Just so you're warned, before the side effects start

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Life Is Good

Wow. I know, it's not Thanksgiving yet, but shouldn't every day be? We've been down with the goobery sniffles, but I can't complain.

Chayce read her first full sentence yesterday! It was so wonderful to sit and listen to her read me a short story. Even better? The camaraderie of my children--Zac was quick to tell her how awesome she did, and that he's so glad that now they can read together. I felt like my heart would pop!

Stephen has been in Atlanta, but the awesome news is, he is ahead of schedule and gets to come home early tonight!

I was cleaning the play room, when Payge came and plopped onto my lap (I was sorting, so I was sitting). I felt so peaceful and was almost excited that I remembered to take time to snuggle her rather than tell her to wait til I was done. Definitely an answer to a prayer I've been praying for awhile--that I'll remember to put them before the chores.

That we have some interviews coming up. We're excited, but I don't know what to think...wow, it seems like it's going slow, but then--is life going to hit me fast and furious soon? Eeek!

God is good. I know he's listening. What is even more exciting is when you know that your spouse is listening, too, and praying for you. I am amazed at the times when I am praying about a trial, and my husband will come to me and say, "I was praying for you, and I just felt as though you needed X,Y, or Z." (which, might I add, is what I had asked for in my prayer) Now THAT my friends, is what marriage is all about. That and spousely cuteness.

And a funny:
Zachary came in and asked me what cuff links were, as it had been in a song we heard. Chayce was sitting and listening to my explanation, and then said, "Wait a minute...then what are duck-links?" (ducklings).

Glasses too

I want to wear glasses like Zach!













Or sunglasses, like dad!











Zachary and Chayce at the neighborhood Arts Cafe














Payge being dramatic after lunch on our way to Indianapolis to see the twitch doctor.













Chayce in leaves.











Walking home from the park while mommy was running in Indy.

An experiment

This video has the interesting title "It's hard to be God." Before you watch the video, be ready for an experiment. Before 30 seconds has passed, ask yourself what role the fallen character will play in relation to the title. Remember your answer, watch the video, then read on below.




I'm guessing most of you did not judge the "fallen" character well based on dress and attitude. But he was sent to do God's work. How often do we reject a potential messenger because they do not appear as we expected?

There are several other interesting points about the video. First, the fallen character only changed aspects of the situation. He never forced anyone to behave in an ideal way. Second, saving lives (and souls) is messy. The potential side effects of one solution are hard to anticipate* and we must humbly try again and again. This process of repetitive influence without violating individual choice is a good approach to family, friendships, work relations, and politics.




*Brief rant: We should use this fact to give ourselves and our leaders (religious, political, or otherwise) a bit of a break. No one has THE solution. We only have A solution. And any solution we implement WILL CAUSE the next set of problems. Here is where I won't give (political) leaders a break - when will they have the humility to acknowledge that they are creating problems as fast as solutions and to stop encouraging constituents to idealize policy to the point of protecting policy beyond its usefulness. Let's free ourselves from the left/right dogmatism encouraged by the depublicans and remocrats.

Inspiring on a Sunday

A Missionary's Vision

After marriage God called me to the mission field -

A little bundle needing all my care,
A disciple in touch with my life, obedient to all he hears.
Then came some more all in a row.
Everywhere I went, six little arrows in tow.
God had to call me again to His mission field.
I answered, "To China, to Africa, to Israel, oh where?"
His voice was clear, soft and gentle. My ministry arranged -
"My child, you are to polish our arrows,
Preparing them for My call to spread my
Words of life for other nations to see."
"Lord," I cried, "Loneliness surrounds my soul,
No other woman stands with me answering your call.
The sacrifice is great."
Women give way to another's voice, pulling them away
from their home, far from the quiver."
Once more I pleaded, "May I go too, Lord, I feel the call
To share with the lost, Life giving words,
To feed the hungry a satisfying meal."
"My child," Jesus replied, "You share with your
children salvation and truth.
Feed them meals under your roof.
Discipline them, train them and then lie down in peace,
For sacrificial love have you given to make the world right.
Arise in the morning, open My book,
Teach them into My eyes they must look."
"Yes, Lord, I replied, "But should I serve you in a more obvious way?"
"Child, my sweet child," God spoke once more.
I anointed you to do this work - the high calling of Motherhood.
To show our children the need for my love."
"Lord,", I sought out, still not fully convinced,
"Should I sew for those in thread barren clothes, a Dorcas, a Martha?"
"Sit at my feet, my child, listen to me.
Your daughter needs dresses, your sons warm shirts,
The button of your husband's coat still lies on the table.
Pick up your mantle, the rod of Aaron.
Lead my women back to their home.
"Yes, Lord." Filled and content, I took my position in God's mission field.
Hungry faces graced my bedside.
Clothed in God's mantle, children at my side,
I prepared breakfast.

----Paula Muller of Brodnax, Va

I Saw The Twitch Doctor...

