For people who love starwars or think 3 year olds are adorable!!!

Childrens Church

I take kids 5 and under into the fellowship hall for the sermon on Sundays. The Sunday after Christmas is insane! The 6 children were constantly talking and fighting but out of that zoo...

~A Funny~

Jonah Kerr: Abbie, you are the oldest, you go first.

Me: Jonah, you are 6 weeks older than Abbie.

Jonah: But she is taller.

Me: It's just because her parents are taller than your parents. You may be taller than her when you are a grown up.

Jonah: Really?

Me: Yeah, you will probably be as tall as your daddy.

Jonah: Really?

Me: Yeah.

Jonah: Will I be as fat?

Abbie: All grown ups get fat.

Christmas Eve

This is my comment to a post from another blog who disagreed with glow sticks given to kids at a Christmas eve service and got flack for it:

We handed out glow sticks to all the kids at church. My husband is the pastor and we FIRMLY believe in "Suffer the children to come to ME"

What do you do when your first child is born? Are you quiet? After all the screaming and hard work, the new mom weeps loudly with tears of joy. The father dances like a leprechaun and shouts for joy. Everyone involved is not quiet. Not even the baby!

So having 10 kids dancing in front of the alter (At a baptist church) with glow sticks singing Christmas hymns at the top of their lungs, celebrating THE birth of a first born son is incredibly appropriate!!!

We are SOOOO homeschooling!

Last week we took Abbie out of public school because of MANY reasons... Fighting, kissing and meth on the playground. Yes, she is a Kindergartner!

So for President elect Obama to "change" the school situations, he has chosen the Chicago Superintendent of schools to head up our education reform... HOLY CRAP! Our government is now being run by Chicago politicians. Does anyone else see a problem with this?

Christmas 2008

I may be a luddite...

Wordless Wednesday- Setting off the car alarm

Wordless Wednesday

Hysterical and crass... the perfect election coverage!

Fall

I love fall.
I love the colors.
I love the cool weather.
I love the absence of mosquitoes!
I love baking!
I love soups!
I love walking with John in the back pack and Amie pointing out every word she knows! (Leaf, leaf, stick, car, truck, leaf, leaf, wet, stop (stop sign), leaf, leaf, leaf.)

Right now it is snowing... so our walk consisted of new words: mama snow! C'mon mama snow! Eat yum! Snow mama snow! Boot! Snow! C'mon mama! Snow!

We walked so long, John fell asleep and started snoring. He tilted to his left and now my left shoulder is toast! But I have lots of lovely memories of Amie's first snow that she will actually remember.

Family sticker

Get your own Family Sticker Maker & MySpace Layouts.

Our pretty fall day!

What is Obama avoiding?

More politics... can't keep my mouth shut on this one.

Breaking the silence... going political

I hate politics and I am in hiding... but:

I am not Catholic... but the video is still worth watching!

staying quiet

Happy Birthday

Ok... so it isn't a birthday really... but a friend of mine from college is celebrating the 1 year anniversary of starting her blog. She has an amazing story. Check her out here. She is hosting a give away. So go sign up!

How nerdy are you?

I am sick... so no blogging... just something to take my mind off my misery.

Differences

I know my children are all different. But the differences between Maggie and Abbie are night and day. After asking Maggie, "How was school?" or "What did you do today?" you get the minimal answer. Ask the same question of Abbie...

Today I was informed the letter of the day was "H" and the word "shut" should be spelled with an "o" instead of a "u". There was also some comments about playing with a house at choice time and then playing something else when someone wanted the house she was playing with. She also detailed how many minutes she played at each station and the entire contents of her hot lunch... including condiments and spork. She also informed me how she ate said lunch and which condiments she used and blended to make it taste good.

Anniversary

Happy Anniversary!!!

Ok... maybe not. I am awake on September 7th at 2 am because this is when I watched my house burn down. Ok... maybe it wasn't MY house. But it was the closest thing I had to a home at the time.

The word "Insurance" makes me want to vomit. They drag their feet and we struggle. They want to stop paying for our rent... they withhold information about extra available money. I hate them. Unfortunately this is a company designed to work with churches... so they have policies in place to give churches the minimum amount possible? I try to remind myself to pray for them... so far it isn't working.

I try to remind myself that we just lost "things" that have no real worth. But the sentimental loss is still devastating. I will never show my girls my wedding dress. I will never again hold the teddy bear my mom purchased when she found out she was pregnant. The last quilt my great-grandma made (Out of her own dresses from the 50's) can never be replaced. The crib I placed my 3 oldest babies in is gone. My emotional security is gone.

