John Adams Series

It's been several weeks since we watched it, and I keep forgetting to write about it, but Kevin and I really really enjoyed the John Adams HBO mini-series that's available on DVD now. It's pretty rare that we find something to watch that we feel is worthwhile, and this definitely was. It's about seven hours long, so it'll give you something to look forward to over several nights. One word of caution: You might want to have your remote handy for the surgery scenes (sans anesthesia) and the reunion love scene between John and Abigail Adams.

The Thunder Rolls

...And the lightning strikes. That was for you Garth Brooks fans out there. Back in the day I used to listen to country music. Now I have no clue who most of the country singers are....Any-who, it's storming outside and I hope we don't have intermittent visitors climbing into bed with us tonight.

My Mom and Dad are coming to visit this weekend, which is very exciting, and we're all so ready to see them. We're going to take them to the Lenexa Spinach Festival on Saturday and then head up to St. Joseph to visit the Jesse James and Pony Express museums. You betcha I'll be counting this as a field trip!

I've been a bit quiet here lately, partly due to the busyness of life and getting back into school in a more scheduled way. We're all healthy and good, enjoying the grace of God daily. But, there's some other stuff going on, and I just can't bring myself to write about it. It's sad and scary and I'm sure I'll write about it later on, but just not yet. So, whoever might be reading this, please pray for our family (how? you might be wondering, since I'm being so vague...) that we would have God's wisdom and guidance and patience and that I, specifically, would cast all my cares upon Him.

Royals Pictures

This has been a busy and tiring week, so I don't have much energy to write. Kevin wanted me to post some pictures from the Royals game we went to last night. The weather was beautiful, a nice man gave us some excellent free tickets-much better than the ones we would've gotten, and the Royals got stomped, but it didn't matter. The kids loved it and it was a fun family night for us all.

Two More

Unfortunately on Blogger you're limited to five images per post...so here are the rest.

Moneyville

The kids and I went with our friend Imogene to Crown Center yesterday to check out an exhibit for kids called "Moneyville." It was really fun and interesting and the kids had a great time. There was lots of information about money through history and money around the world, as well as interactive play for the younger ones and (my personal favorite) a stock market game. We also made it to the Hallmark Visitor's Center, the candy store, the Crayola store (Crayola is owned by Hallmark) and a really cool toy store to browse. In the toy store we incorporated another lesson on money: namely, that it doesn't grow on trees. :)

Gollum or Bob the Builder?

Still here; just busy getting back into a consistent school routine. We've been watching more t.v. because of the Olympics, too. We're all moving a little slower today due to a busy day out yesterday and late night at our church small group. I hope to post some pictures from the field trip later on.

A few minutes ago, I was cleaning up this kitchen (still in progress), listening to Joseph whining and crying on the potty. Suddenly, silence. Then a giggle and, "Yay! We did it! Yes, we did!"

A Great New Blog by a Terrific Girl

My daughter has been asking me if she could blog for school, and Kevin set her account up this weekend. Don't worry, Mom; all the comments are moderated by us! :) I think this will be a great way for her to practice her keyboarding and writing skills.

Find it here.

Hubby Tag and Funny Blogger

I just think this lady is hilarious. I found this fun 'Hubby Tag' on her blog and thought I'd join in.

1. Who is your man? Kevin Dennis, lover of God, family, theology, and technology.

2. How long have you been together? Married for 12 1/2 years, met an entire 10 months before that.

3. How long dated? Oops...see above.

4. How old is your man? 38

5. Who eats more? Me. But I'm feeding a little someone else, too. Oh, who am I kidding? I have always eaten more than him, nursing or not.

6. Who said “I love you” first? My memory is pretty horrible, but I think it was him.

7. Who is taller? I think we're pretty close to the same height.

8. Who sings better? It depends on your preference. I think Kevin's voice is more 'traditional' sounding. I wish he would sing more, actually. I only hear it in church.

9. Who is smarter? We have different strengths. Anything technical or spatial: I am at a loss. Things related to grammar or writing: I think I win. Boy, I hope this little tag doesn't cause problems on the home front. :)

10. Whose temper is worse? We both have our moments.

11. Who does the laundry? Me mostly, but he helps willingly if I ask.

12. Who takes out the garbage? Usually Kevin and Noah.

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Who really cares about this one?

14. Who pays the bills? Me, being the 'detail' person.

15. Who is better with the computer? Ha! I don't think I would even have a computer if it weren't for him!

16. Who mows the lawn? Kevin. He's a man who loves a nice lawn.

17. Who cooks dinner? Me

18. Who drives when you are together? Him. It's kindof like having the remote if he's on the couch. I don't want the responsibility.

19. Who pays when you go out? He does.

20. Who is most stubborn? Moi.

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Kevin...the poor guy. He still puts up with me and patiently waits for me to grow up.

