dillan & petska family christmas

waiting

i've been waiting for this package since november. i pre-ordered a new bible from amazon.com.

the message/niv parallel study bible.

i've used the message/niv parallel for a couple of years now & really like it. i love being able to compare the different translations side by side. i also like reading the message version of verses i've become so familiar with that i sometimes skip right through it without thinking about what it says.

i'm also anxious to see what the "study" part of it includes.

yeah, that's right, i'm anxious to read my new bible. that's one thing God's done for me this last year especially. given me a desire to read his word. how cool is that?

Sweet 7

Happy Birthday to Kamrie!
7 years old today...
We love you sweetie.

great break

where has time gone since my last post? i really don't know!

i have tons of Christmas pictures to post but need to get them downloaded...

we've had a fun break, spending long weekends with both sides of our families. we've been sledding, shooting trap, playing games, seeing friends, sleeping in, eating goodies, shopping and so much more.

on the way home from seeing a few minden friends the kids were absolutely excited. cooper said (about angie who'd had baby jonathan dec 2) "i'm glad angie pushed baby jonathan out."

smart kid. wonder where he's learning this stuff from?

can you say "older brothers?"

Praise

Chloe & I celebrated on Friday with Applebee's & a Sonic Slush. Her other tube (in her ear) fell out & the hole in my ear is closed completely! Dr. Fitzpatrick won't see Chloe again for 6 months, by then the hole should be closed. We are so thankful for Dr. Fitzpatrick's care. He is a Christian & isn't afraid to talk to his patients about his faith. It is especially comforting to know he's not relying on his own strength or wisdom when sending your 3 year old in for surgery or even myself having my eardrum repaired.

Scars...

Cooper will have a few scars on his forehead. After his stitches had a week to heal he hit his head again on something (we're not exactly sure what) & ended up with 2 more wounds. He looked pretty tough for a week or so. He's a tough guy, that's for sure.

Hunter's 11th Birthday

The kids were so excited to give Hunter birthday presents. For several years now, they will wrap up things from around the house to give people for Christmas or their birthday. They spend hours planning what they'll choose to wrap up as a surprise for that special someone. You can tell they are growing up because the gifts are starting to be jokes--like the monkey dressed up in girly baby clothes that Kamrie wrapped up for Hunter. Some of them are really cute because they'll wrap up some of their favorite things to give away. It shows just how much they love the other person--they are willing to give away their favorite toy.

Preschool Program

Chloe was a beautiful "Mary" for her preschool program & Cooper got to accompany her on her trip to Bethlehem as the "Donkey." They both did great, remembered their lines superbly. Cooper also got to stand & sing with Chloe's class. It was fun to watch them both.

Chloe's Haircut

Chloe got a super-cute haircut last week. The girls' hair is so much easier now that they both have shorter cuts.

i like you.

cooper was banging on our door wanting daddy a couple of nights ago (long after he was supposed to be in bed). he said, "i want you daddy, cuz i like you."

aaah. who wouldn't open the door for that?

Kids Christmas Song

Here's what our kids will be singing at church on Sunday. It's a beautiful Veggie Tales song from a child's perspective, thinking about Jesus as a boy.

Basketball Preacher

We celebrated at church today. We exceeded our goal of raising $400,000 for our building project, so Pastor Todd (super-wrestler) got to preach in a basketball uniform. He was a great sport, we all had fun. We're thankful for God bringing the money in for the new building.

p.s. thanks to jared, the "reporter" for putting together the video.

bond/newquist thanksgiving fun

b&t

advent candles

what could be better to celebrate advent than extra large styrofoam candles the kids can light? here's what we'll be doing in children's church this month!

p.s. yes, the flames come off, we'll light one at a time each week adding one more. they are about 3 ft tall or so...

Brad's Trophy

i help at a mother's bible study on monday mornings. these are some of the kids. brad stopped for a few pictures before he checked in his deer. they all thought it was so cool! some of them touched his antlers.

muffin making

i got to help in parker's class last week. we made cornbread muffins & homemade butter. it was a great time. there were several other mom's that helped & parker took lots of pictures while us mom's were waiting in the home ec room waiting for the muffins to bake. he has a great group of kids in his class & a wonderful teacher. thanks mrs. dickey!

miracles take faith

the verse that stuck out to me today for my life journal was

"And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."
Matthew 13:58

how many times have i read that verse & didn't really think about it?

