Transition - Change

We have been discussing with Bean about school and trying desperately hard to get her excited about going to school rather than being home schooled.  As I mentioned before, we feel this is what is best for her, but we are still struggling with this decision as parents.  It must never be easy to let go of your children and yet that is all we do their whole lives.  I guess this is just one of those moments.

However, all that said to say, I am super excited about some time one-on-one with Christian.  He is so very sweet and I love him to pieces.  He brings so much joy to his Daddy and I and we feel so blessed he is in our lives.  He makes me smile and laugh and angry sometimes all at the some moment.  Then he flashes me a huge grin and I am putty in his hands.  He has me wrapped around his little finger.  :)  I think he had his daddy too. :)
So, as I was saying, I can't wait to have next year with him.  I plan to do fun things and have a chance to enjoy time getting to know who he is on his own, without following what his sister does.  She is a good big sister, but she does dominate and he doesn't seem to mind.  However, I want to see who he is on his own. I know he will desperately miss her, but he will have more fun that he thinks.
He keeps saying he is going to preschool, but I haven't informed him yet that I will be doing his preschool from home.  I just can't send him away right now. I think I would be a mess without either one of them at home.  So, this is the newest step in our lives.  I am excited and nervous, but most of all just anticipating the fun we will have this summer, the last summer before the world of SCHOOL starts in our family's lives.

Watching from the Door

I hate TICKS and I am scared of them.  They are bloodsucking  bugs that can cause disease and they are sneaky.  If you get a tick and don't get it taken care of you can become sick.  It can cause disease and even death if not addressed. 
Okay, so all that to say, in three weeks we found three ticks on Ava's head.  We caught one before it attached but the other two were in and in good.  The first one was a scary experience because even though we did everything the CPR guy told us to, the tick wouldn't let go.  It was gross.  I have always hated ticks and I used to pray I would never get ticks. :) Now my daughter has them.  It was kind of scary to her to know there was a bug in her head, so we had to try and keep her calm and still.  Pretty traumatic.
The next week, the day before her tonsils and adenoids were to be taken out, my mom called and said, "I am bringing Ava home because we found another TICK on her and it is in and the body looks as though it is halfway in too."  She told me Ava was freaking out and crying for her mommy.  So, we met and on the way to the doctors, Ava prayed God would make that tick come out so she wouldn't have to see the doctor.  Sure enough, the body was out but the head was still in.  We think she might have pulled at it and knocked it off.  She was pretty scared.  She kept saying, "mommy, I think the tick is out."  I knew it wasn't out but the doctor told us to come back at 6:00 that evening and he would have to use lidocaine to get her numb so he could get it out.  I was so upset for her but I knew that she sensed I was upset so Daddy offered to take her in.  I had to run some errands so I told her I would see her soon.  I knew she had no idea what was in store.

Micah kept texting me and letting me know how she was doing and finally I got back to the doctors office just in time to stand outside the door where she couldn't see me but I could see and hear her.  The site I saw made me have the beginning of a panic attack. I wasn't sure what to do.  Was I supposed to go in and comfort my sweet little baby girl that was so obviously scared to death and hurting and calling quietly through silent sobs for her mommy?  Micah didn't know I was there either and he was SO AWESOME with her.  He silently encouraged her and stroked her little face and hand and tried to keep her calm.  He was amazing!!!! I stood there and just cried. I was heart broken and I realized how it truly is when my parents tell me they would take the pain for me, if they could.  I felt that.  I would have loved to take her pain and go through anything to keep her safe.  However, I knew that if I rushed in there too soon, to "rescue" my little girl, the process extracting the head of this horrible tick would be prolonged and thus prolonging her recovery.  So there I stood, crying, feeling as though my heart was being torn out.  I am her protector and I had to stand there and watch this, knowing the whole time it was all for her good and knowing the result was better than if this never happened, but it hurt. 

It was such a powerful moment. I cried, and yet I got this awesome revelation. God gave me an awesome picture of the fact that this is what he does for us. . .for me.  He allows things to happen because He sees and knows the end result and knows we are gonna come out on top and be happier for it, but He WANTS to swoop in and carry us through. He WANTS to hold us and comfort us and make it all better, but he can't.  He can't because he knows that if he does open that door and barge in to SAVE THE DAY it will only prolong what he is trying to teach us or even prolong the healing he wants to come to us. We get ticks in our spiritual lives that can cause disease and even death.  Sometimes the extraction of these "ticks" can be extremely painful, so he sends his Holy Spirit to silently encourage us and stroke our faces and our hands as we struggle through the hardships.  I am not saying I am God and Micah is the Holy Spirit, but it helped me so much to see that knowing how much Micah and I love our daughter and son, so God Loves us sooooo much more and yet, he sometimes has to step out of the room to allow us to grow up and learn our lessons for our own good.
When the doctor was done, I swooped in and I hugged and kissed and held her. I told her how PROUD I was of her and how brave she was and how good she did.  Micah was hugging us both.  It didn't take her too long to get over the fear and trauma and then she was running around telling everyone all about her story of the tick bight.

