm dancing" and I turn around to see him wiggling and kicking his legs to the beat. We sat there for several minutes just "dancing" in our seats. Had to capture the moment. J ate a really sparse lunch again, only eating part of a banana and yogurt. He wouldn't touch his sandwich other than to throw it on the floor. Later, I was making up songs and singing to him and then he said "worship?" so I put in our bible song CD and played it.

I can't believe the temperature was pushing 80 today. It started sunny with a breeze but then got cloudy and rained. J wanted to go to the park but I kept telling him it was raining. We went to the Christian bookstore to get a gift for my niece's first communion we're going to this weekend in the Chicago suburbs. J did pretty well listening when I'd tell him "no touch". He did so well while I browsed. He found a car book that kept him occupied. The last time we were there I kept J in a stroller. This time I didn't even bring one. He's been doing well just learning to follow me and stay fairly close.

We took our babysitter Dave out for dinner tonight. He won't accept money so we treat him to dinner instead. J was super hungry and ate well. He behaved really well too. On the way home, he started a little game with me. He had been coloring a Veggie Tales coloring book with Goliath the Giant Pickle in it. He would say giant pickle shirt or giant pickle feet, he'd add a word and then laugh. The pickle kind of scared him so I think this was his way of making it not so scary. It was so cute when he said giant pickle dave, giant pickle daddy and giant pickle mommy. When we got home, he wanted to go outside and play but it was way past his bedtime so he went night-night (as I call it). Pretty soon mommy's going night night too.

My little one loves to dance

Today I woke up feeling much better. I'm sure it helped that I went to bed around 9:30 last night. I am still taking it easy eating bland foods just to be safe. Julian wanted to do some coloring after breakfast and then wanted to hear the story of Moses again from his toddler bible. While I ate, I read the Quiet Rest book. The message today was that God's word really tells a love story. How we all have a God-created hole that cries out to be filled, a deep need for intimacy. Many people in the scriptures illustrate this love (Adam and Eve, Abraham, David, Mary and Martha.) Julian wanted to be held again. We saw some birds at the feeder outside and watched them for a while. He wasn't really interested in painting or doing art downstairs.

David's story continues in 2Samuel 15. His son Absalom conspires evil in his heart to win the hearts of Israel and steal the throne from David. Afraid of an attack, David leaves Jerusalem with his officers and household. Beth Moore reflects that David had an opportunity for reconciliation with Absalom. He did allow Absalom to see him, but there wasn't reconciliation. Now we see how bitterness and dissatisfaction has festered in Absalom's heart toward his father. Beth shares that forgiving even if the person takes no responsibility for their actions will save us the misery that would befall, like with Absalom.

I'm really bummed that I couldn't go to my women's study today. I have no idea if my stomach thing at this stage would be contagious so I didn't go. I started the study that we'll discuss next week and it's a good one, Esther. Here the king banishes the queen from his kingdom (the King of Persia) and calls for all young virgins from 127 provinces to come to the palace. The king is preparing to select a new queen. Esther is brought to the palace and the main thing we see is that she won the favor of everyone who saw her. It was said that it wasn't just her outward beauty but with her heart, her internal beauty she won them.

Julian ended up with almost a beard of peanut butter after lunch today. When he was done with lunch he wanted to dance. Took my hand and danced in the kitchen and then he led me into the living room. This was so sweet. Then we collected a few toys and went outside to play. It was really windy so the beach ball I brought out was just blowing away and I had to bring that in. I was then asking Julian if he wanted to go to the park and he said "yes, park" and got excited. So I got his car and when I went to put him in it he started crying. It was like he thought I had changed my mind or something. We went back and forth with this until at a loss I set him inside to see if he'd calm down. I waited and opened the door and asked him if he was ready to go to the park. He said yes and this time he let me put him in the car. The odd thing is once we got to the park and I walked onto the grass to get to the jungle gym he wouldn't come. He put his arms up to be carried and I waited for him to walk. I think he's put off by the grass since he's never really walked on it that much. He started walking last September/October and didn't do much in the grass so now I see why he's apprehensive. So I asked if he wanted to take my hand and he did. Then he walked across the grass finally! He played for a bit on the jungle gym and a girl asked if she could play with Julian's car. I didn't see any harm in it so I said yes. We went down the slide together and hung out a bit more but then I noticed it was time to get him home for his nap.

After dinner, we hung out downstairs with Julian coloring. He's starting to learn his colors a little bit like the blue crayon and the yellow crayon. He turned on the radio and said "dance" and was dancing around the basement. It is so cute to watch him dance. He's doing more of it lately. Again he took my hand for a little bit to dance together. We played until I noticed it was time for bed. Then daddy read him a book and I tucked him in. Pretty soon I'm going to tuck myself in too.

p.s. My cat Rio died today at home. I was glad I could be there, even though it is very sad to lose a pet you cherish.