don't get me wrong, i know that God can perform miracles anytime for any reason he wants to. but this verse told me that if we don't have faith, we won't see many miracles.

so, the miracles can build our faith, but that's not necessarily why God performs them. he performs them when we have faith that he will.

speaking of miracles.

on december 7, you will have the opportunity to see pastor todd preach in a basketball uniform. yep, the pro-wrestling-anti-basketball, basketball-trash-talking preacher will be in a basketball uniform. (pro as in yes, not as in wwf).

our church set a goal of raising $400,000 for our addition before december 7. if that was done, pastor todd go to wear the uniform. it's been hanging in the entry-way for months.
God has continually worked miracles throughout this building project. he's brought the money in & we know that he will continue to do it. God continues to bless the church, confirming the fact that our people did the right thing by stepping out in faith with this project.

Father, we come to you in agreement & believing that you will use that space in amazing ways. we ask a blessing on our finances so we can each give generously. Amen.

p.s. todd, i called you a trash-talker in the spirit of friendship. :)

you know it's a great date when...

1. he buys you milk duds.
2. when you get to double with good friends.
3. when you end up at the hospital for stitches.

what???

we didn't get to finish the movie "fireproof" with todd & sonja because the sitter called & said "we need you!"

cassie did a great job with the kids--it was plain to see they had a fabulous time. of course it may take sonja all week to clean up after their party. we walked in & it was absolutely knee deep in their living room with games, forts, toys, etc. it was clear they had fun!

after piecing together the story, here's what we think happened...

parker was pulling cooper around on the slick kitchen floor with a blanket. somehow it got a bit out of control & cooper's forehead ended up hitting the corner of the wall or the cabinet. somehow there was also a mousetrap involved... ?? we're not completely sure how but the mousetrap keeps coming up in conversation.

anyway, on the way to the hospital we were explaining to cooper that he'd probably need stitches. all he was worried about was "can i go back & play with cassie when we're done?"

oh yeah, they were having fun.

he didn't cry until the deadening shots. then he cried the ENTIRE time dr. richman stitched him up. i think it was 4 or 5 stitches. fairly deep laceration--the deepest of wounds i've seen on our kids yet.

he was fine as soon as daddy got to hold him.

but here's the "funny" thing. we ended up glue-ing kamrie's forehead shut too, after we'd gotten home.

when brad & i picked up cooper to go to the hospital kamrie had a big band-aid on her head & her eye was swollen. evidently a ladder got knocked over & had cut her earlier in the evening. but she did not, for any reason, want to take the band-aid off.

i didn't push the issue until after we were home & getting everyone into bed. we finally got her to take the band-aid off & decided that she probably didn't need stitched up, her cut could use some glue. i'm glad todd & sonja have done enough glue-ing of their kids to know that is a necessity in the medicine cabinet. so, off brad trekked to their house for the glue & butterfly closures.

both kids look better this morning & haven't complained at all. cooper's stitches are dissolvable, so that should relieve future trauma at the dr. i think kamrie will also heal fine, but could have quite a bruise later this week. she is scraped too, so she definitely looks worse than cooper.

cassie did a great job with the kids. they had a great time & can't wait to have her watch them again. she handled kamrie's injury very well & had cooper calmed down & was holding a washcloth on his cut when we got there.

maybe she'll be a dr. someday. and look at the great babysitting experience she's getting!

Happy Thanksgiving to Eldon

The kids in SONShine Gardens are thankful that our soldiers, like Eldon, are helping the people in Afghanistan. They pray for him & his safety. We hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving Eldon!

Juan's Helpful Award

Hunter is a very creative writer. Here's his tribute to Juan, based on a story they read in class.

"Thank you Juan for your help and your kindness. Even though you were rotten at the start you have a soft spot in you. Thank you again for your generosity. From Your new friends."

I love the "even though you were rotten" part. Let's just tell it how it is, shall we?

Parker

Parker was the special helper with Samantha today in class. He loves to help her. Miss Vikki thanks for the pictures. I LOVE to see them.

Grandpa's Deer

Pete shot a 7X7 deer yesterday. It's probably the biggest deer I've ever seen. The boys are pumped. He's planning to mount this one.

I love it.

eldon telling the kids about afghanistan
fun times with wynand

I love how our kids pray for Eldon & Wynand everyday. Eldon is in Afghanistan with the Army & Wynand went home to South Africa. Each morning as I take them to school, one of us prays & their names are always spoken.

