Engstrom Family Cerebrations

In the Valley

2011-10-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

There are times in our lives, even in our daily routines, when we forget about God. From the death of a loved one to a stressful day, the temptation is to look within ourselves for our strength and direction. But if we are Believers, we must, even in the doldrums of a dreary day, look to God. He's there in our weakness. He's there in our sorrow. He's there in the valley.

Adventures With Chickens

2011-09-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

Gus is enjoying anything that has to do with our chickens. He loves feeding them, watering them, tossing them scraps...

He loves collecting eggs...

...and he doesn't mind it one bit if he 'accidentally' lets them out of the coop.

Because nothing makes this boy happier than

rounding up his chickens.

I cannot, however, say that the hens feel likewise.

From the mouths of babes...

2011-09-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

I went to bed not feeling well last night, and Keilah readily agreed to get things started for me this morning. When she brought to me EJ's handwriting paper, I had to laugh. He doesn't always respond eagerly to his sister's ministrations, and so when she asked him to pick a verse from a Psalm to write out, this is what he chose:

"Come, Lord, and show me Your mercy,
for I am helpless, overwhelmed, in deep distress.
(Psalm 25:16)
EJ 9-19-2011"

Poor kiddo - I suppose I'll need to be back in the saddle again tomorrow, to rescue him from his despair!

Homeschool Blindspots

2011-09-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

Reb Bradley recently wrote an article to parents, pointing out some of the areas that we clearly think we're on track with, but are often missing the hearts of our children.

The older our children get, the harder we have to work to keep communication unhindered, and their hearts fully ours. When our kids are small, their responses to us are swift, loving, and forgiving. The foundation of our children's hearts is easy to lay - training for obedience, discipline, and lots of hugs are the main materials needed to create a firm and reliable base for life. As they grow older, and their God-given independent spirits start to emerge, WE as parents must put more effort, more time into them. Unlike many other things in life, the job of parenting teens gets more involved, tenuous, and requires more deliberate forethought and action on our parts as time goes on. Gone are the days of "Just obey Mama!" and "Yes, Daddy!", and here to stay are the late nights of talking things through, weeding out the ever-encroaching influences of the world, and doing all we can to prepare our children for life on the other side of the safety of our homes.

This article isn't just for homeschoolers. If you're a parent, you need to read it!

Why I left Facebook

2011-08-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Facebook,

I’m writing to say good-bye. I know it’s the coward’s way out, writing a letter, but because your hold over me is so strong, I think it’s what I need to do. Imagine a heroin-addict finally getting the resolve to ditch the drug, but wanting to personally say good-byes to his dealers...you get the picture. A letter is the best way out.

I’m leaving you for several reasons, really, but to be honest, the main reason is that I love you too much. (Hello, my name is Karen, and I’m a Facebook-aholic.) It’s not the fun and games you offer me; those aren’t a distraction at all. It’s just that I’ve realized that I have ‘itchy ears’ and I am consumed with reading everyone’s updates. Some folks will find this scandalous and absurd, but others will squirm uncomfortably because they know what I’m talking about. It’s humbling to admit, but they say that’s the first step. So there you have it.

There are other, important reasons I’m saying good-bye to you. For one thing, I’ve actually begun THINKING in Facebook Status Post. I will have a thought, and will stop and re-format it into a post for my wall. That’s a mighty powerful effect you’ve had on me, Facebook. And downright creepy. Worse, recently you allowed a friend to experience some horrific spamming on her Facebook page. She was innocent, but mortified, and that made me mad for her. What kept me mad was the realization that we all know that nasty-spam is a possible consequence of sticking around here, and we seem to be willing to take that risk. But here’s the deal: once you see images like that , they’re there - stuck - in your mind for good. You can’t wash ‘em out like streams of sweat at the end of a hard-working day. So it’s simple: if I don’t have a Facebook account, my page can’t be spammed.

It’s not that I won’t miss the benefits that you offer. I’ve reconnected with past acquaintances, been encouraged by intelligent posts. My connection with family members is stronger than ever. I love that. And I’ll miss that. But I’m thinking that the oh-so-last-year means of communication like blogging (yes, I’m picking it up again), email, and even the telephone surely can maintain those relationships and provide that encouragement.

When I was young, I had a couple of pen-pals. I did my best to keep in touch with them, but as you would expect, we haven’t been in contact for years. So I’ve been thinking about how you’ve re-defined friendship, Facebook, and I’ve decided to not go with the flow. Friendship, and its close sister ‘community’, are face-to-face relationships, pure and simple. The relationships you promote are superficial. Shallow? I know this from experience: when happening upon a real-live personal contact with a Facebook “friend”, I’ve found it to be awkward at best. Just because we comment on each other’s photos and posts doesn’t mean that we have a real friendship! It’s a VIRTUAL friendship, and it’s inconceivable for one that’s maintained solely on Facebook to be anything more than the sum of its posts. Just as no one can maintain 300+ pen-pals, I can’t maintain you; I can't carry your prayer burdens; I can't keep up. I have too many other things in my life to accomplish.

So, you see? I’m a bit disillusioned. Not because you fell short. But because you went beyond what I was expecting, and in such ways that I find it easy to bid you farewell.

If anyone here would like to stay in touch, well, I’d love it. I feel safe saying that because I know that not all five-hundred-seven of you are you going to want to, because we’re not really friends, are we? (Please don’t take offense - I’m not trying to be mean. Just blame Facebook for making us think we’re closer than we really are.) :-)

Finally, two things: First, I highly recommend that sympathetic readers keep their eyes out for a new documentary coming out (hopefully) before the year’s end. “Captivated” documents the science and stories behind our world-wide obsession with media. I’m sure it will be informative and eye-opening. Second, if you’ve been considering spending less time online, here’s a great blog post by a Christian gal who is doing it successfully.

So now adieu, dear Facebook. Life is so full of real, wonderful joys, and I’m off to rediscover them. Oh! Do you hear that? The children are cheering!! “Mama’s back!” they’re chanting. Now that - the delight of children - is something worth being addicted to!

Fondly, but firmly,
Good-bye.

Some Encouraging Words from John Piper

2011-07-25T16:22:00.000-07:00

Pastor John from 1981:

First, a woman who fears the Lord is not anxious about the future. Look at verse 25. I love this line, and I praise all you women who are like this: "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." Satan dangles in front of her the specter of tomorrow's troubles, but she glances up at the almighty God at her right hand (her magnificent German Shepherd!) and laughs at Satan's folly.
Second, the woman who fears the Lord has practical wisdom. Verse 26, "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." We've been taught from grade school on that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10), so it's no surprise that the woman who fears the Lord "opens her mouth with wisdom."
Third, the woman who fears the Lord is strong. Verse 25, "Strength and dignity are her clothing." Verse 17, "She girds her loins with strength and makes her arms strong." She will be morally strong. Proverbs 23:17 says, "Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day." The woman who continues in the fear of the Lord will have power to resist all the allurements to envy, to desire what she shouldn't have.
Fourth, a woman who fears the Lord will live not for herself alone but for others, especially her husband, if she is married. Verses 11, 12, "The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not harm all the days of her life." A woman who fears the Lord will not squander the family's livelihood on frivolous purchases, but will have the complete trust of her husband because she is for him and not against him.

Excerpted from A Woman Who Fears the Lord Is to Be Praised.

Media Fast Over - New Domain Name!

2011-03-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

The media fast only lasted a month, but our main blog writer has lost interest in our blog. The allure and ease of Facebook has taken another great blog author. May she rest in peace. (But since we are Believers we also hope in resurrection ~ come on Sweetie forsake Facebook and return to your first love).

Most recent news is we are moving from Comcast to Qwest for internet service. Comcast so called 20Mbps blast service means about 3-5Mbps in my neighborhood and Qwest is promising 12Mbps all the time and with the savings of having my office line from Qwest also we are saving close to $40 a month. The most painful part is being caused by the fact we used the Comcast domain for our email. I signed up for this account when we moved into this house many moons ago and it is scary how many different accounts we have tied to these email addresses.

So I am taking the big step of registering our own domain. So now this blog can be access via www.engstromfamily.net. We will have new email addresses once the name servers are finished getting propagated. Never again will an ISP enslave me to their substandard bandwidth because they own my email address.

Media Fast

2010-05-03T10:47:00.001-07:00

Spring is here and with it the annual Engstrom month long media fast. See you again in June....

Unwanted

2010-03-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

90 seconds to show you that EVERYONE is wanted by SOMEONE...

Birthdays gone Crazy...

2010-03-04T16:30:00.001-08:00

For his 14th Birthday recently, Bear wanted to have a handful of friends over for a paintball battle. They arrived in camo, fully loaded, ready to go. Sadly, by the end of the war, only 3 of the ten paintball guns were still working. But Bear had a great time, and we'll surely do it again someday!

Bear, center-top, getting the troops ready to go!

Making sure there were no wardrobe malfunctions...

*sigh* Evidence of the battle were left all over the driveway, live ammo just waiting to be stepped on and tracked into the house.

A soldier hiding behind a barrier.

Mama-note: It is truly odd when half of the guests to your 14 year old's party DRIVE THEMSELVES to the event. My gray hairs are increasing, I tell ya.

Posting, posting, posting

2010-02-08T00:50:00.000-08:00

Oh, my little blog has been so neglected of late. That silly Facebook has drawn my attention and spare moments to its own attendance. But I've been thinking.