  I envision this to be us as Christians.  When we go through hardships, we get knocked down and around and we feel so very weary.  God sent his Holy Spirit to minister to us, even in those hard times, but we have to be willing to receive it.  WE also have to know that it is true.  God himself, is standing right outside the door and watching and waiting and crying with us, but he is there.  He IS THERE.  He NEVER leaves us and He will be there, that day we get to those pearly gates and the pain is gone and all we can do is glorify God for the experiences we had hear on earth and the lessons we learned.  I can't wait!!! I can't wait to hear him say, "Well, done Michelle!!! YOU were so brave.  I am so proud of you!!!"  I can't wait for HIS kisses and hugs.  I will be telling my story until that day comes when I get to personally see God run through that door and scoop me up and love me.

Tender Hearted Kids Restaurant

Trying to teach the kids how to SERVE others.  It is kind of a hard characteristic to teach since our natural instinct is to be selfish.  One of the ways we decided to try and teach them this is by having them serve their Grandparents Dinner. 

The name of our restaurant was Tender Hearted Kids and we even made up our own menus.  Our first special guests were Grandma and Pappy Bumbaugh.  Ava called and left them a verbal invite on their answering machine.  This was to celebrate their anniversary.  When they arrived to our house, the kids met them at the door and took their coats.  Then Ava lead Pappy and Christian led Grandma to the candlelit table. 

The kids were sooo excited!!!!

Christian - our little escort.

The kids holding the menus.  They couldn't wait. :)

We had spaghetti dinner and heart shaped cupcakes for dessert with fresh strawberries from Florida. Pappy Tipped the kids after the meal was over and they rushed back to put their money in their Disney bank.

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Pappy!!!!

 

The Second couple of guests were Nana and Pappy Sweetheart.  The kids met them at the door again too.  We had appetizers and a spaghetti dinner.  They again met the guests at the door and escorted them to the table. 

The kids were tired this particular night at the restaurant so they just were not in the mood to do quite the serving they had done before.  However, they did a great job over all.  They were very sweet and attentive.  :)  Pappy also tipped them which went directly into their Disney bank again too.

Family, Fun, and Homemade Donuts

The Bumbaugh family has always had a tradition to make home made donuts for fastnaught day.  This family tradition started with my mother in law and her family of 9 sisters and one brother.  This is a yearly tradition in the Hykes family and now Margaret has continued to carry this one with her own family.  Everyone that is available gets involved. The process is hard and long and daunting and the only ones that are there from the beginning to the end is Harry and Margaret.  They make the dough and stay till the last one is fried and decorated.  This year, Sharon and two of her friends came to help cut the donuts out. Then I got to help with the frying.  Everyone jumped in at some point from glazing them to powdering them to icing them or covering them in chocolate and sprinkles.  (or as it appeared, mouse turds. ;) 

This is a fun tradition we all look forward to every year. 

Isaac, Fawn, and Margaret glazing the donuts and letting them dry on the rods Harry made for them.

The absolute best part of making the donuts is EATING them!!!

Lori and Renee powdering and frying up the munchkins.

Oh yes, and there is always fun to be had in the moving chair.

My kids on a very crazy sugar high because I think they had each had at least 10 donuts a piece. I am not joking either.

Ava's School Prayer List

We have decided, after much prayer and consideration, that we are sending Ava to school this year, rather than homeschooling. I do think that homeschooling is an option but we want to see how she does at school first.  Ava does have a lot of her daddy's personality and if left to do so, she would never leave the house.  She likes routine and she likes to be a home body.  However, she has a lot of her mama too and she is an anxious little thing.  She is like both parents in that she HATES change!!! So, we feel we have to force her to face her fears and we have to push her out of the nest.  It is harder than I ever thought but we have been trying to prepare her and we even took her to her pappy Bumbaugh's house to ride his bus to get used to the bus ride.  She said she had fun.  We also took her to her school playground and showed her where she would have Recess.  She was very happy about this and everyday she asks if she can go and play at HER playground at her school.  I set her registration up for Kindergarten too.  Now to tackle the shots. :)

Okay, so all this said to say, the other night, before bed time, I asked her what she would like daddy and mommy to pray for her about her starting school.  She thought for awhile and then this is the list she came up with.

- Pray Ava doesn't cry
- Pray Ava doesn't miss mommy and daddy
- Pray I sit well and don't scream for mommy
- Pray I listen to my teacher and don't be bad for her
- Pray I don't miss my favorite mommy when I go to school
- Pray I like my teacher and she is nice and good
- Pray I learn how to read and play games
- Pray I be good for my teacher and help her with whatever she needs help with
- Pray I make a friend
- Pray I don't miss my mommy and daddy.

