I have a 7 year old!!!!

My sister-in-law, Hannah, asked Nate and I "Wow! So how does it feel to have a seven year old?" Boy did that make me feel old - of course I got married right out of college - it was the next thing to do after getting a diploma right? And then two years later what's next? Have a baby! I love being a mom & you know how that first born is for you! Seven years have gone by and I have dedicated my time and energy to watching that precious boy grow and learn and love. I use to write in his journal at each new stage in his life "I love this stage more then any other...you are so much more fun and exciting." But I kept writing that - that's how it is I guess with your children. They are always teaching you more about yourselves and life as you mold them and then sit back and watch how they explore life. Seven year old boys though- this is a different stage altogether. He doesn't need me anymore hovering over him, brushing his teeth, (please Eli brush the back ones!) sitting on the floor playing little toys with him. Now he reads to me, wants me to admire his artwork he's spent so much time working on, needs me to boost his confidance when he's nervous, cheer him on at soccer, encourage him as he tries new things that he's never done. Instead of telling him "no no no" as I would a 2 year old, I'm now discussing how to treat friends and consider their feelings on the playground. I'm praying that the groundwork Nate and I've laid the last six years will be solid for him as he goes to school, deals with social issues on his own, interacts with other adults (away from my earshot) and makes decisions to do the right thing. He still has so much learning to do & the crazy thing about this age I'm learning is that they don't always want to be independent and mature. (not that they would admit that to us) But they'll be laughing with friends one minute then crying the next because of emotions they can't explain. That is the hard part for me. He likes strudels for breakfast for two weeks then he can't stand them & says he'll throw up if he has to finish it! ???? Oh, Eli! Can I believe he is seven years old? NO! But I love this stage more then ever! He can talk to me, ask me questions about life and God, take pride in what he accomplishes but yet learn the concept of humility as well. Happy Birthday my sweet Eli -

Spring Break

I literally have taken a 'spring break' from this blog! Sorry for the very few people who read this - of course you already know everything in my life anyway...what's the point? I've got to get a new outlook on this blog. Maybe when school is out and I have too much time on my hands I can sit back and write my deep inner thoughts - won't that be fun to read?
Well Spring break came and went and as usual Sarah fashion I tried to fill up every ounce of time with fun and busy things to do! I tend to go a little crazy when at the house too long for too many days with both my lovely boys! So, the highlights: we had fun visiting the Weeks family (my parents) in Curve for two days - about as long as they could take us (no offense mom and dad). Being around very quite mature folks in a nice quite quaint house reminds you how loud, clumsy and fast moving your children are. Never a good thing - but there was acres of land to roam and that the boys did (with their cousin Will). It was fun watching them canoe on the lake, climb steep hills, try to swing on vines, play in the mud. All the very fun things I have memories of doing growing up as a child before it wasn't cool anymore to do. It really made me sad to think what I might have traded by choosing to live in the suburbs. (neighbors, paved roads to ride bikes, closeness to the city- is it is a good trade off compared to roaming free for hours and exploring without giving the t.v. a second a thought?)
To end the fabulous week we were suppose to go camping with friends but due to rain we were lucky enough to get to stay at their families' lake house. We still got to take the boys hiking & saw the most beautiful waterfall. Nate didn't find any snakes to my delight and only I seemed to have an attack of exhaustion while walking back up the 'mountain' was it? I made it though!!! I've got to get back in shape!!!! I was sad to see Spring Break end - it was really fun hanging out with Eli more then we usually get to and not having the rigid schedule of drop off/pick up at school - plus a break from teaching preschool was FABULOUS!

The Pajama Gang

Well I think I have a child star on my hands! My sweet shy Eli (the same one who almost got an ulcer from worrying about getting on stage in preschool to sing one short song with about 40 other kids & still today refuses to sing in the church choir) performed in a school talent show and rocked out! He and three other buddies in his class danced (I use that term loosely depending on who is reading this) to "Get your Jammies On" - a rock song for kids about getting ready for bed - lots of hard rock but watered down for kids mind you! Us moms tried so hard to 'choreograph' the performance, even threatening each of of our young men behind the scenes to please cooperate. But when it came down to it they just wanted to "rock out" and play air guitar and show their great moves. There we all were - moms and some dads on the front row with video cameras posed and ready. We were all sick with nerves wondering if the young American Idol wanna be's would actually go through with it in front of their peers. The music started...there was a slow start...but as the excitement set in they loosened up and had fun. My little Eli though - let me tell you - I was laughing so hard I couldn't quit crying. I mean tears streaming down my cheeks. And then I realized all the parents were laughing. Those boys were cracking us up with their moves. When Eli fell down on the floor and started break dancing and another boy grabbed his foot behind his back and started a kicking - we were howling!
All this to say - I'm amazed at what Eli accomplished. When I was asked by another mom if Eli would want to participate I immediately told her, "no way would Eli do that." But after his surprise answer of "Oh Yeah with my friends!" I knew this kid would continue to amaze me.
So - Congratulations Eli! You are my super star...and Nate and I will never tell where he got his moves!!! Just don't peek in our kitchen late at night if you hear the rock music jamming! =)