I've been pondering the past 6 months and what God has been doing in our family. Often, when we go through difficult times, it's easy to become myopic and live for just the day/moment/event. But God calls us to faith. Faith in Him and His ways. And trust. Trust that He won't let the righteous go hungry. We might suffer, and it might hurt, but He is a solid rock that can be trusted.

I am not speaking from a high place. The testing of our family has come at some cost, and I believe the Lord really truly wants to lay a foundation in our lives of trust. There have been days that I have turned away, becoming tunnel-visioned, literallyfreakingout with worry for what tomorrow will bring, and God in His mercy visited me with painful suffering to remind me to trust Him. The lesson is good, and while I embrace Him and it, I hope that I can GET IT, you know? But I get the distinct feeling that He isn't giving up until I DO get it.

So, it must be important, wouldn't you agree? This foundation of trust, some 20+ years into my Christian walk. And it makes me wonder...what the future holds.

Gusper Puckers

2009-12-22T22:40:00.000-08:00

Engstrom Family update

2009-11-20T14:06:00.000-08:00

Engstrom Family 101...

*Gus is command0-crawling like a pro.

*Pickle is as sparky as ever - and super cute.

*Eej taught himself to read. Who is that child?

*Roo has a very advanced sense of humor and keeps us on our toes.

*The General will be competing in his first LegoLeague (robotics) tournament in a few weeks.

*Bear just finished football season with a 6 win, no loss standing. Go BEAR!

*Bep is cruising with school, and her painting skills are amazing. She makes any craft or artwork look simple.

*Kei has been working hard on her photography, and she leaves me in the dust.

*Erik is working hard, giving Honeywell way more than they pay him for, and loves serving our little church on the weekends.

*I'm learning about winter gardening and trying to stay afloat with housework!

How about you? How are you all doing?

Fall might be in the air...

2009-09-21T23:27:00.000-07:00

But the weather around here has been amazing. I woke up to The. Most. Sparkly. Morning. So I took a handful of kids and we went to Lake Washington for a few hours...

We brought sandwiches and sat looking over the water as we munched on them. As we were finishing, this little guy came wandering over. One of the boys tossed him a crust, and he proceeded to enjoy his little feast right in front of us, to the great delight of the little ones. "MOMMY!! HIM HAS HANNNNDS!!" screamed Abbie.

Gusper, also good with his hands now, enjoyed chawing on a bag-strap. No peanut butter and jelly for him, yet!

Roo enjoying the view.

After a lengthy walk on the docks (you can see part of them above), we found a little bit of beach, and the kids had a grand time splashing around for a while.

Bear found a fish. A verylargedead fish, with a gaping mouth. He pulled one of its fins out and an awful stench arose. I wasn't nearby for it, so I was able to laugh my head off at his misfortune.

Abbie had a blast, as all 3 year olds do at the beach!

Gus, who freaks out at tub-time, LOVED the water. And it was chilly! He splashed and played and ate...Well, I tried to stem that activity as much as I could...don't want the little peanut to get a parasite or something!

The General, Roo, and Abs

Abbie. Never. Stops. Talking.

The Yodeling-Walking-On-Water-General

Reigning the little guy in.

To dry off a bit, we played in the grass...

Rolled down hills (the "we" stopped at the photo above)

RACE-rolled down hills

(Truthfully, watching Abbie almost made me want to do it myself!)

Climbed trees...

Begged for SOMEONE to help us get down from trees...

(again, loose usage of the word "us" there...)

Sat and rested....

Told corny jokes...

And pondered the deep things of life.

The viewing area above.

So much to love...

Next up: The Zoo!

Fall must be in the air...

2009-09-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

Summertime has been chock-full of delightful eating experiences. I just love the barbecue season, even though we rarely use the old Weber; it's just as easy in the PNW to use the oven. Of course, we had some record-breaking weather this summer...
Our poor white bodies were suffering for that week, but thankfully it was short-lived, and we were back to normal life.

Of course, normal life for us, during the summertime, includes a huge fireworks display at a local lake, put on by PapaPyro. MamaK's kitchen is in full swing, bringing meals to the Pyro-crew. Breakfasts, lunches, dinners...we prepare, deliver, and clean up one meal, only to rush home and do it all over again. While it's absolutely exhausting, it is also very rewarding, fun work.

One lunch featured grilled chicken and cheese sandwiches and fruit...

The ribs are rubbed and ready to be cooked.

Another breakfast: homemade sausage-egg sandwiches and (store-bought!) maple bars.

Can't forget the ubiquitous barbecued chicken, garlic bread, and salad! What would summertime be without it?

Oh. Wait. The DEFINITION of summertime food:

Potato salad!

But you know what? I'm done. What I'm really ready for is soup, stew, and as we enjoyed tonight - spaghetti!

What did you enjoy most this summer?

What are you looking forward to this fall?

Kei's birthday dinner

2009-09-18T19:45:00.000-07:00

It was an honor to celebrate our Kei's 17th birthday this past week. She is an unbelievable young woman, and it was a very precious day. We had some out-of-town friends over, and had a delicious dinner of soups (baked potato and broccoli-cheddar), salad, bread, and dessert - undercooked brownies, ice cream, and homemade caramel sauce. We won't eat for a week, now, but sometimes celebrations are worth it!

The Bibbys brought this delicious triple-cream cheese and water crackers from TJ's...

Heirloom tomatoes and basil from my garden (with a bit of Kosher salt, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar)

The broccoli-cheddar soup

Photos backwards, here, but next up is the General chopping onions for me. Great kids like this are rare, I tell ya.

Happiest of birthdays, sweetie! We love you.

Didja ever...

2009-09-18T19:40:00.001-07:00

Play Scrabble by yourself?

Just lay all the tiles face-down. Draw yourself 10 to start with, and then just add as needed to your tray. Use up all of the tiles if you can.

Kim's having another giveaway!

2009-09-14T13:39:00.000-07:00

Kim, at Life in a Shoe, is hosting a giveaway of some awesome (so I've heard!) Charlie's Soap. I would LOVE to try some of this, as we've enjoyed making our own laundry soap for half a year now, and would love to try some "professional" stuff! You can enter her contest, too, by clicking HERE!!

Blogging is Vintage...

2009-09-03T22:17:00.000-07:00

...or so says my oldest daughter.

She's even thinking of making a blog-button about it, whatever that is. If she makes one, I'm sure I'll sew it on here. Somehow.

She's lamenting to me about the fact that most bloggers have now turned to the Dark Side of Facebook, and don't blog anymore, to which Yours Truly would have to humbly agree. I have been a terrible example of a blogger lately. Don't get me wrong - I still have tons to say, piles of pictures to post, and generally believe in blogging more than in Facebook. But what can I do? How do I break free? Is anyone visiting here anymore, anyway?

And let's face it - my blog is NOT one of these new-fangled fancy-schmancy, all purtied up, lookin' like you could frame 'em and hang 'em on the wall blogs! Not at all like the quoted above daughter's blog. Nope. Mine's plain-jane, just-the-facts-ma'am. I'm afraid if I changed the template, I'd loose things that I forgot I had on here anyway, and my brain's just too foggy to compete with that!

So I'm just going to post this today. Maybe it's the start of something good. Maybe I'll pick up the pieces here and make this a great blog again! Maybe I'll be one of the old-fashioned vintage bloggers! Now, I like the sound of that...

Demographic Winter. Demographic Bomb

2009-07-10T17:05:00.000-07:00

Overpopulation is a myth! Worldwide, birthrates have declined by 50% since 1970. In Western nations, women aren't having enough children to replace current population. In the year 2050, there will be 248 million fewer children in the world than there are today. A new documentary Demographic Winter: the decline of the Human Family explains how falling birthrates will change the course of history. Forget Global Warming! Demographic Winter is real and its consequences could be catastrophic. To order a copy of Demographic Winter: the decline of the human family or to watch a 3-minute trailer for the documentary click here.

This film is both ground-breaking and life-changing. We encourage everyone to purchase and view it! Click on the link above to see what it's all about.

One. Cool. Dude.

2009-07-10T14:43:00.000-07:00

Only a guy this uber-cool

isn't embarrassed by his own drool.

Happy Gus...

2009-07-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

Causing Gusper to giggle is a favorite pastime around here. Watch, as we catch Bep
calling him a hobbit and playing peek-a-boo with him!

One sure way...

2009-07-07T22:48:00.000-07:00

...to get Gusper to sleep:

The boy LOVES music!

The absolute satisfaction of radishes!

2009-07-07T22:43:00.000-07:00

What is this?

2009-07-07T22:41:00.000-07:00

(Members of my family may not answer!)

Independence Day weekend...

2009-07-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

So much to blog. So little time.

But apparently Kei has had plenty of time today, so if you'd like to see the marvelous, wonderous times that we Engstroms have had lately, check out her blog!

Something to consider...

2009-06-30T13:43:00.001-07:00

John Piper, bless his humble heart, wrote this post recently that really grabbed my attention...

Why I Don't Have a TV and Rarely Go to Movies
John Piper, June 25, 2009

Now that the video of the Q&A at Advance 09 is available, I can look at it and feel bad all over again. Here’s what I regret, indeed what I have apologized for to the person who asked the question.

The first question to me and Mark Driscoll was, “Piper says get rid of my TV, and Driscoll says buy extra DVRs. How do you reconcile this difference?”