I think I see a small pattern here.  Poor thing.  Her daddy and I have been lifting these little / big concerns to the Lord and praying these for her. I hope she does good but though the list made me smile, it also breaks my heart. I can't believe I am sending my baby girl to school.  Whatever will I do with myself.  I will miss you Ava Bean, more than you know. Mommy Loves you!!!!!

Pappy B's bus ride. . . fun times!!!

Free Old Navy Ankle Jeans

I have been a part of this newer website and I take surveys and give my opinion for points.  I love the site and I am so excited about the awesome deals and opportunities that I have been given so far.  The most recent deal is that I actually got a promo package for a pair of free ankle Jeans from Old Navy.  Below are my posted pics as I am sporting my newest pair of ankle denim jeans.  LOVING THEM!!!  Thanks Old Navy

Don't mind that I have my GAP sweatshirt on, They really are Old Navy Jeans. :)

My Puppy = No Boyfriend

Well, many years ago, I was not quite able to drive or date yet, but I sure wanted to.  I liked the idea of a guy coming and getting me and taking me out to dinner and a movie and then having me back for curfew.  However, there was something else i couldn't wait for either. I wanted a pet, I wanted a dog that was my very own.  I would dream of this little house dog that would love me even when my heart was broken from whatever teenager things and emotions I was dealing with.  I wanted this so badly that I had to figure out a strategy to get my father to say yes. 
I started by searching and finding the exact kind of dog I wanted.  It happened to be a Bichon Frise which is a little white fluffy soft dog.  They are typically hyper with lots of personality not seeing things the way I see them now, I thought I needed a dog that was independent and had his own personality.  I was so very set on this and it wasn't too hard to get my mom and little brother on board, but my dad was another story.  He kept saying no and I kept pleading my case.  The last thing I remember, because this is what actually seemed to win the idea over to my father, was when I said, "Daddy, If I had a dog, I wouldn't need a boyfriend anymore."  I am not sure he totally believe me, but he took the bait.  A few weeks later we had the dog of the liter picked out and he was so sweet.  We had to wait for him to become of a good age for me to bring him home. I am sad to say, while I consider myself a very honest person and a person who sticks by my word, I didn't in this case.  I had two weeks after we brought the rascal home.  Sorry Dad!!!  Before long, the dog that was not to sleep in our rooms, let alone in our beds, was sleeping on my pillow curled around my head.  When I came home broken hearted or upset or just anxious from the day, my sweet Rebel would lay beside me and lick my tears away, right off my face.  He was a great comforter and always happy to see me.  Rebel was a little more than we had bargained for but never the less, he was a huge part of our family.  I will say that when Micah asked my parents for my hand in marriage, he did have a stipulation that he didn't / wouldn't take the dog.  :(  Rebel was happy to stay with mom and dad though.

So, all this said, my daughter in her own sweet spirited self, has decided we need a dog.  I randomly have taken the kids to the pet shop to let them hold and play with the animals, especially the puppies.  This was always a thing they enjoyed and looked forward to the next time. 

So, the other day, my mom and I decided to take Ava, Reece, and Christian to see the dogs.  The first few dogs we played with were hyper and fun and chewed on everything from Reece and Ava's Hair to Christian's Shoe laces.  The kids had so much fun.  However, the boys lost interest long before Ava.  She has a heart for dogs and in the past, as we play with the animals, we pray for them to find good homes.  She remember this and reminded me.  Then she would bow her head and say sweet prayers for their owners to come and buy them.  The boys just loved the hyper dogs. 

This poor puppy didn't have a chance.  Christian wanted to hold it so badly but looks like he was hugging its butt. :)  So funny.  He was in aww at how little the puppies were.

Reece was excited too.  He was telling us all about why cats eat mice and dogs eat cats. :)

The last dog we had was a white mixed bichon frise and Maltese.  This little white fluffy dog climbed right up on her lap and kissed her cheek.  Then it just sat there and let her hold it for along time. The boys were running around and yet Ava and that little white puppy seemed oblivious to all that was going on around them. My mom and I fell for this little pup also.  It was so tiny and soft and it captured our hearts to see her holding that little baby puppy.  Something changed in her and she started saying how much she needed this dog and how much daddy would like this one because it was calm.  She was saying she would always sleep in her room every night forever, if she had this dog and how this would make her so happy.  She reminded me that I KNOW how much she wants a dog.  Finally, we pryed the poor puppy from Ava as the tears were soaking the puppy's fur and then we carried her to the car.  On the way home, I told her that her best bet was to tell her pappy sweetheart that she would NEVER need a BOYFRIEND if she had a puppy.  :)  I told her it worked once before so she could always try her luck. :)  Mom and I got a great kick out of this but Ava didn't seem to get the humor.

Seriously though, I do hope some day she softens her daddy's heart into letting her get a puppy to call her very own.  Lets hope that is a few years away though. :)

Ava loving holding her little baby puppy. Love at first sight for sure.  Above, Reece is trying to feed it a toy.  :)