We live in constant fear. Electrical issues, smoke, alarms, fire engines, sirens... they send us into a panic attack. Will I ever feel safe?

Even if we are able to rebuild, I doubt I would ever be able to live there. The constant fear and mourning would be too much.

Most days I wish we could go... but God has determined otherwise. Anyone stating that my relationship with God must be lacking will be harmed! If I didn't trust God has a purpose for this mess... I wouldn't be here. With my altered state... I wonder if I am really here.

I hope that someday Maggie and Abbie forget about "The house with the stairs" because they regularly state that they miss it. They remember the toys that they lost. They remember not having shoes to go to school. It just reminds me how hard it has been... not just over the last year, but since we followed God's call to come here. It has been 3 years 3 months since we took this call and we have been constantly tested.

Please pray for us, because I am sure that these trials aren't over.

The world is ending... but it has a great story!

Story

At least the first thought was, "We thought a big white sheet had been spread, so we decided to come and see for ourselves. We thought that it was Jesus who had come back,"

Antique

What defines an Antique? Is it something really old? What defines old?

In this town, Antique includes the 60's. When generations are less than 20 years apart, you have your grandma's "antique" furniture from the 60's... and you even call it an antique. I am thinking this is a unique cultural phenomenon.

John's Update

John is now 17+ pounds. He is scooting all over and has his first tooth. I just love this hat! It is 63 degrees in the house this morning!

First Day of School!

Here are Maggie's and Abbie's pictures... Abbie is doing well as long as we skip the 120 kid assembly for announcements and the pledge. Apparently that is very scary!

Smash up 20 years apart!

These songs are over 20 years apart... Still SO AMAZING



DOWN LOAD THE mp3 AT:
http://www.mediafire.com/?dyy1ezjmyzy

Labor Day

Just a post that is going around today... I am going to play the game!

How long were your labors?

Kid #1, 12 hours.
Kid #2, 4 hours
Kid #3, 3 hours.
Kid #4, 2 hours.

How did you know you were in labor?

Kid #1, water breaking.
Kid #2, water breaking.
Kid #3, contractions all day
Kid #4, Woke from a nap with mind numbing pain!

Where did you deliver?

Kid 1+2 Hospital

Kid 3+4 Home

Drugs?

Kid 1 yes.

Kids 2,3,4 no.

C-section?

No

Who delivered?

Kid #1 Midwife

Kid #2 Dr.

Kid #3+4 Jason

Vacation from people

I would like a Vacation!

From People!

As a pastor's wife, I am constantly used and lied to.

I know this sounds depressing...

Just picture me laughing maniacally.

(Wow, I didn't know that maniacally was spelled with two L's)

The best music video smash up yet!

Jalapenios - A cautionary tale

So I was making salsa... yes this is a picture of a pitcher of home made salsa. My WONDERFUL husband handed me a pepper. I warned him about touching his face after touching the pepper. I minced the pepper... I added it to the salsa. I covered the salsa... I shook the salsa... and while cleaning up: I TOUCHED MY LIPS! My tongue burned for a little bit... but 30 mins later... my lips are on fire. So I can swallow a Jalapeño... I just can't let it touch my lips.

Amie - Destroyer of worlds

Once upon a time... there was a Princess from the land of Terrible Two. Her name was Amie and she was known across the Western Wood for her ability to bring down her enemies with a fierce scream. She also made a hobby of destroying anything that might get in her way.

One particular Sunday morning, while the King was beyond the Western Woods in the Land of Chester, the queen decided to shower. The queen threatened the Princess with her life should she destroy the queen's lands.


The Princess however, had other plans. She felt that the DVD device in the land of Play no longer needed a tray and pulled it out, completely destroying it. She also felt it was necessary to climb the tallest tower to the Queen's domain and decimate her realm of q-tips into a pile on the floor.

The queen was very displeased. She punished the princess sending her to the dungeon. The queen hoped for a minute of peace across the land. But the little princess escaped and ran to the Knight's castle. While he was sleeping, the princess must had taken a mighty potion that gave her a giant's strength because she shook the castle with her two hands and made the young Knight cry.

Upon hearing this, the Queen locked up the princess in the dungeon for ever and ever, Amen.

So Long Summer

Just posting the last few pictures of Summer... Today was Abbie's first day of school. More on that tonight.