I responded, “Get your sources right. . . . I never said that in my life.”

Almost as soon as it was out of my mouth, I felt: “What a jerk, Piper!”...

Continue to the rest of the article...

Just a word...

2009-06-08T14:55:00.001-07:00

...from John Calvin.

(We'll resume our hey-we're-back-and-this-is-what-we've-been-up-to! posts soon...)

Erik and I found it interesting that even in the 1500's, women were mocked for rejoicing in their roles as mothers and wives. Read what John Calvin wrote:

John Calvin on Women Rejoicing in Their Role as Homemakers

All the chastity they [Nuns] pretend is nothing before God, in comparison of that that he hath appointed, that is to say, that albeit it seem but a vile thing, and a matter of none account, for a woman to take pains about housewifery, to make clean her children when they be arrayed, to kill fleas, and other such like, although this be a thing despised, yea and such, that many will not vouchsafe to look upon it, yet are they sacrifices which GOD accepteth & receiveth, as if they were things of great price and honourable.

Therefore let women study this lesson day and night that first of all they may play the housewives: and if women were the most negligent in the world, yet is there here matter enough to awaken them, and to correct this idleness. And how? If we take pains, we serve GOD, and not men. Again, when a man seeth his wife employ herself all the day long to do her duty, let him also consider whereunto God hath called him, that he also for his part may do his duty. For a man is not born to idleness, nor a woman.

Therefore...let women cast their eyes hither, for there is occasion enough to correct their slothfulness, when they shall see that the question is of serving God. And how? When they fall to kneading (as the proverb is) and apply themselves to good use, & flee not the subjection which God hath set them in: for this is to strive against GOD, when a man doth not follow his vocation, which is our true rule, that is to say, that that we have to do, & what God appointeth every one of us, according to the state, whereunto he is called. Therefore let women have this mark to shoot at, & say, well, although the world have no regard of me, yet must I find myself occupied here, for so God commandeth me. And thus much touching the first, how women have to take occasion to be diligent: and moreover also they have to consider, that when they do their duty and execute their office, God accepteth well of it, although men despise it.

And if men say, “What is this? A woman playeth the housewife, she spinneth on her distaff, and this is all that women can do.” As in deed there are a number of fools that when they speak of women’s distaffs, of seeing to their children, will make a scorn of it, and despise it. But what then? What saith the heavenly Judge? That he is well pleased with it, and accepteth of it, and putteth it in his reckoning.

So then let women learn to rejoice when they do their duty, and though the world despise it, let this comfort sweeten all respect they might have that way, and say, “God seeth me here, and his Angels, who are sufficient witnesses of my doings, although the world do not allow of them.”

More catching up...

2009-06-02T23:42:00.001-07:00

Over the past couple of months we...

Played with the baby...ON the baby???

And he never woke up throughout his brother's "fun"...what a good little boy!

We took lots of great pictures of Gus...

We went to a "Tea Party"...

We dressed up and played outside a lot!

We enjoyed our church family and times of fellowship and encouragement...

PapaPyro turned 39, and we celebrated with him. Children, do not try this at home! If Mr. E gives you one of these great birthday "candles", do NOT pretend to blow it out!

We worked hard to get our veggies started...AND got our garden planted!

We (well, some of us anyway!) came down with the Chicken Pox!

(Pickle sleeping off some of the Pox-bug!)

Hello World

2009-06-02T23:30:00.001-07:00

We're back from our media fast, refreshed, challenged, and ready to face the virtual world again with caution and joy. It proved to be very good for all of us, and we're so glad we did it. I hope to get some new photo-posts up...the picture above is EONS old (Gusper was just a little babe there, and now he's grabbing for things and pulling hair and becoming more and more a part of our world!). We can't wait to share what we've been up to...So stay tuned!

Bless you all, anyone who might still be out there!
Karen

From unfaithful blogger...

2009-04-30T23:42:00.000-07:00

...to signing off for now.

The Engstrom Family is going on a media fast, which will include blogging (I sooo hope when we come back that I'll be a better blogger...say that five times fast!), Facebook, radio, tv, movies for entertainment, etc.

If you know us, please feel free to email us - we'll check that regularly because this is, for better or for worse, a main method of communication these'a'days!

Bless you all...see you in June!

Such a pickle

2009-04-02T14:13:00.001-07:00

"Pickle" has been Abbie's nickname for a long time. She answers to it, and one time, when asked by a friend of ours what her middle name was, she replied "My name is Abbie Pickle". Since Gus has arrived, we're relegating Abbie to nickname status here on our blog, now, along with all of the other anonymous Engstrom children. If you've been a follower (or friend) for any length of time, you'll secretly know her real name. But here on Engstrom Family Cerebrations, she will be forthwith referred to as "Pickle".

A rare success: Catching Bep on film

2009-03-25T22:23:00.000-07:00

Kei snuggling Gus

2009-03-25T22:21:00.000-07:00

One of the best sights in the world...

2009-03-25T22:18:00.000-07:00

As a young girl, one of my favorite stories was "The Secret Garden". It held so much intrigue - a child heading to a strange home (a mansion at that!), sleuthing out unexplained crying sounds, endless gardens to explore. I read it so many times.

But my favorite part of all was when Mary discovered the seedlings poking up through the ground.

Oh, just the thought of it thrilled my imagination.

That exhilirating feeling has never left, and when my carefully-planted spring seeds recently sprouted, I had that same feeling I did as a child when reading of Mary's.

Have you planted any seeds yet?

Oh, do it - just for the joy of seeing them burst from the soil! Do it just for the thrill of it!

And then praise God - the One who grants such wonderful miracles.

(Can you tell I'm learning to use the macro-setting on my camera? All thanks to budding photog, Kei!)

Guspers...

2009-03-25T22:17:00.000-07:00

Tub Time!

2009-03-20T16:02:00.001-07:00

(Notice the little hands "helping")

Aaaahhh...now for the best part!

Bundle o' baby...

2009-03-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

(Kind of a snarky look, wouldn't you say?)

Bad Dog...

2009-03-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

1. We had hamburgers on the BBQ the night before.
2. Bep saw through the (awful, messy, somebody please clean that!) window our dog Reignie being naughty.
3. We were awfully glad the grill wasn't still hot.
4. But goodness gracious, how did she hop up there?!

Prop

2009-03-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

I have taken to occasionally calling Gus "Upie" (you-pee). Not because of diaper issues, but because he looks sooo handsome in brown. Anyone guess how I came up with the nickname?

First Family Photo with Baby Gus

2009-03-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Top row: The General, Bep, Bear

Middle row: Eej and Kei

Bottom row: Abbie, Gus, and Roo

Bep and Babe

2009-03-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

Daddy-time

2009-03-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

Smooches.

2009-03-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

Eej with his Baby Brother Gus.

Uncle Bouncer and Auntie came to town!

2009-03-19T11:08:00.001-07:00

Erik's sister, Erin, and her hubby Clint (a.k.a. Uncle Bouncer), and their two children flew down from Alaska for spring break and to meet Baby Gus.

Here's Auntie trying to win a smile from Gus. :-)

Laura, nearly 4, had a blast with Abigail. Abbie was born on Laura's first birthday, so they share their special day!

Uncle Bouncer giving strawberry-eating tips to Laura. Garrett (almost 6) was off playing with the boys, of course!

Pursuing character as a means of grace

2009-03-14T22:40:00.000-07:00

Every have a moment of clarity when doing a seemingly unrelated task? Tonight as I reconciled our checking account I had an insight to a problem that I knew the answer but not the why of it.

"Some have argued that to truly trust and only rely on God’s grace means an abandoning of any pursuit of character, righteousness, or holiness. This simple logic can be paralyzing and it is hard to read the breadth of scripture and not feel confused by the Apostles’ call to “doing” which some would label works-righteousness. So unless we are willing to give up the habit of reading the whole counsel of God’s word how can we address this apparent contradiction?

Some of the pressure of the tension between human effort and God’s grace can be relieved when we realize the pursuit of character is absolutely essential to a hearty life of truly resting in God’s grace. For without it we become desensitized to the effects of sin and numb to the Holy Spirit’s conviction. For only with great effort towards increasing character and holiness in our life do we become painfully aware of our utter lack of it. The honest end of our pursuit should lead then to an abandonment of our own energy to obtain it, and keep us crying out and resting in His grace all the more.

If we do not pursue righteousness, how else will we be reminded every day of the need for God’s grace to obtain it for us?" - Erik Engstrom 3/14/2009 (Pi day)

Who wants a knuckle sandwich??

2009-03-05T20:52:00.000-08:00

Put up yer dukes!

Animated version of the Hudson Aircraft landing

2009-03-05T10:31:00.000-08:00

This was FASCINATING! Show the kids. This is an animation of the emergency landing that occurred in New York recently. It shows how quickly the pilot had to think and make his decisions. God's grace was definitely on him! I'm not sure if the audio is the real audio, but it sounds genuine...anyone know?

Testimonies...

2009-02-16T21:04:00.000-08:00

I am often reminded (daily...hourly...minutely) how I once was lost, but now am found. God's redeeming work in my life is something that I must never forget to give Him thanks for. In this video, we are reminded that His work is good, hope-giving, and free. Do you need Him to change your life? To turn you from yourself to Himself? Do you want to be set free? RUN to Him. There are no magic words...just run and fall at His feet and turn your life over to Him. I wonder if He's whispering that to you right now...?