Julian gets his groove on

We remembered daylight saving's time and I slept in a bit since Julian was sleeping too. Daddy was off to work this morning to do some overtime so Julian and I were on our own. He was really whiny like he didn't get enough sleep and was wanting to be picked up and held a lot. He did OK with a breakfast of pancakes and strawberries. He wanted to color from his Thomas activity book but then wanted the magazine I was looking at so I let him flip through the pages. Then the cutest part of the morning, Julian was dancing to music on his nursery rhyme toy. He'd go over and press the button for the music. Then he'd dance in the middle of the room waving his arms up and down and dance around in a circle. When the song ended he'd say "yea" and go back and press the button for another song to start dancing to. I got a little of it on video. I danced with him for a bit and then he changed gears wanting to sit in his chair. He ended up falling over (onto carpet) and crying but then started saying "painting?" and so I took him downstairs to paint. We ended up playing with Playdoh making "pancakes" again and play cooking and eating them. This kept us busy for a while. Later, after he went down for his nap, I gave Rio her IV. That still sounds goofy to me and I'm wrestling with whether it's just time to put her down. It's not easy for me to think of ending her little life. She is breathing better today so I'm glad she's not struggling for air. Yesterday afternoon she actually came upstairs and hung out which she hasn't done in days.

Today I finished the second half of 2Samuel 12. One thing Beth points out is the impact of David's fall into sin. Not only did it effect those right around him, but it affected the neighboring nations. These nations had their eyes on him and had gained respect for him and for his God watching the course of his life and kingship. After this, the nations lost respect for both David and God so the effect was far-reaching. Yet through David's failures, God is teaching the very essence of salvation; he will forgive the sinner yet judge the sin. As Nathan predicted, David's son fell ill. David was brought to a crucial place of depending on God as he fell to the ground and fasted and prayed. Even though the answer was no, David put himself at God's mercy. One of the most painful experiences would have been David turning to worship God after his son died. He could pour out his heart while at the same time acknowledge God's goodness. In this process, his relationship with God was restored. In reflection, I see that even though David fell, his intimacy with the Lord was restored very quickly. And I believe so it is with us. That as soon as we come to him, he is right there meeting us. James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. God responded by then blessing he and Bathsheba with another son, Solomon.

We visited Grampa again today at the hospital. It's turning out to be a beautiful day. The sun is shining bright and it's above 50 degrees. The wind is a bit cold though. As we were walking down the hall to the room he starts saying "Mickey Mouse?" remembering the balloon he saw yesterday in Grampa's room. My husband's sister and two boys were also visiting so they got to see Julian too. He was a little bit shy at first and wasn't talking much. He kept saying a word that sounded like crackers but I knew it wasn't crackers, then I figured it out. Sometimes it's like learning a foreign language keeping track of words Julian learns. This word was actually "checkers". He kept asking for checkers because we sat in the lobby yesterday and introduced him to checkers there. He also kept pointing to and asking for the markers the nurse had up on the dry erase board except he called them crayons. He was getting a little insistent so instead I brought out his coloring book and a crayon and then he got really focused on coloring.

At church we continue to study the book of Luke and Jesus redefining the status quo. Jesus goes to the house of a prominent Pharisee where he is being constantly watched. He talks about the Sabbath and asks them a couple questions but they have nothing to say. He ends up healing a man which he knows is controversial since it is the Sabbath. He later shares a parable about whether whether to take the place of honor at a friend's table or taking the lower place and ends with a promise, Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. John Rosensteel (our preacher today) used a visual to describe what this is like, he brought a ladder. He reminded us how in life as we move up the "rungs of the ladder" we get a distorted view of people and situations. It didn't take me long, but on our way home I caught myself doing this saying something negative about someone driving. It's too easy to look down and be critical or judgmental of others and John encouraged us to take the place of Jesus who humbled himself. One of the scriptures he referred to was Phillipians 2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

We had dinner again with our friends from our small group, the ones whose daughters really like Julian. He wanted to go in the play area and started crawling in the tubes. I was a little nervous for him to go in there alone and my friend must have sensed that since she sent her kids in to join Julian. He went down the slide with their son and had this huge grin on his face. Later when he was halfway up the stairs to the tube slide something must have spooked him and he started calling for me but then it turned to crying so I scooted up the slide just to find they had gone down the other way. Finally Julian and I met up and he calmed down. After a few minutes he was right back at it and wanted to go in again but they had shut it down for cleaning. He went over to visit a couple of the girls from the play area but got a little too close to one girl. I think he liked the Dora picture on her shirt but he started almost pawing at it so I had to go get him. Later, he visited their little boy in his car seat and was really good about being careful. I never know what he's going to do when he goes up to people so I stay close.

It's the close of another day and getting too close to tomorrow already so I'll sign off for now.

Julian learns the color blue

I woke up with a pretty uncomfortable headache and stuffy nose. I found out later from a friend that what I described could be sinus related (with the weather being wet and rainy) instead of a cold. I took some Advil and thank goodness it went away pretty quick so I didn't have to change any plans.