On the map at church we have their pictures right by their countries. Before Eldon left he came & told the kids at church where he was going & how they planned to help the people there. They are teaching the Afganistan people about farming & putting up grain bins for storage. If you ask any of the kids at church, they'll give you all the details.

Wynand came for several weeks & helped in Children's Church. He played with them & sang the songs. They listened intently as he told them how he was going to go back home & tell other kids about Jesus. They also know he wasn't headed straight home, he was going to visit family in Qatar first & then go to Cape Town. They know all about it.

And they love it.

They love that Eldon & Wynand cared enough about them to spend time with them. They know that God is going to use them in other countries & that they need our prayers. I appreciate these two men being so willing to give their time to the kids. They won't forget it & they won't forget you.

Just a word of warning to these 2 men: my kids came up with a list of questions to ask you either by email or on facebook. Everything from "Do you like green beans?" to "Have you seen any giraffes?" And Cooper even provided you with information like "There was a snake at the county fair." Be prepared...


the kids show the stuff they made for wynand

Aaah.

It feels good to know Brad will be home tonight after being gone for a couple of days. I never sleep very well at night when he's gone. Maybe because my feet don't have anything to warm up against...Socks just aren't the same.

Left Behind

I was cracking up about Twyla's email that said,

"Terri, it is a good thing that you knew about the clothes laid out on the couch the night before, otherwise you would have woken up and seen those and thought you were "left behind." :)

1st time

clothes laid out the night before (this was before parker put all his stuff on, boots & all & slept on the couch)

daddy, parker & hunter heading out early saturday morning

parker-ready, set, go!

parker & hunter with h's first deer

hunter's first deer

it was a big day for hunter, our mighty deer hunter. he shot his first deer & he was excited. parker was pretty excited, too; he can't wait until it's his turn. they had a great time & are back out to try for brad's deer this afternoon.

deer

the boys are pumped to go deer hunting tomorrow with daddy & grandpa pete. parker is already dressed in his hunting gear (boots & all), sleeping on the couch.

hunter has his first deer license-he's so excited. we did have to have a bit of a chat about which deer he could hunt. he seemed to think it would be cool to have the hide of one with spots...

i'm sending the camera with them.

how do you know if he really loves you? part 2

brad not only kills snakes for me, he goes out to move the suburban off the street in 12 inches of snow for me. plus he wiped it all off so it won't be so hard tomorrow. what a guy. thanks honey!

Late Start...

we'll see if the kids have school tomorrow...

Cape Town Friend

We hated saying goodbye to Wynand yesterday. What a blessing spending time with him the last 7 months. We can't wait to see how God uses him back home in South Africa.

Sunny Update

Sunny the dog is doing great in Kearney. He's made some new friends & gets to go to work with his owner a lot. He gets to run along the river & chase birds. We could hardly believe it when we saw Sunny laying & eating with his cat-friends. He only chased them when he lived with us! We love the updates & pictures Sheila sends. It especially helps the kids see that Sunny is one fat & happy dog.

Looking forward to this...

thank you water line

my kids say thank you, that is. no school today due to a broken water line. so hunter & parker came with me to the office. the wind is blowing about 50 mph, so not much going on here. everyone is trying to stay inside.

sorry elmo

spiderman's in. elmo's out.

i remember clearly how excited cooper was to get his new elmo backpack. he informed me a while back, as you may remember, that he no longer liked elmo & didn't like his backpack anymore, either. elmo was for babies he said.

as time went on he didn't complain about elmo, so i didn't worry about it. i did find a spiderman backpack, so elmo's been in the closet for a few weeks now.

tonight, however, elmo was booted.

when we get cooper ready for bed he usually won't let us put jammies on. he just wants clothes. so, i put clean clothes on him that he can wear the next day. fine with me, it's less laundry.

tonight i chose a shirt with sesame street characters on it. as soon as he saw elmo on it he wanted it off. "i don't like elmo!" he said. i tried to convince him to just wear it for the night & he could change in the morning. hunter & kamrie (who were sitting right there) kept telling him how cool elmo is. no way. after trying to bite off one of the buttons in anger, he finally managed to pull it off over his head.

so, i guess it's official. no more elmo at the dillan house.

NU -vs- OU

Though the score wasn't pretty between OU & NU, we had a great time anyway. And got some exercise running around the yard with the Husker flag after a touchdown. Granted, not as much exercise as I would have gotten as an OU fan...