Snuggling with new baby Gus

2009-02-12T21:22:00.001-08:00

Mama and Daddy having family time with Abbie and Eej snuggling in.

(Gus is under Abbie's protective arm.)

Welcoming baby Gus!

2009-02-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

Great is the Lord, and worthy of praise!
We are so happy to introduce you to our newest little arrow
(Ps. 127:4)

Augustine Asher Engstrom

8 pounds, 15 ounces

22 inches long

For more pictures, please visit Kei's blog!

In the midst of my difficult labor, Kei played the following song over and over for me. It ministered to me so much. You can enjoy listening to it here. (Edit: link changed to one that features the entire song)

Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labour through the storm.
You have called me to this passage,
and I'll follow, though I'm worn.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Jesus guide me through the tempest;
Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love You even more.

Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go -
And at the end of this long passage,
Let me leave them at Your throne.

"Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer"
Keith and Kristyn Getty

From the CD "In Christ Alone"

I'll probably have to wait until Heaven...

2009-01-19T20:42:00.000-08:00

Russia awards 'order of parental glory' to prolific parents

It was the gleaming silver gong every idealistic Soviet matron desired: the "Hero Mother" medal conferred on women who bore at least 10 children to serve the nation.

By Miriam Elder in Moscow

Now, 18 years after it was discontinued, Russia has revived its policy of rewarding fertility in an attempt to reverse a potentially disastrous demographic decline.

To great fanfare, broadcast live on state television, President Dmitry Medvedev brought eight families into the gilded halls of the Kremlin and presented them with the blue-ribboned silver star of the Order of Parental Glory.

"You are setting an example for all society and you continue the tradition of parental service which has been customary in our country for centuries," Mr Medvedev told the gathering.

A sharp fall in birthrates, combined with increasing poor health, has prompted a demographic collapse which the United Nations predicts could reduce the population from 146 million today to just 80 million by 2050 - a fall in numbers which could also spell social and economic disaster.

Now the country's leadership is striking back through a publicity campaign urging people to have larger families. Posters line Moscow's streets and metro stations, reminding people of their duty to have children.

The Order of Parental Glory is reminiscent of Joseph Stalin's campaign to boost birthrates following the country's staggering human losses in the Second World War, as well as the dictator's own purges.

He introduced the Hero Mother award in 1944, to celebrate women who gave birth to, or adopted, at least 10 children.

The Order of Parental Glory has more modest ambitions: parents need only four children to apply, but they must also satisfy a host of other requirements to show that they are bringing their offspring up in a healthy atmosphere.

Eight families, representing different parts of Russia, were chosen through local competitions to receive the award, which also comes with a 50,000-rouble stipend (£1,000).

Some, like the Maximov family from the eastern region of Yakutia, came in traditional Siberian dress. Others wore military uniforms and priestly garb.

Nikolai Levyokin, 37, was chosen to represent the Moscow region. He and his wife, Ksenia, have six children, aged one to 13. He said the ceremony left him – and his children – nervous but proud. "We're doing this not only to lift Russia's demographics, but to lift the status of Russia itself," he told The Sunday Telegraph.

Mr Levyokin said his children were at first sad to learn that the prime minister, Vladimir Putin, who left the presidency in May, would not be the one presenting the award. "Then they saw Medvedev's smiling face and realised he's a good president too," he said.

A Call to Dunkirk

2009-01-09T17:01:00.000-08:00

Cats in the Craddle Remix

2009-01-07T07:44:00.000-08:00

The Most Delightful 12 Days of Christmas Ever

2008-12-21T21:21:00.000-08:00

Overheard...from an Engstrom loo

2008-12-13T19:52:00.000-08:00

Little Sis: Sissy! I went pottttty!

Big Sis: Well done! Good job!

Little Sis: I went POO-POO!

Big Sis: You sure did!

Little Sis: I went LOTS of poo-poo!

Big Sis: Well. Yes. You really did go lots of poo-poo in there...

Little Sis: See? There's the daddy-one. There's the mama-one. There's the baby-one!

I don't know what Big Sis said at this point. From the safety of my bedroom, I was laughing way too hard.

Bep the Prairie Maiden

2008-11-17T17:20:00.001-08:00

Photo by Kei...

Help for Growing Families

2008-11-11T20:40:00.000-08:00

Jenny, at her Ship Full of Pirates, has launched a series designed to share hints that can help us all as we raise our little (and big!) ones.

This week's focus, as I briefly zipped through some other folks' entries, seemed to be on laundry. And since we all have to do the wretched stuff...I mean, serve our precious families in this way, I thought I'd share the system we E's have come up with.

Two caveats:
1. Our system has been blessed by the availability of a spare room-turned-laundry room. I understand that not everyone has this option.
2. I have kids old enough to to do their share. And that's a wonderful thing to look forward to, if you're not there yet!

The back story:

I was bogged down by laundry for way too many years. I tried Susie's method, Janie's successful ways, and Sally's never-fail process. None of them worked for me. I just couldn't keep up on our growing family's laundry. Friends would come over and bail me out, hauling Hefty bag after Hefty bag outside to their vehicles, and home to their somehow well-functioning laundry area. Back they would come, sometimes freshly cleaned, sometimes folded, but regardless of my friends and extended family's laborious efforts on my behalf, within a week I would be back to square one.

Now, I'm sure you're not as bad off as I was. We all have our issues. Laundry was mine.

We have a system now that has laundry done and in order every week, with seldom any overflow or those awful guilty feelings. My deepest thanks go to the Duggars, whose laundry room was my launching pad for ideas, and my hubby, who built the room to my specifications and has been my knight in shining armor all along the way. He's enforced and reinforced until it's become a well-oiled machine.

First off - the problem:
I had no laundry room. My laundry area was in the main bathroom, which guests and, more importantly, the children use. Combine a children's bathroom with a laundry area, and you already have a problem (at least for us!). It was always a mess, and we often had piles of laundry in the hallway (oh, that was pretty), waiting for its turn in the wash.

So we took an unused bedroom and turned it into Laundry Room Extraordinairre. Before you think we're as rich as Midas, you should know that the 9 of us live in 3 bedrooms. Our master bedroom, the girls' room (3 in there), and the boys' room (4 in there, on a good night, when Eej will bravely give up his "bed" on the floor in our room and sleep with his brothers!). Grandpa lives upstairs in his own room. And we had a spare room down our main bedroom hallway that was collecting clutter. It also happened to be opposite the wall where our current laundry system was located, so switching things around was merely a process of going into the wall and pulling the plumbing out this side, instead of that side. (It was that easy, sweetie, wasn't it?) We hauled out the clutter, ripped out the closet, painted the walls a cool green, laid linoleum, and set up the washer and dryer.

Then came the Laundry Salvation Plan.

We lined two walls with shelving and baskets. The shelving is for ALL OF THE KIDS' CLOTHES. Yes. All of it. I despise laundry in the kids' rooms, and this put all 7 kids' laundry all in one very handy spot - the laundry room! Underthings, shorts, and jammies go in the baskets. Everything else (including sweats, skirts, t-shirts...everything) gets hung up.

(These are "before" pictures. Before all the kids' clothes made it into here, although you can see where some eager beavers slipped their shoes into the "shoe pukas" as soon as they could! If I remember, I'll post some "now" pictures so you can see what it currently looks like filled up.)

Here's how it works.

All of the kids' clothes are hung up on hangers (with the notable exceptions above), in order. In order means, all the size 5's are together, all the size 7's, etc. When Roo outgrows his size, he simply starts wearing the next size up. And Eej, when his jeans become high-waters, begins wearing Roo's old clothes. Clothes are replaced as needed, and are regularly weeded through (about 4 times a year) to eliminate stained, ripped, or too-small-for-the-smallest-kid items.

The girls have their own clothes - being of very different personalities, they have their own clothes, but hung up in the "girl section".

The child will go into the laundry room in the morning, choose their outfit for the day, and don it. Jammies, if still clean (by gum oughta be!), go back in the appropriate basket. Dirties go in the 4-sectioned hamper: 2 for boys, 1 for girls, 1 for towels. Starting in the morning, Daddy (bless his soul) puts in the first load, and we'll wash, dry, and put in a separate sectioned hamper when it's clean. It just goes from dryer to clean hamper. The boys are responsible to take their clean clothes from that hamper (which is on wheels) and hang 'em all up by the end of the day. Same for the girls. I do towels, and my laundry is brought into my room and dumped ceremoniously on my bed for me to deal with. :-)

That's our system. Maybe something in it will work for you!

Can you handle a blonde joke?

2008-11-06T20:03:00.000-08:00

(Don't shoot the mother of many blondes.)

A guy took his blonde girlfriend to her first football game. They had great seats right behind their team's bench. After the game, he asked her how she liked the experience.

'Oh, I really liked it,' she replied, 'especially the cheerleaders [edited for family-friendliness], but I just couldn't understand why they were killing each other over 25 cents.'

Dumbfounded, her date asked, 'What do you mean?'

'Well, they flipped a coin, one team got it and then for the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was: 'Get the quarterback! Get the quarterback!' I'm like...Helloooooo? It's only 25 cents!!!!

Babies, babies, everywhere!

2008-10-23T15:13:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to our dear LeiLani on the birth of your precious little girl! MiaBella Kiku is just gorgeous!!

Raise her up to the glory of God!