I continued my new devotional book A Place of Quiet Rest. The first chapter was really good. In her introduction she (Nancy Lee DeMoss) draws from Mark where Jesus is continually being approached by people in need. Each time, rather than say he's too busy or let's do this later or somehow brush them off, he meets their need by surrendering himself and his time and devoting himself to them. She asks the question, "How did he do it?" The key she said to avoid becoming drained and ineffectual is that Jesus goes to a quite place to pray and spend time with his father every day. She then has you look at your own quiet time asking if is a time where you are cultivating a meaningful, intimate relationship with the Lord through study of the word, praise and prayer. She had different answers you could choose and this really had me closely examine myself. Overall I (hope) I am striving to grow in intimacy with God but must admit there are days when I'm going more on routine than really from the heart.

Julian and I had our play group at Titus. It is such a great feeling to now have several moms that I know and have made a connection with. There were at least five moms that I could hang out and chat with whereas before I was lucky if there was one. So it was really nice and actually an answer to prayer. Julian does really well too and enjoyed playing with cars, trains, Little People house and balls. I think he had the most fun discovering the tents today. They've always been there but today there was a new one, Thomas the Train, which he loves. He spent time going in and out of that one and then began exploring the others around the room (there were about four). What a great idea of something to bring to the big play area in the gym.

After lunch during play time, Julian pulled out the guitars. He gave one to me so that we could play them together which was fun. He has a hand held talking/singing toy that sings the ABCs and various nursery rhymes and he had fun with that. Then something cute was when he pulled out his red chair saying "chair" so he could sit. Then he said "blue chair" which was a different chair he wanted to sit in and he was pointing to it. I got it for him but I was so surprised that he learned a color. I'm not quite sure how but whenever we read Thomas I'm telling him that Thomas is blue and Percy is green. During finger painting I have him pick colors by pointing and I tell him what they are so maybe that's how he identified blue. Anyway, that is neat!

My women's bible study has been on break and started up again today. I'm so bummed I wasn't able to make it. My sitter has been out of town and I reached her today but she had a doctor's appointment. By then it was too late to call any backups so I'll have to wait until next week. We were going to study Ruth so I think I'll review it again on my own since it was such a good study.

Rio is not doing any better. Today she didn't come upstairs at all and spent the whole time in the basement. It's just not the same without her up and about. She's always where we are even if she's usually sleeping. I gave her water a few times and then offered her more soft food but this time she just smelled it but wouldn't eat. So she seems a bit worse today. We have the vet appointment tomorrow so we'll see what they have to say. I'm just praying she's not in any pain.

Tonight Julian and I watched ABC videos again on You Tube. He likes the Sesame Street ones the best. Later, Lanty was playing guitar so Julian and I were dancing a bit. He was uncooperative at dinner and kept asking for foods other than what we were having (meat loaf and green beans). He wouldn't even take a bite of it. He just ate cheese and had some milk. I offered it to him two other times after dinner was over and he wouldn't eat it. Still trying to learn creative ways of dealing with this.

Time to wrap things up and have a little time to relax and then take care of Rio one more time before I go to bed. (And can I say "time" one more time?!)

May I have this dance?

I had my Titus mom's group today at Blackhawk. We had a great topic, the Power of our Words. Our pastor was the guest speaker. He shared anecdotes from his life as illustrations of how the tongue is dangerous. With the same mouth we can build one another up or tear them down. From James 3:10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. And from Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Much of today's message I had heard in different ways in the past, but it was so good to have in front of me again, especially in light of being a mother. Too many times do I say something under my breath forgetting my son is with me with his listening ears. This review has helped me to be mindful of what is coming from my mouth.

We had a lunch date today with my friend Julie who I met at Blackhawk and Cindy. We are all in the same bible study. Julian did pretty well but is still enjoying throwing things way too much. He does well with crayons and coloring books and other things I can pop in the diaper bag. It was cute, he befriended a 4-year-old at the next table who was entertaining him. They kept giggling and making faces at each other. Then before we left I let Julian down from the chair and they were playing peek-a-boo. Julian was laughing so hard it was contagious.

We soaked in the beautiful weather by having some time outside. We're getting a hint of spring with the temps getting up near 40 with bright sun. I introduced Julian to sidewalk chalk and we had fun making Elmo faces. I'd make pictures that he would then add to. We also took a walk in his car and Julian actually fell asleep! He seemed slumped over and when I stopped to look he was snoozing. He missed his morning nap and it finally caught up with him.

Julian was a bit cranky at dinner but then perked up after. He was playing his "radio" which has all kinds of nursery rhymes and ABC's and I said "Julian, can you dance with momma?" He comes over and grabs my hand, I get up and he leads me into the kitchen, turns on the song and leads us in a circle and we went round and round dancing together! He's never done this with me so I think he picked this "dance" up at our church nursery. He also danced w/daddy until daddy got dizzy.

We had fun watching some You Tube videos of Sesame Street characters singing the ABC's. Julian gets as far as A-B-C so it's a start. He had me play them over and over and would say "Elmo ABC's?" until I played the video. I enjoy our nightly routine of getting ready for bed. One thing he loves is watching himself in the mirror as I brush his teeth. Tonight he said "head (touching his head), eyes (touching his eyes) and even said eyebrow (pointing to his eyebrow). It's so cute what they learn each day.

Well today I didn't get my alone time with the Lord so I'm going to do that since it's time again to wind down and relax before hitting the hay.