Jann and John (Jason's Parents) Took Maggie camping and fishing. Jann took my camera to take pictures for me.

Apparently John did all the hard work: He put the worm on the hook and cast it for her.













She held the rod.






He reeled it in for her.




He touched the fish.









She claimed the prize.














It was 110 degrees... but thankfully there was a water slide.











Did I mention they got rained on?

But they had fun and John gave us the fish and fried it up for us... pretty tasty!










Maggie also performed in the Theater for Youth program. Theme: Westwood Gypsy Wagon Train.

She performed Magic tricks, charmed snakes and even got into a sword fight with Andres.

Back to the Future... on steroids!!!

Awesome video! Great Editing!

Ok... so we don't have TV... I am looking for entertainment!


More to come(Sorry)

Please pray for our safety.

We felt safe moving into a home that had been rewired. It gave us some sense of safety and the new construction has improvements that include fire resistant insulation... not saw dust and pine shavings.

But this evening the power went out in the master bedroom. Jason cannot get the breaker to work. I think I have slept without fear and crying... but I don't remember when.

My wonderful husband works so hard to find/provide safe housing for us... but sometimes I wonder how many forces are against us.

Introducing my new toy!!!

My grandma purchased a stand mixer. (Why?) I do not know. Maybe to rekindle her love for baking. But after years of it sitting alone... she gave it to me.

This evening I decided to make PIE!

I had previously filled two
graham cracker crust with
chocolate pudding.

Then I set my beautiful mixer
on high with two packets of
dream whip.



Then I sprinkled some
chocolate chips on top.








Then I called Jason Kerr to
retrieve one of the pies since
it is obscene for us to consume
2 whole pies. He informed me
that his wife (Becky) Loves me.






Eagerly Awaiting.








Abbie likes pie.














Papa enjoying the pie.
















Maggie LOVES it!

Tale of the Franklin Realm

Once upon a time...



















There lived the princess of the land of terrible two. She reigned with an iron fist. She would decimate her foes with a mighty scream. Then there came a young knight from a far off land. He ignored her screams and threats. Many times he would even smile and laugh at her. The princes was angry and would sneak into the castle of the young knight and steal his blanket and teddy bear and throw them out of his home and banish them beyond his reach. Yet the young knight didn't mourn this midnight raid. Rather, he squealed with delight at the sight of the princess and angered her. She slammed doors despite repeated punishment from the owners of said doors. Then the queen and king returned from the land of Master bedroom and threatened the princess with her life if she should dare treat young knight this way again.

And for the moment... all is well in the Franklin Realm.

NEWS FLASH!

ALL 6 FRANKLIN'S WERE CLEAN LAST NIGHT!
This has been a news flash of the Path 31 blogspot.

(Also the dishwasher was used)

God blesses

We are technically in our new home. It is beautiful! I also purchased some furniture for our new home. It is beautiful.

On moving day, God blessed. The furniture company came and found that one of their tables for me were scratched. I was regretting not getting another table... and they GAVE me the table and said they would bring me a perfect one on Friday!!!

Then our phone situation was a mess... no phone no internet for one whole week?!?! But I made 1 phone call and asked if there was anything they could do... and within 24 hours, I am blogging.

Also, it may not seem important... but I just had a shower... 5 out of 6 members of this family received a bath tonight. That is something we haven't done since we left Southern California. We have never had enough hot water. John would have had a bath as well... but he fell asleep.

Tomorrow's goal: 6 out of 6!

I am having a difficult evening.

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up with the time comes." Matthew 6:34 (The Message Translation)

Fleece (Defined)

We have had a fleece before God this week. We have been unclear on our renting of a house across the street.

Our fleece?

"If the landlord doesn't contact us by Thursday and give us keys, God doesn't want us in this house"

The landlord called us the very next day and gave us keys... unfortunately the key doesn't go to any of the doors on the new rental.

New fleece?

"If we do not have THE RIGHT keys by Thursday..."

Chick Video

Chicks 2008

We ordered 26 baby chicks.
All Female!
We only kept 6. And gave
The rest to a friend.





This is Sprint.
She is fast.







This is Scarlett.
She is the red head.







This is Puff.
She is the blond.







This is Night Crawler.
Maggie named her.







This is Curious.
Maggie Named her too.
She looks like Sprint...
But not as fast. I wanted
to name her Verizon...




Here is Curious Sleeping.