Also birthed this past week are Jess, Julia, and Carrie's new babies - Jess and Julia haven't posted yet, and Carrie doesn't have a blog - but we send them all out huge hugs, and our blessings to their wonderful families.

And stay tuned. I have a case of reluctant-blogger-fingers right now...we'll continue our 1 Corinthians 13 Focus and also share some fun pictures of several Engstrom events soon.

Until then...

Blessings!

First Corinthians 13 Focus; part 1: Patience

2008-10-12T20:09:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I need to love more.

I need to show love to my husband and kids more. To my church family. To my friends. To the world around me.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things. Love never ends.
I Corinthians 13:4-8

We've all heard the passage above often - many times recited at weddings, sometimes at church, and even during our regular Bible reading. But how familiar has it become to us? There is a danger, I believe, in passing casually over something that we've heard over and over again, when there could be great value in actually studying it.

So begins for us a study on Love. And with it comes an invitation for you to join in. You can participate privately or publicly on your own blog. But I think that we all can benefit from taking this passage of truth and focusing on applying it to our lives.

So for the next week, I challenge you to begin with just the very first phrase of the verse above:

Love is patient

How can you apply this to your life? I think we can work to show love by being more patient with our husbands and children, our boss and co-workers, the librarian, the other drivers around us, our parents, even the dog. For me, this is a challenge particularly because I am not a patient person. So maybe it's just me that needs this lesson, but if you feel inclined, please join me in working on patient love this week.

If you want to, you can blog about your journey with this First Corinthians 13 Focus...leave a note, linking to your blog here so that the rest of us can see the outworking of your patient love and be encouraged ourselves! What are some ways you have creatively chosen patience over impatience? How about scriptures that the Lord illuminated for you that helped your walk? Share the fruit of your efforts at the end of the week!

But above all: Pray.

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:5-7

Since we're on the subject...

2008-10-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

Kim at Life in a Shoe (With Many Critters, as I unofficially call her) has actually STARTED a meme...what a brave woman. And since here at Engstrom Family Cerebrations we've been chatting about this sort of thing, and since she tagged me, and since I think their family is uber-cool, I'll join in. Stay tuned at the end...you might be tagged, too!

The Pet Meme

What is the first pet you remember? Our dog Coco. I don't remember anything about him/her, except that he/she was smallish.

How many different kinds of pets have you owned? Since childhood? Hm. Turtles, frogs, fish, lizards, garter snakes. Birds, dogs, cats. Goats and rabbits.

What was your strangest pet? Probably Kei's water frog. He was an interesting little critter, and nicely kept in a tidy frog house, until the cat got hungry one sad day. And after that boring little vignette, you can see that I've never really had a "strange" pet.

What is your dream pet? I don't personally have one, but I think that a pet that my kids loved and took really good care of would be my dream pet.

What is your nightmare pet? Well, I wouln't be lying to say frogs, because they just do nothing for me, but I have to say that I really, really don't like keeping birds. We have so much chattering going on in our busy household as it is, that even when it was quiet, it was never really QUIET when we had birds. And a lack of quiet when I want quiet is just awful to me.

Tell your best/funniest pet story. Bep has been wanting to get a horse for a long time, and recently we went to a farm to look at one to consider for her. While there, the owner had some business inside, and told Bep and I to feel free to go into the pasture to see the horse. In the pasture also were several other horses, a couple of small cows, and half a dozen goats. Being the sadly prideful woman I am, I marched in there without fear (so I thought). Bep headed off to meet the horse she was looking at. I lingered back - not enjoying horses as much as she - chosing instead to stay with the cows and goats. "No problem," thought I. I like our goats. Cows. Who's afraid of a cow? Apparently, however, the biggest goat, with a uni-horn, no less, decided he didn't like me so much. Nudge. Butt. Push. I was growing uncomfortable. (Hey, I'm pregnant, okay? If I wasn't pg, I'd be butting that stupid goat right back! I swear!) Then the smaller cow started following me around. Then the bigger cow decided he/she didn't like me either. Now a goat nudging you is one thing. But a COW?! I was DECIDEDLY uncomfortable, now. After hollering to Bep to rescue me, she came over, laughing, of course. Naturally. Who's afraid of cows, for crying out loud? Brave little me, I asked her to stay between me and the big pushy cow. That bovine would have NOTHING to do with Bethie, and kept weaseling around her to get to moi. What he/she had in mind, I have no idea, but it wasn't long before I was high-tailing it to the barn as fast as I could, looking over my shoulder for the inevitable charge that would end my life. Really. I was sure of it.

Tell your worst/saddest pet story. Pets dying are a tough business with kids. So are pets that bite. But that would be an angry pet story, and you haven't asked for that.

Did you ever have a scary animal experience? Well, this story isn't about me, directly, although I'll make it seem like it was. My son Bear, a couple years ago, was sitting in his seat in the back of our family van. It was dark, late, and Christmas time. I had just been shopping with most of the kids, we were heading home, and I was talking with Kei on the phone (she had just arrived home from a babysitting job). All of a sudden I hear a shriek from the back seat and unintelligible moaning. Putting Kei on hold, I called backwards, "What's the matter?" Bep told me to wait a moment, so she could find out what was going on. "Oh...he just drank some water from his water bottle and there's a dead rat in there."

[I should mention here that I was pregnant at the time. And I don't have a solid stomach when I'm pregnant. Ever.]

"A *gag* WHAT?!" I cried.

"A. Dead. Rat." Bep enunciated.

Poor Bear. Amidst my own gags and his moans of dispair, the story came out: he had a wide-mouthed Aquafina water bottle in his little storage area, which had no lid. A small rat had ventured into our van, found the thirst-quenching bottle, climbed into it, and must have gotten stuck in there and drowned.

At the time of the rat-water-gulping, there was only about an inch of water in there. It was pretty solidly RAT WATER. (I'm gagging as I write this.) Bear had innocently reached for his water bottle, and in the dark, took a drink. When he felt something flop against his lips, he turned on his seat light to see what it was. Hence the shriek. Hence the moaning.

End of story: Poison Control (bless their hearts) assured me that he wouldn't experience anything more than maybe a mild tummy ache, but I wasn't believing any of that. No sir. Millions died in the Great Plague. Hello! Rats carry diseases! HELLO!! So to Bear's deep chagrin, I spoon-fed him (please don't tell CPS) the strongest Port we had on hand. I wanted to kill anything vile that could possibly be in his gut! And you know what? He never even got a stomach ache!

What was your favorite pet? (Spoken like a 1st Grader sharing about her summer vacation): My dog Glorie is the best dog ever. She is so kind and soft and gentle. She also likes to hunt rabbits and mice. She is getting old, but we hope she'll be around for a lot longer.

What did you really want to tell us about your pets that didn’t fit in the other questions? I have always wanted to have a little farm. That is, until I experienced moody livestock. But maybe someday. For now, though, I'm happy with our domestic little crew.

The tags: Because I've only ever had 4 legged (or less creatures), and because kids have the best pet memories, I'm tagging four young'uns...

1. Ophelia

2. Amy

3. Tirzah

4. Tonia

The rules. Don’t worry. They’re easy.
Copy the questions to your blog. Answer them. This is the fun part.
Feel free to grab the adorable button. If you don’t see it, it’s here: Pet Meme button
Tag as many people as the legs on your leggiest pet. Probably 4, but if a fish or snake was your only pet then you’re off the hook. If you ever had a centipede, you have my sympathy.
Copy the rules to your blog. You’re done. Wasn’t that fun?

Just a little question...

2008-10-06T09:32:00.001-07:00

Roo: Mama, I have a private question for you.
Me: Okay...what's up?
Roo: I need some frog food.
Me: (Magnanimously ignoring the lack of a "question") Um. Frog food?
Roo: (sheepishly) Yes.
Me: (Lightbulb moment) Roo. Did you bring home that frog you kids found at church last night?
Roo: Yeeees. (At which point he produces a tiny frog in a tupperware. My tupperware. Mangled tupperware from his attempt to create "air holes".)

Daddy: (after I called him at work to share the story) We're going to have to keep our eyes on that boy.

So Kim's family finds snakes and keeps them as pets. Do I really have to keep this little froggie? And do I buy FROG FOOD!? (In this economy?)

Four Years of Blogging...

2008-10-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

September (I'm a bit late, as always) of 2004, the Engstrom Family launched our humble little blog. It's fun to go back to those first posts and see what we wanted to chat about back then...

Thanks for all of your visits, for keeping things interesting...

We love knowing you all.

Federal Food Labeling

2008-09-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

*sigh*

You'd think as an organic-veggie-growing foodie I'd be thrilled.

But I'm growing so weary of the Federal government poking their noses in where they don't belong. Have we forgotten the original intent of our founding fathers was a LIMITED government? People being responsible for THEMSELVES?

Latest news is that, starting today, says the San Jose Mercury News

...new federal rules take effect requiring all U.S. supermarkets and large food retailers to provide labels telling consumers which country a wide variety of food came from.

Oh, it sounds so good.

But really: can anyone else out there agree with me that the Feds are doing way too much hand-holding? I mean, what's next? Sending agents to check in on new parents in their own homes?

Uh oh.

A Poem of the times...

2008-09-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

On Pondering the Possibility of Another Great Depression...

~Sarah Janisse Brown

I am America, and I am free.

Today I am free to flip a switch, and light appears to fill the room.

Tomorrow I will still be free, even if I must light a candle instead.