My very own website

I never realized how easy technology was becoming for us "slow" to learn folks - my Dad was actually my computer teacher in high school but I still have to ask him computer questions when mine freezes and duhhh I don't remember how to unfreeze it! =) Thank you Dad!
Well, I have created a website for my crazy canvasas and I even gave this new endeavor a name - "Canvas Creations" (though I keep forgetting it). Here it is for those of you I haven't already marketed to - I'm sorry! www.canvascreations.homestead.com
Ok - no more talk about this little business of mine - unless I make it big and then I'll have to brag! Hee Hee....

Let me set the record straight & sponsoring a child

Ok...I've been asked my one too many blog readers how my training for the half marathon is going! So, with great humility I admit that when I wrote that it was a "dream" goal as I sat in my warm bedroom in my p.j.'s and typed away. I look at my friends who run with such jealousy because they love it so and do it so freely! (and with such ease) Although I do admit that the more one runs the better they get at it. I learned that when running for the 5K back in the Fall. But since I haven't run but 1 mile since the Fall my body is yelling at me, "You want to do this for how many miles?" HA HA HA Don't tell Nate I wrote this though - I know what he'll say! "It's all mental" as did my sweet friend Dena in church last week when she was encouraging me to get out and run!
On another note - I wanted to encourage anyone who doesn't know about Compassion International to check it out this month. www.compassion.com Nate and I sponsor a little boy named Owani Iddo from Uganda. This week we received two letters from him along with pictures of his family. It was awsume to show Eli and Ian this boy's picture with his thatched hut in the background. The poverty was so obvious in the photos but what struck me was the pride his parents showed of their beautiful family standing there. Eli was excited to write back in a letter about his own life here in the states. We only pay $32 a month to support this little boy - that's just one time going out to eat at a resturant with my family - any of us could give that up once a month for a child to be able to go school, have clothes, books, food, etc. The money really does go to the child and the support they get once they are sponsored continues until they are 18 (regardless of if you have to drop your support). Check out the website soon b/c they have a group of sponsors from the states over there in Uganda who are blogging about their experience. I only read one blog and was brought to tears! I'm just glad I'm doing my part to help out! God bless!

Special thank you and credit to my new friend Byrena for taking the photo's of my artwork. Check out her photography studio at www.byrena.com - Byrena Floyd-Kirkham Photography

A weekend to grow from

This past weekend I attended our church's women' s retreat. It had a Spa theme - and we were pampered rather nice on Friday night with some real spa treatment, along with games, snacks and staying up late laughing with girlfriends! Restful? I don't think so but definitely fun!
I was really moved by the speaker on Saturday morning though. Her whole talk was an analogy of Extreme Makeover: Home addition. She walked us through the steps of looking at an old house that is deteriorating, then it is knocked down, built back up and of course the famous "Move that bus...welcome Callender family to your new home" is yelled out! How much our own lives are the same as this reality show. If we want them to be. We can easily live in our own bodies as they crumble around us with the stumbling blocks we have placed in our paths; our own weaknesses that we have allowed to control our happiness (or steal it away). I"m sure in a room filled with almost 100 women the "deteriorating walls within our own houses" (or lives) was very different for each of us. For me they were such small things that I have allowed over time to control me & my outlook on life. It's easy to justify or think to yourself that those things are not big enough to cause a house to crumble but if left untouched they are. Jealousy, gossip, envy, pride, anger...they can so rob me of my everyday contentment and joyfulness.
I told my mom that my word for the new year is "PROACTIVE"...I've never thought much about that word but it is so powerful and I think it will help me as I "redecorate" my house (or myself) for the new year. I want to daily be PROACTIVE and live not for myself but for the maker who created me. The One who wants me to have the fullest life I can have; one in which I am content in everything, free of judgment of others and full of patience with those I love!
Does your house need redecorating before it is too late and needs a full makeover? =)
Much love to all!