This is Mo.
She will have a Mohawk.
Yes I am crazy.

Vacation 2008

Here are some of our
Vacation photos for our
trip to Southern California.

Isaac loved John. He is
eagerly awaiting the day
he can play ball with him.







We were able to spend
time with my brothers
and their wives.










And thanks to my brother Greg, we were able to replace the car bed that was lost in the fire.

Yes, there is a small yellow car on top of ours... Yes, it is a toddler bed.
Yes, it is funny.
Yes, it creates a lot of drag and sucked up our gas.

Story with an Abbieism ending

I am on drugs... Amie is watching "Incredibles" and there is a scene with a smoke alarm going off... not good.

As I was re telling this freak out to Jason at the dinner table, we discussed the fire. We clarified to the children: The smoke alarm went off. We didn't FREAK OUT, we just grabbed you guys and put you in the car. After we knew you were safe, we weren't scared any more.

Abbie: "Papa, Thank you for saving me from the fire."

Oh Crap!

When under stress... My neck turns into a pretzel.

So I am currently on Baclofen. (Not my first choice) It isn't working well... full effect lasts for 2 hours and sporadic relief for 3-4 hours after that. My Dr. is unavailable until Wednesday!!!

So I look up to see the dosage increments and instructions online. Apparently my Dr. would tell me to increase by 5 Mg each day until I get the desired results or my pain/stress is gone.

I also continue to read the warnings of this drug:
(note the opposites... constipation or diarrhea, Anorexia or weight gain)
(Back pain and exacerbation of psychotic disorders?!?!?!)

Adverse Reactions

Cardiovascular

Hypotension; palpitations; chest pain.

CNS

Drowsiness; weakness in lower extremities; dizziness; seizures; headache; numbness; euphoria; depression; confusion; lethargy; insomnia; hallucinations; paresthesia; asthenia; anxiety; agitation.

Dermatologic

Pruritus; rash.

EENT

Tinnitus; blurred vision; taste disorder; nasal congestion.

GI

Nausea; vomiting; dry mouth; constipation; diarrhea; abdominal pain; anorexia.

Genitourinary

Urinary frequency; enuresis; dysuria; impotence.

Respiratory

Dyspnea; pneumonia; hypoventilation.

Miscellaneous

Hypotonia; slurred speech; muscle pain; ankle edema; excessive perspiration; weight gain; back pain.

Precautions

Warnings

Intrathecal

Abrupt discontinuation has resulted in high fever, altered mental status, exaggerated rebound spasticity, and muscle rigidity that in rare cases advances to rhabdomyolysis, multiple organ system failure and death.

Give special attention to patients at apparent risk (eg, spinal cord injuries at T-6 or above, communication difficulties, history of withdrawal symptoms from oral or intrathecal baclofen)

Epilepsy and psychotic disorders

Use with caution because of potential exacerbations.

Fatalities

Fatalities occurred in premarketing trials of intrathecal baclofen; baclofen's role in these deaths is unknown.

Please pray

Insurance is a dirty business. Our lives have been thrown up in the air again by our insurance company. We were supposed to get keys to a new place on Friday... The insurance company will cover the rent... but won't say how long. (SO DO I SIGN A 1 Year lease?!?!)

Also, homes are flooding the market right now. A 4 bedroom 2 bath has become available ($40,000 above what we have...) and it is far from the church and school... but it is "modern" (1955) and is on a double lot.

We have so many fleeces before The Lord... we can't even check them all!!!

Please pray for our decisions... Also, please pray for me. I am not handling this well. Yes, I am posting at 1:20 AM... I don't sleep anymore.

Quote of the day

Faith makes things possible, not easy.

Panic in Dreamland

I was peacefully sleeping when I heard a "beep". A loud familiar beep that only comes from a failing smoke detector. My chest tightened, my gut liquefied, and I could hear my heart pounding in my head. I tried to go to sleep. I stuck my fingers in my ears... but by the second "Beep" and the following irregular heart beat prompted me to wake my poor husband at 4:41 am. He was WONDERFUL and changed the battery at the butt crack of dawn.

Epiphany

*I may have issues with smoke and smoke detectors forever*

Abbie's odd statement of the day

"Good people don't rip arms off."

Prayer

Click on the box to learn about Kennedy and her spine surgery.

My big girl...

Maggie has been at camp this week. We have missed her.
It is her first time away from home.

Thank you to my in-laws for providing
this awesome opportunity for her
and the great pictures!