I am America, and I am free.

Today I can fill up my tank, and travel to the city.

Tomorrow I will still be free, even if I must borrow my neighbor's horse to travel to the nearest farm.

I am America, and I am free.

Today I can go into the grocery store and fill my cart with food.

Tomorrow I will still be free, even if I must go into the field and fill my bucket with potatoes.

I am America and I am free.

Today I can turn a knob in my kitchen, for water warm or cold.

Tomorrow I will still be free, even if I must bring my water from the spring, and boil it over the fire.

I am America and I am free.

Today I can pick up the phone to call my mother, my aunt and my grandma.

Tomorrow I will still be free, even if I must pick up my belongings and move in with my mother, my aunt and my grandma, because none of us can afford to live alone.

I am America and I am free.

Today I can cash a check, our use a credit card to pay for the things I may not really need.

Tomorrow I will still be free, even if my cash is worthless and I must barter soap for seeds.

I am America and I am free.

Today I can turn a dial and relax as warm air floods into the many rooms of my home.

Tomorrow I will still be free, even if my family must huddle close and add another log to a fire that warms a one room cabin.

I am America and I am free.

Today I can make a hobby of going deep into the woods for turkey and for deer.

Tomorrow I will still be free, even if I must use my gun as a means of my survival until we all grow weary of the gamey taste of venison.

I am America and I am free.

Today I can type an email to congress, or fill my blog with silly pouts and satire.

Tomorrow I will still be free, even if I must learn to make my own paper and pluck a feather from a bird to make my pen.

I am America and I am free.

Today I can chase after comfort, credit, and security.

But tomorrow I will not be free if I prefer these three things above my liberty.
~
Fortville, Indiana

www.BusyBrowns.com
www.RuralVillage.org

(Poem used with permission. For more from Sarah, check out her blogs listed above.)

Something to smile about...

2008-09-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

Kirk Cameron, starring in the new film by the Kendrick brothers, "Fireproof" says he'll only kiss his wife - even on screen.

Now isn't THAT refreshing?

In a culture where Hollywood has abandoned largely all morals and integrity, it's nice to hear of an actor who holds himself to a higher standard. Married 17 years to the same woman, he jokes that 17 years of marriage is about as astounding in Hollywood as 70 years.

We would agree.

Which explains why the Engstroms don't ascribe to EITHER major political party...

2008-09-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

WorldNetDaily highlights the government's thoughtful, constitutional plan to bail out the bank bail outs...

From the columnist's opening sentence...

The last thing government officials should do is try to bail us out of the economic crisis they are responsible for creating in the first place.

To his last...

We can avoid those difficult times if we believe in less government, more personal responsibility and accountability from leaders in both the private and public sectors.

...we can see that our consistent government is simply showing her true colors. Sadly, we personally don't think that's going to change too much with this election.

And my opening statement? Pure tongue-in-cheek. While our government might fancy itself to be thoughtful, it is worlds away from behaving constitutionally. One might wonder if that even matters anymore.

Time for change in America? Indeed.

Sweetest Sixteen

2008-09-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

Today has been a day of sweet memories as well as many thoughts of the future. Erik and I are now the parents of a sixteen year old.

I realize that many of you have already walked this path...you have crossed this milestone and many others. But I'm planted here today, and I can't help but remember the day my little girl was born.

Our first baby...born on Primary voting day in 1992. I remember arguing with the poor elderly poll volunteer as he told me to sign here, but I, mid-contraction, wanted to put my name where it said SIGN HERE. I remember the pain that I thought I'd prepared for, and found out was more intense than I could have imagined. I remember holding my first child in my arms, shocked and amazed that she was OURS...Erik instantly praying for her life and future, his family gathering around to see the first grandchild on that side.

I have memories of that little girl terrified to stand on grass that MOVED when she lifted her little feet, "eew"ing at bugs and worms, and nursing her little baby dolls. She embraced each new sibling with vigor, assuming charge as much as we'd allow (and now assumes more charge than she probably ever dreamed of!). She loved to learn to write her name, and has never lived down her short-lived trend of writing it on anything and everything.

She has many accomplishments, but she is also one whose beauty is so deep, it's stunning. She follows hard after God, loves His creation (but could live without our goats happily), and is a tenderhearted young woman.

The odd thing about her growing older (and not just our oldest child, but ALL of our children), is that she's doing just that: growing older. I remember when she was wee little, we could not wait for the next milestone - smiling, sitting up, crawling, walking! But a large part of me is resisting her next milestones: graduation, marriage, children of her own. I love her so much, I have shed the "oooh! I can't wait for grandbabies" mantra like a tree sheds its leaves in autumn. When our children grow up, they grow out, and this count-down is bittersweet to me.

But for now, we celebrate: God has given us this precious girl for sixteen wonderful years. We love you, Keilah.

Daddy and Mama

********************

Over the Crib

********************

Over the crib where the baby lies,

Countless beautiful visions rise

Which only the mothers and fathers see,

Pictures of laughter and joy and song

As the years come sweeping us all along.

Care seldom startles the happy eyes

Over the crib where the baby lies.

A wonderful baby lying there!

And strangers smile at the happy pair,

Proud and boastful, for all they see

Is the dimpled chin and the dimpled knee;

But never a little one comes to earth

That isn't a wonderful babe at birth,

And never a mother who doesn't see

Glorious visions of joy to be.

Over the crib where the baby lies,

Dreams of splendor and pride arise,

Deeds of valor and deeds of love

Hover about and shine above

The tiny form, and the future glows

With a thousand dreams which the mother knows,

And beauty dances before her eyes

Over the crib where the baby lies.

Yet we smile at her and we smile at him,

For we are old and our eyes are dim

And we have forgotten and don't recall

Yet worldwide over the mothers dream

The visions we saw when our babes were small,

And ever they see in a golden stream,

Wonderful joys in the by-and-by

Over the cribs where their babies lie.

~Edgar Guest

There goes California again...

2008-09-09T14:32:00.001-07:00

"Queerly Beloved" is how Chelsea Shilling sub-titled her article in WorldNetDaily yesterday. She's referring to California's little marriage certificate switcheroo.

Haven't heard about it?

As of June, 2008, the sunny state has officially declared the titles "husband" and "wife" to be non-compliant with California State registration laws. No, now those marrying agree to refer to themselves as "Party A" and "Party B", conveniently dropping the pesky gender-specific titles which have for centuries been assumed by Americans to be normative.

Leave it to those clever Californian legislators to realize the "husband" and "wife" designations are unconstitutional and are now BANNED.

Pacific Justice Institute President Brad Dacus said voters must change the state constitution by voting on the marriage amendment in November if they wish to preserve the traditional meaning of marriage.

"Unless Proposition 8 is passed, heterosexual couples will be forced to wed out of the state if they wish to be officially identified as bride and groom or husband and wife." He said in a statement. "This is a major slap in the face for traditional marriage."

Read the article here...

It's a......

2008-08-28T18:39:00.000-07:00

BOY!

We are so excited. Five sons. Keeping a balanced ship, as KimC mentioned, or the "Oreo effect" as Kendra called it, was what we were initally hoping for (and all of those darling little girl clothes we invested in for Abigail, now with no little pink girl to be worn by!). But our gut feeling all along was that it was a little fellow, and that has proven to be true. (And hey, what were with all of those subtle twins comments? Do you know something I don't know?)

Yes, poor little Abbie (a.k.a. Her Royal Highness) will be buried in brothers. But if anybody can handle it, it's Abigail. She rules the roost as it is!

As I mentioned, we weren't planning to find out, but I went in for an early ultrasound with my midwife due to diminished fetal movements, which worried Erik and I. My midwife's assistant, during the ultrasound, squealed excitedly: "Karen! Did you want to find out what you're having?! Because I just saw what you're having!"

Well, being only 16 weeks along, that was a major clue to me that it had to be a boy. Discovering a girl at 16 weeks is pretty hard, especially on a quick "pass by" as my midwife was just gathering the heartrate! I knew that she saw his little whizzie, and sure enough, this little guy has no modesty at all. He would NOT put his legs together at all! It was as if he was saying, "Hey, Mama! Not only am I alive and well, but LOOKIE HERE!!!" If you have a son, you will understand the pride of possession I'm referring to.

Thanks for playing along...to those who guessed "boy" - way to go!!!
To those who guessed "girl" - well, it's what I wanted originally, too...but God has other plans! And His plans are ALWAYS good!

Pink or Blue, part 2...

2008-08-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

Yeesh.

Y'all are so demanding!

World's Largest Sign...

2008-08-27T14:37:00.001-07:00

WorldNetDaily reports that pro-life group, American Right to Life Action, has displayed a sign for the benefit of tonight's Democratic National Committee fete which has garnered a Guiness World Record for largest sign.

Democrats and convention goers had a scenic view from their hotel rooms in Denver today – complete with the world's largest sign to remind them about the devastating effects of abortion.

Read the article here.

Are you planning to vote for Obama? Share here why you're considering it...inquiring minds want to know.

Pink or blue?

2008-08-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

or...

Well, we weren't going to find out if we're having a girl or boy...

but we found out today!

So what's your guess?

Girl #4?

or

Boy #5?

Anniversary videos...

2008-08-18T11:45:00.000-07:00

For the first time ever, my hubby and I are separated for our anniversary. We have made a tradition of going away together each year to celebrate our marriage, but this year there was a little tweak: he went camping with some of the kids.