Today was our big day. We drove to Indianapolis yesterday to go to Riley's Children's Hospital. It was a great trip, and we learned a lot. Mainly that Zac has a tic disorder, where his tics will change and come and go over time. For example, a nose twitch for a few weeks, lips for a few weeks, sometimes a combination, then perhaps it'll move to another area. We'll keep watching him over time, because if it starts compounding then they consider it Tourette's Syndrome. The interesting part was when they started asking about family history, they had to interview me in the same way they had interviewed Zac, due to the syndrome being genetic, in order to figure out what Zac had. Since I'd never been diagnosed by a neurologist for anything, he had to start from the beginning. It was as though we got two doctors appointments for the price of one (I am a budget shopper!). After outlining most of my adolescence and young adult years (which aren't over yet. ha ha), it was determined that I already have full on Tourette's. If you ever wondered the difference between tics and Tourette's, it is that those with Tourette's have multiple physical twitches as well as vocal, but the vocal doesn't have to be words, it can be clearing the throat, swallowing uncontrollably, or even sniffing. Good to know.

Anyhow, the trip itself was so much fun because of our kids. A few memorable moments for us...

Chayce getting off the carousel at the Indy Children's Museum saying, "Good horse. Yeah, you did good."

Payge, walking UP the slide and DOWN the stairs at the children's museum. She did this for a full 15 minutes.

Zac, calling the doctor his twitch doctor, which led to us singing, "I Saw The Witch Doctor" as a family.

Payge, getting a diaper out and insisting it was called a butt. Oops! I suppose I should be more clear with her when I say it's time for a new one... Did I mention this was during Zac's exam?

In Riley, Zac saying "Look! A child adapting table." Me, looking around confused until I see the baby changing table, and he says to me, "It was supposed to be funny, Mom."

The doctor asked Zac what he had learned in school lately. Zac talked about the mummification project. The doc asked if the chicken was dead when we got it. Zac replied, "Yeah, it came in a two-pack." The doctor almost fell over laughing.

Tueller Update!

Wow, what a fall this has been! We sure have enjoyed ourselves in the warmer weather we've had recently. Here's my so-far report on how things are going with school/home/life for the new school year. I wasn't going to put this up here, but then I started reading my past posts, and realized I loved having this report from prior times on the blog. Then, when I decide to print it as a book, it's all together. Very simple scrapbooking. My kind of record keeping.

Here is what each of us is up to:

Stephen: Finishing his dissertation, writing papers and working on mathematical equations. Hopefully, by this time next year, we'll be settled into a different home with a different occupation. We're excited that it really could be anywhere, since we haven't heard anything back from anyone, our view is that the sky is the limit (yes, we like to be optimistic, it serves us well). Stephen also was put into the Young Men's presidency at church. I thought perhaps it'd be a break compared to Elder's Quorum, but it's about the same. I'm really glad there are youth programs like this, though, as I think about my children becoming teens. I hope they find an adult that is a good example to them. I know that I was blessed by having great YW leaders when I was younger.

Jillian: Homeschooling the children, keeping house, and taking on the world. Sometimes I wish I were a more active world-taker-oner, but for now, it'll have to be via my very opinionated presence. At this point in time, family comes first, and it's wonderful to watch the children grow and develop their personalities. Also, still running for fun in the mornings, even after that half-marathon in October. I really thought at the end of that that I would not want to run again, but I couldn't wait to start. Some say I'm sadistic. I say I'm having fun. I'm also enjoying being in two different book groups, working on the enrichment committee at church (hmm, wait, what do I call my calling now that we aren't to call it enrichment?), and being a part of a fun group of women who also homeschool. Life is good.

Zachary: Just finished his art class, is now in a jazz-dance class. Today was his first one, and he had a blast. It literally wore him out (didn't know that was possible) so I'm making sure he sticks with this! ha! For his schooling, he's working on Saxon Math for first graders, First Language lessons (he is LOVING practicing memorization and recitation. He must be mine, I love that kind of stuff, too.), A Child's History of the World where we were covering Ancient Egypt, but now we are onto Mesopotamia, and today studied the story of Gilgamesh. We're having fun with the activities that go along with the lessons. Also, we have started using Usborne's Animal Encyclopedia to do projects for science. This week is his neurological test to see what causes his twitches. While we're there, we're going to explore the Children's Museum in Indianapolis.

Chayce: Is taking a ballet class. She is excited that her first recital is Nov. 30th. I will be posting video and/or photos that day. For school, she is still working on counting, we discussed balances (scales) and played with them, she has started McGuffy reader/primer, and loves being read to as well. She participates in the projects that Zac is working on, but is also teaching herself different ways to draw using the "Yes, I Can Draw...." series that I scored at the library sale. We are also listening to different kinds of music, and just learned the song/score of Peter and the Wolf, which we will be attending live (all five of us) on Wednesday!!

Payge: Loves to be read to. Is a mess-maker BUT, also a cleaner-upper. She really enjoys working with Mommy to clean up rooms, and will put things in their places for me as she sings, "Teeeemwork!" (or eeeee---erk is more like it). She's getting so tall! She tries really hard to do everything that Chayce does. If Chayce is drawing, so is Payge, if Chayce has out her dolls, so does Payge. This morning, Payge uttered her first full audible sentence, and it was (yelling at the top of her lungs...)"CHAYCE! GET UP NOW!! " She really wanted Chayce to come play, and it was about 8 AM and Payge had been up since 6, so she was ready for some company. Once Chayce came out of her room, Payge started clapping and yelling, "YAY!"

Now, a few photos...

Yes, Mother, I have a screwdriver. What of it?

Hiding in the curtains. I know Mom tells me not to, but aren't I sweet?

Playing outside.

What is that?

Cute.

What a handsome fella!

Some footage of our wagon rides. It's only 1.5 minutes long.