22. Whose parents do you see the most? Probably see his Mom and my parents equally.

23. Who kissed who first? I really do have a terrible memory, but surely it was him.

24. Who asked who out? He asked me out...but of course that was after my embarrassingly forward compliment. No fear of rejection for him after hearing that! :)

25. Who proposed? He did.

27. Who has more friends? I think we have about the same amount.

28. Who has more siblings? We each have one.

29. Who wears the pants in the family? He does.

30. How did you meet? Working at Bennigan's in College Station, TX.

Consuming Kids

Who Needs Dolls?

Sweetness

10 Questions

My friend Julie passed this list of 10 questions to ask your children. The Lord allowed me to have some time this morning with one child alone, before anyone else was awake, and we went through them together. Wow, was this productive! There were some tears and hugs and I have more clarity on what I need to work on in this journey called motherhood. Regarding question #9: I resolve to not wear my pajamas around my child's friends. (Hey, I have those days around here! And surely it wasn't past 3:00p.m....)

10 Questions Parents Should Ask Their Children Every Year

By Tom Eliff

1. Do you feel that we are getting along well together?

2. What are some things you think we could do to improve our relationship?

3. Do you believe I really care about who you are as an individual…or just how you behave? (Do you think I am concerned most about you, or how you make me appear to others?)

4. Have I ever made a promise to you that I didn’t keep?

5. Do you feel that I respect you? Do you respect me?

6. Is there something you would enjoy doing together with me? What would keep up from doing this?

7. Is there some secret you are keeping from me out of fear that I would love you less?

8. What can I do to show you that I want to be more like Christ?

9. Is there something I do that annoys you, or embarrasses you?

10. How could I best express to you just how much I love you, and how honored I feel to be your parent?

Optional: Did I omit a question you wish I would ask?

Thoughts on Modesty

Last night we went to the Johnson County Fair and the kids had a great time. Notice the intentional wording of the above sentence. :) I do remember how exciting a carnival was as a child, so I tried to see things through the kids' eyes: blinking lights and music and cotton candy and strange people and the excitement of it all.

But the sights of the night left me feeling sad.

Everywhere there were teenage girls dressed in the shortest, tightest, skimpiest clothes. And I can't repeat here what Kevin overheard some of them say in line for a ride. To be honest, I remember some things I wore in high school and they weren't exactly modest, either. But it's plain to see that something has changed dramatically in the past few years. Our culture is so hyper-s*exualized, and even little girls' clothing is often provocative.

Kevin and I have often talked about how perfect God's ways are. The family--a strong, close-knit, God-honoring family structured as He intended it--has so many benefits. One of them is protection for women. Which is the exact opposite of what the feminist movement claims...A husband and father following the Lord wants to protect and preserve the innocence and purity of his daughters and encourage his wife to be modest as well. I am so thankful for Kevin in this area; to be honest, at times it's been a struggle over the course of our marriage. There have been instances when I was offended because Kevin didn't want me to wear something that I felt was 'okay'. But he was (and is) still willing to risk a conflict with me in order to do the right thing.

This morning I read this, and it was timely and encouraging. Why don't you share it with your daughters today?

The Trinity According to BHO: Me, Myself and I

Jonah Goldberg - Asked to define sin, Barack Obama replied that sin is “being out of alignment with my values.” Statements such as this have caused many people to wonder whether Obama has a God complex or is hopelessly arrogant. For the record, sin isn’t being out of alignment with your own values (if it were, Hannibal Lecter wouldn’t be a sinner because his values hold that it’s OK to eat people) nor is it being out of alignment with Obama’s — unless he really is our Savior…

The Obama campaign has a postmodern feel to it because more than anything else, it seems to be about itself. Its relationship to reality is almost theoretical. Sure, the campaign has policy proposals, but they are props to advance the narrative of a grand movement existing in order to be a movement galvanized around the singular ideal of movement-ness. Obama’s followers are, to borrow from David Hasselhoff — another American hugely popular in Germany — hooked on a feeling. “We are the ones we have been waiting for!” Well, of course you are.

In Berlin two weeks ago, Obama’s speech was justified solely by the fact that he was giving it. He offered no policy and — not being a president — really had no reason to be there other than to tell people, essentially, “now is the moment.” He informed the throbbing masses, bathing in his charisma the way hippies wallowed in the mud at Woodstock, that the greatest threat facing the world is the possibility we might allow “new walls to divide us from one another.” Nuclear war? Feh. No, walls, walls are the danger. Of course, these new walls aren't real. Some might even say they're just words.

But not Barack Obama.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/08/obama-the-postm.html

They're Capris!

The kids help me a lot with laundry, so sometimes the wrong clothes end up in the wrong closets. This morning I saw Lily and puzzled for a moment over her unfamiliar pants...then realized that they belong to Joseph.

Last Wednesday

Here are some more pictures from Grandma's visit. We enjoyed the beauty and coolness that followed the storms last Wednesday.

Nothing Like a Good Cry First Thing in the Morning

I love this. Get your tissues ready, ladies.

Franck's Post

Our friend Franck wrote a thoughtful post about money, cars, and doing things God's way. Go check it out.