But the kids would not be deterred. Before the four camping kids left with Daddy (now really - can you see me with morning sickness in a tent? I didn't think so!), they made videos for us. The ones who left made one for me, and the ones who stayed behind made one for Daddy to view while HE was gone. It was a wonderful, creative way to say that they loved us...Enjoy...

Here are Bep, Bear, the General, and Roo wishing their Mama a happy anniversary.

And here are Kei, Eej, and Abs with their love and greetings for Daddy.

Kei's photos

2008-08-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

For 40 years I went, happily along, without being stung by a bee. Yes, you read that right. All of my children have been stung at least once in their little lifetimes, some of them several times, but I escaped that fate for 4 decades. Then, a few months ago, I was minding my own business (so don't give me any of that "If you ignore them, they'll ignore you!" jumbo) at church, standing by a window, when a bee with a vendetta flew in, lit on my finger, and stung me. I survived, and my family sent up cheers of relief (I might have been the type to run screaming when a bee came 'round). Yes, I was a true apiphobic.

So imagine my horror when Kei's love of photography took her into the realm of taking pictures of bees. And she gets CLOSE...the girl has no fear.

Head over to her blog to see her latest picture - even for a bee-o-phobe like me, it's absolutely AMAZING!! She did not use a zoom - for some reason it wasn't working that day - she actually got that close to it.

Isn't God amazing??

I'm back...At least for now...thanks to MotherHen

2008-08-11T16:39:00.000-07:00

So, Kei has the "new" blogger, and it has this cool feature that lists in your sidebar links when folks update their blogs. I've been relegated to the bottom of her sidebar for a while now, as it's been WEEKS since I've posted. I'm now at 13+ weeks, and am feeling a TAD better...so here I am, and I've been tagged.

Mother Hen over at Ship Full O' Pirates has tagged me for a meme and I thought it would be a reasonable reason to come on back to blogging. You should visit her blog - it's a hoot. And she's got lots of great giveaways that I'm hoping to win! Wait. Maybe you wouldn't like it there. Yeah. Nah...

Onward: This is called the Random Things Meme...and here's how it goes:

Rules of Engagement:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.

2) Post the rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6).

3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below).

4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.

5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

(Mercy. And I thought my normal to-do list was long.)

Six Random Things About Karen:

1. Hubby and I just celebrated our 17th Anniversary - and we're still young and in love.
2. I have a strong aversion to slimy things - schnozzy noses in particular.
3. I'm a serious bibliophile, especially when we're talking old, dusty books.
4. I think that my favorite age of my kids is 4; man, I love that age. But newborns are wonderful too. Oh. I really like my teenagers. Hm. Well, I guess that's random, isn't it?
5. I love cooking and creating new recipes, in particular those that involve garlic. And sun-dried tomatoes. And cream. Mmm.
6. I love the idea of getting up early, but am a night-owl to the core.

Well, there we go. Did you learn anything new about me?

Now, on to my next victims. I tag the following:

Kei, because I think she would have fun with this - no giving out family secrets, though, ya hear?!
Michelle at Abide With Us, because if I had "new" blogger, she'd be laggin' behind for not blogging, too!
Linda, because I'm sure she doesn't have enough on her plate (snort)!
My sister-in-law, Erin...because I'm just totally curious what she'll say!
Kim at CunninghamRules, because she has lived a great, varied life, and I think she'll surprise us all!
April at Blessed Girl's World, because she hasn't blogged for a while, either, and if I have to be back, I think everyone should have to be back!

And now I'm off to confirm that I have moved to the TOP of Kei's list! Wahoo!

Now there's a confident little guy...

2008-07-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

We shared with you the joy of our new nephew's birth this past Sunday, and how she turned out to be a most darling little HE. Todd emailed pictures yesterday of little Adam's home-going, and this first one made me laugh out loud. Obviously running out to get a more masculine carseat was not on the agenda for Todd and Carrie (imagine that!), so this tough, brave, little Air Force boy rode home in the girlie-seat they already had on hand.

The smirk says it all...don't'cha just love it??

A new nephew!!

2008-07-07T00:02:00.001-07:00

We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog-break to bring you...breaking news! Sunday, July 6th, 2008, Adam Terrance Spencer was born in Spain! According to two ultrasounds, Adam was supposed to be Angela, complete with a gorgeous pink room and lots of pretty girl clothes! The room will be painted, we're sure, and the clothes packed away for another baby maybe, but this little guy has captured our hearts from afar. Congratulations, Todd and Carrie! The Engstrom family cannot wait to see and hold this precious little man.

Todd with his first little baby, Adam. We love you guys...

Must sign off for a while...

2008-06-27T19:31:00.001-07:00

At just week 7 now, I am several weeks into this "morning sickness", which has me weak, weepy, and wilted. I have never been sick this early, and don't know whether to chalk it up to it being my 8th baby (12 pregnancies), my age (40), or some other unknown factor. Whatever the reason may be, here I am...or rather, there I lay: managing my home from my bed, with my blessed children force-feeding me protein whenever I look green.

All that to say, I am going to sign off from blogging for just a few weeks. I sadly won't be checking in on you all except for the rare occasion that I can drag my sleepy heinie upstairs to the kids' computer (due to the untimely demise of my laptop...*sob*). If you know me at all, you know that my preferred method of communication is via email, but for now, if you know me at all, you will have to call me. But be forewarned: talking makes me puke. As does eating, not eating, sleeping, reading, and all positions of my body that elevate my head above my pillow...so if I have to sign off quickly, you won't hold it against me, will you?

But before I go, one important celebratory annoucement:

It's a GIRL for Kim at Life in a Shoe! Still unnamed as of tonight, we are so thrilled that HER little one has finally arrived. Stop by and give her your congratulations!

Can you help Kei out for me?

2008-06-11T17:17:00.000-07:00

If you would take a moment to zip over to Kei's photo blog, she is looking for feedback on some photos she's taken. Pick your top three...Here are a couple of the several you can choose from:

Looking for Father's Day ideas?

2008-06-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

Look no further: order new "Mandles" today, for that dad in your life!

Any-Day-Now-Emily has delivered!!

2008-06-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

The Engstroms shout out a huge welcome to new baby
Patience Olivia Gunn,
born Sunday, June 8
Colin and Emily, we're so happy for you - the Lord has blessed your family with another precious arrow. We're thankful for his kind mercies and goodness!

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Praise Him all creatures here below!

Praise Him above ye heavenly host!

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

So, thankfully, amazingly, I join...

2008-06-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

...a long, illustrious line of friends and blogging sistahs that are with child.

Just an introductory listing, for you to visit and send your sweet words, would be...
Kim
Any-DAY-NOW-Emily (Edit: SHE'S HERE!)
LeiLani
Julia
Jess
Jenni
and Jerri

(wow...got all those J names at the end there!).

Many blessings to you, my friends, as you wait, grow, and labor for the glory of God.

(And who did I miss? Share here!)

How we told the kids...

2008-06-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

It gets funnier with each consecutive viewing, from Eej's acrobatic eyes, to Roo's utter exuberance...I love the way my kids received the news of a new baby!

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!!!!!

2008-06-05T12:23:00.001-07:00

We have a winner!

Congratulations, Michelle!

You guessed it!

Tell us which prize you'd like and we'll ship it...I mean, bring it on Saturday when we see you!!!

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him."
Psalm 127:3

The 24 Hour Engstrom Family Contest

2008-06-04T13:37:00.001-07:00

Begin.

Changes, changes everywhere...

2008-06-03T23:32:00.000-07:00

We've been on the orthodontics adventure for a few years now...Bep had braces for 27 months and now Bear has 'em (one at a time, we always say!) And you might remember when Kei got her glasses a couple of months back. That was new to us, as up until then, only PapaPyro had prescription eyewear. Well, today marked another milestone for our family.

A couple weeks ago we had Roo in to the eye doctor. We'd noticed just one little thing: when asked to read three letters on a license plate directly in front of us, he said he couldn't see the letters. That seemed odd to me, so on a whim (read: providence of God), I brought him in for his first eye exam. The news wasn't exactly good. While one of his eyes is fairly normal (20/25 vision), his other eye is quite bad. In fact, he really cannot see out of it at all. His vision with that eye is 20/400.

(Pause: Are you a mother? Can you imagine how it would feel to find out that your 6 year old probably has never had any significant vision in one eye?! Thankfully, the doctor was facing away from me because I wept right there in the office. )

The solution? Glasses.

Now, Roo is my sweet, shy kiddo who abhors change. When he loses a tooth, it's a three hour cry-fest, as he mourns the loss and grieves that his mouth will never look the same. He's very tender-hearted, and cares terribly for others, but he also Just Hates Change. This was very difficult for him to absorb - wearing glasses? How will I wrestle with Ethan? Will I look different? Will people (*horrors*) look at me?

That night, he fell asleep in my arms, trembling. I haven't rocked him to sleep in years, and while it was precious to me, I knew that he was barely, bravely holding it together. He knew that he had to have this prescription. He knew it was the only answer and that there was no way out. He stuffed all of those little 6-year-old anxieties down inside of himself and cuddled in close and shut his eyes against it for one night. I admired him so much.

Today we picked up those glasses. After a brief Mommy-Roo snuggle/kisses/encouragement time, we headed out with most of the family to the eye doctor. (Poor party-lovin' Kei didn't get this red-carpet treatment, but then again, she wasn't SIX.)

He marched into that office, took those glasses by the handles (ear pieces? stems?), and popped them right onto his face.

We all ooh'd and aah'd. He smiled like crazy. We told him how handsome he was (he WAS!) and how it doesn't change him much at all (um...maybe a little bit), and what a great choice in frames he made!

(Wait a second here! Wrong ones, buddy. Daddy'd have my head on a platter if I brought you home in those beauties!)

Finally, he looked at himself in the mirror.

He paused.

Sucked in a good breath.

Then turned and smiled.

And off we went.

Have I told you that I just admire this kid so much?

A giveaway! A giveaway!

2008-06-03T00:11:00.001-07:00

Mother Hen, over at her highly entertaining blog, Ship Full O' Pirates is hosting a June contest...simply stop by her blog, comment regarding what your favorite Vision Forum product is (or visit their catalog online, drool, whine, and want, and then head back to her blog and tell her what you fell in love with and simply MUST have for your family - and don't forget to go back to Vision Forum and order it!) and you will be entered for a chance to win a DVD set called Reclaiming The Culture. I am familiar with most of the featured speakers on these discs, and can vouch for the fact that they have GOT to be good! You won't be disappointed!

What are you waiting for? Head on over now!

Secret birdie nest

2008-05-31T21:12:00.001-07:00

We have a large hedge that runs around our driveway, and somehow the kids found a little bird's nest in there...

Are there babes in there? Little birdies?

It certainly looks like it!

Let's see if they're awake: Tweet!! Tweet!!

MA-MAAAA!!!!!!!!

Hello there, pretty girls!

2008-05-31T21:10:00.000-07:00

Entertaining Pre-schoolers

2008-05-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

Play dough has long been a source of time well-spent in our home. It entertains, teaches, stretches the mind, and works those little fingers. It's also bunches of fun, which is why we practically invest in it - the kids don't know it, but I have secret drawers full of the stuff...I would hate to run out some day.

One day, Kei found Eej busy at work, creating something. She watched for a while, took some pictures, and in the end discovered he was being more creative than she'd initially thought!

Would'ya lookie at that?! He was copying the picture on the back of the Play-do box! Maybe that li'l four-year-old has more going on upstairs than we'd thought! If that isn't the cutest little red puppy you've ever seen....?

And the happiest little boy!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...another day...another child...

Abbie, not as creative but equally as cute...

(And Kei with her new photography skills, trying out functions on the ol' camera - some that I never knew existed!)

Organic vs. conventionally grown fruits and veggies...

2008-05-23T23:14:00.000-07:00

My wonderful, incredible, sweet, thoughtful, giving, selfless, hard-working man just gave of an entire day today (and plans to give more tomorrow) to help me finally establish a permanent garden down in our front acreage. We have our three 4' x 8' raised beds outside our kitchen, but it's not nearly enough to produce all that we need. Erik plowed and leveled over 1000 square feet of space for a 35' x 42' garden for moi. And, because we live on a gravel pit, he also paid a handsome penny to have garden soil shipped right up to the site. Am I ever grateful! The kids worked hard and we have it all ready to fence and plant those precious seedlings that I've been doting over the past couple of months. Tomorrow, they will cease to languish in the little zippered greenhouse, and will stretch their wings...I mean, roots...and will grow us some wondrous veggies. If the Lord wills, of course.

Our plan this year (have I shared this yet?) was to grow every veggie our family eats in our garden, with the exception of corn (takes too much room) and avocados (can't grow 'em in western Washington!). So those we'll buy.

So today was really inspiring. I am ready.

I have even noodled around the idea of trying to grow produce year-round. It really appeals to me to grow most of our food, but honestly, in the Pacific Northwest, that will entail a LOT of hard work. It's possible, but...hard. So in the meantime, I buy fresh as much as I can, and hope for the best. I even buy organic when it's a good price or something I really feel like I should get organic. I go with my gut instinct, but with a household of ten people, buying organic all the time isn't within the budget. It just isn't.

And then I read a study tonight that knocked my socks off.

It listed 45 fruits and vegetables in order of highest concentrations of toxic chemicals (read: pesticides).

I was shocked. At the top of the list? Peaches.

It's so totally peach season! And store-bought (non-organic peaches) score a 100 for highest pesticide load. Good heavens. I am so disappointed. Also in the top ten for highest pesticide:

#2 Apples (scored a 96 in pesticide load)
3 Sweet bell peppers (scored an 86)
4 Celery (85)
5 Nectarines (84)
6 Strawberries (83)
7 Cherries (75)
8 Lettuce (69)
9 Grapes - imported (68)
10 Pears (65)

Oh man. Besides the rare stalk of celery, I eat all of those things! I buy them for my family. And they rank in the top ten for carrying pesticides and toxins.

On the good end of things, the top ten for least amount of toxic residue are the following:

1. Onions (with the lowest ranking of pesticide at a level of 1)
2. Avocados (also a level of 1, and I have to tell you, this was a great relief to me!)
3. Sweet corn - frozen (2)
4. Pineapple (7)
5. Mango (9)
6. Sweet peas - frozen (11)
7. Asparagus (11)
8. Kiwi (14)
9. Bananas (16)
10. Cabbage (17)

You can look at the link to see the rest of the list and what falls in between the bottom ten and the top ten for yourselves.

As for me, I think I'm going to look a bit harder into what I can grow year 'round...and gird myself up for some hard work.

HT: Carmon, who recently blogged about something similar, and also gave a link to a great video and website. (That should keep you busy for a while!)
:-)

Lifting up the suffering...

2008-05-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

Christian music's Steven Curtis Chapman and his family suffered a tremendous loss yesterday when one of his teenage sons accidentally ran over and killed Chapman's 5 year old daughter. The family must be grieving so deeply. Please take a moment and pray for Steven, his wife Marybeth, and in particular the son who must feel absolutely despairing over this accident. Lift these saints, in light of suffering, up before the Lord.

Edit: The Chapmans have begun a blog in Marie Sue's memory. Please visit and see the precious video they have of their little girl.

Bep's Sketches

2008-05-21T16:54:00.000-07:00

Bep has always loved any form of art, and lately has been experimenting with charcoal pencils...For Mother's Day she presented me a portrait she'd completed of her younger brother Eej. Here's Eej:

And here's Bep's sketch of him:

I think she's doing mighty fine, don't you?

Bravo, Bep!

The Rebelution Conference...

2008-05-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

We had a fantastic trip down south for the Portland Rebelution "Do Hard Things" conference on May 3rd. It was a one-day event, challenging young people (and their parents, I daresay!) to not accept society's low standards for young people, but to rise above and glorify God with excellent work. I brought Kei, Bep, and Bear, as well as a friend of theirs. We met folks from our church family down there as well, which made it all the more fun. We were all challenged and encouraged...if it comes your way, please make the time to attend. You won't regret it.

Here's Myrna and I coordinating our maps - mine printed out...hers on her nifty-spiffy GPS...

Bear enjoyed an Oreo on the way home. Wait. That looks much thicker than a regular Oreo. News Flash: He confesses that it's the insides of 6 Oreos!

Yum...I wanna do that!

Here's some of our gang!

Gregg Harris spoke to the parents as well as the youth. It was powerfully convicting. Here he is, giving away a copy of Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, which is one of our family's favorite resources.

And here Mr. Harris is giving away a copy of the Harris boys' new book, Do Hard Things, another worthy read.

These sisters were invited to share how they have been taking on a ministry to the homeless folks that beg on the streets of Portland. They started a ministry called Hope 2 Others, and it was inspiring to see what two teens have taken on and accomplished.

Using state-of-the-art technology (led by our new friends, the Collins family), the twins were able to poll the audience (youth only, thankyouverymuch!), and have near-instant results. The kids all had keypads, which they wore on lanyards around their necks, and when a question was posted on the screen, they pushed the button that best described their own opinion on it. Fifteen seconds later, the results showed up on the screen for everyone to see. It was quite telling, and a fascinating way to interact with an audience.

Worship, led by Alex and Brett's anointed brother Joel, was amazing - it was extremely God-centered, and was precious to be a part of 2200 folks worshiping our God.

So go! Do Hard Things!

Abbie turned 2

2008-05-20T20:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Luau Party! I'm Two!

Happy birthday sweet little girl. We love you so much!

Juicing with Abbie

2008-05-20T19:57:00.001-07:00

Abbie has been on a whole foods, dairy-free diet for a bit now, and one of her absolute favorite things is for Keilah to juice for her. They talk about the names of the fruits and veggies they're putting into it, and how YUMMY it is!

Here's Abbie pretending that the carrot goes in the bottom of the juicer, instead of the top!

One of the things that we do for her is to put the juice through a cheesecloth, because it's a bit too thick for her to drink. And we want her to like it! Don't be turned off by the color - it's amazing what a tiny bit of romaine lettuce can do to the color of juice! It really is delicious!

Really...it is!

This is what Abbie thinks when we finally hand the goods over! Bottoms up, baby!

Tres Binkies, Por Favor!

2008-05-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

Now that's one talented girl...

And she couldn't have been happier!

Abbie's Bribery

2008-05-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

When we cut Abbie's bangs, we sometimes need to offer a bribe (yes, we suffer no hesitancies over bribing our children appropriately!). This day it was chocolate, and Eej was up to bat (and off camera) with helping out.