I just got done drawing the name!  It was so much fun for me, thanks to everyone who asked to be included.  I put all the names in my big cobalt mixing bowl and went outside on the porch.  The kids were all around me, very excited to see what Mama was doing.  My 10-yr-old was the official photographer.

I just want all of you to know, that as I carefully cut all your names out into strips, I prayed for you.  That the Lord would bless you and keep you. . .that you would do His will and find true contentment and joy in the life He has given you.  I still have all the little papers with your names on them. . .all my friends here on xanga.  You are all so very special.

The winner is MoyaMommy! 

To the rest of you:  If you are interested in owning the book, you can easily order it off Amazon.com. 

Have a lovely day!  And thanks again for participating.  I’m still smiling. . . .

Late this afternoon, while Rich was in town picking up a few things, David was watching a movie and I was on the phone with my Mom upstairs.  The other kids were all playing.  Things were calm, but not for long.  All of a sudden, I heard David start screaming (and it was not a scary movie!)— I got off the phone quick, ran downstairs, and found David standing up and holding his finger out, which was dripping blood into the carpet. 

He had been playing with one of those cheap metal keychains–he liked it because it was a baseball one.  Somehow he got it apart, though, and I saw that it was in half on the floor, in front of the tv, where he was sitting.  It was so sharp that it cut his finger–across the inside middle knuckle.

He was screaming, and I quickly put a towel around it and grabbed the phone to call Rich.  Picture me in the kitchen, holding a screaming 5 year old, trying to keep the towel on his finger, and holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder.  The phone rang and rang.  Then, to my utter relief, Rich walked right in the house through the front door.

I told him what happened and he took David from me and looked at his finger (I still hadn’t looked at it, I couldn’t bring myself to) and said, “Yep, he’s got to get that taken care of”. 

It all happened in about 5 minutes.

Hours later they came back from the emergency room.  David was sedated heavily while they worked on his finger.  Thankfully, the tendon was fine, but he did cut through the artery.  He only needed a couple of stitches. 

Boy, did he act drugged when he got home!  Rich and I thought he was very amusing, although we felt sorry for him, too.  He talked nonstop, more than I have ever heard him talk.  His voice would go up and down with excitement.  At the hospital, they gave him a new stuffed bear named Pecan, which he could not remember–so, every once in a while he’d ask, “MOM?  What’s my bear’s name?”  “Pecan”, I would say.  “OH, Pecan, PEEECAAAN” he’d yell.

He got up off the chair to go somewhere, and walked in the opposite direction of where he was intending to go.

I gave him a piece of bread and he tried biting his bandaged finger two times, by mistake, thinking it was his bread. . talking and laughing all the while.

“Mom?  Did you know they tied a KNOT in my finger?”

The bandage has completely confused him, he can’t imagine WHY it looks like that, how they got it on, and how we’re going to get it off.

To settle him down, I held him on the couch, in the dark, for a long time, stroking his face and rubbing his hair.  The chatter finally slowed down. 

He is, at this moment, sound asleep in his bed.

The last thing he said, as his Daddy carried him upstairs, was “I love you, Mama!”  (which, of course, melted my heart)

Here’s hoping he’s more mellow when he wakes up tomorrow morning!

Okay, so I’m reading a great book right now.  I’m only on chapter 8 but I’ve already decided to share some quotes with you and to give this book away to one lucky commenter.  Yep, you heard me!  I’ve fallen for the delight of doing a giveaway!

Anyway, after reading the first 7 chapters of this book I was so inspired that I got Jacob, Ethan, and David up out of their beds (they have rest time every day when they read or draw while I have quiet time) and sent them outside to get as dirty as they wish.  It’s that good.

The title of the book is:

Created for WORK, Practical Insights for Young Men

By Bob Schultz

Here are some quotes from my favorite chapter (so far) titled, “Dirt”:

“If we weren’t digging in the woods, we dug by the river.  We made canals, little waterfalls, and small lakes from rocks and mud.  I can’t imagine life without digging!’

“To gain my respect, a boy doesn’t have to look like a pig returning from the wallowing pit.  I take my hat off to any boy who can dress formally without squirming and complaining.  However, he also ought to be content while covered with slime if a task requires it, like the respectable fellow who pumped out our septic tank last spring.”

“A man needs the internal grit to stick his face into the dusty winds of adversity that blow through life.  He also needs the determination to stick his hands into grease and mud to accomplish the assignments given him.”

“The man who stays close to the dirt tends to stay close to reality.  There’s something in farming, logging, or ditch digging that keeps his thoughts down to earth.”

“It’s not that you have to live in good old farm soil to grow healthy.  The point is, don’t be too proud to get dirty and never let dirt stop you from accomplishing your tasks.  Refusing a job because you’ll soil your hands is the mark of a man who hides from life instead of one who dives in and conquers it.”

“If you are one of the millions of boys and men who enjoy dirt, remember that it doesn’t belong everywhere.  It’s extremely thoughtless to walk onto a freshly mopped kitchen floor with muddy hunting boots. . .a good man considers the property of others.  Therefore, he’ll try to keep his dirt to himself.”

“There are two things you never want to get dirty regardless of the job.  One is your heart and the other is your mind.  We tend to get things mixed up.  There is a tendency for men to stay away from the dirt of hard work and then pollute their minds with pictures and imaginations.”

“God’s man desires to keep his soul clean.”

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”  Genesis 3:19

The boys in my life:  my precious Brothers: David, Nathan, and Isaac.  my wonderful Sons: Jacob, Ethan, David, Caleb

There is a lot more to this book than DIRT.  It’s about developing a manly and godly work ethic.  It would make a great read-aloud book for a Father and Son(s). Leave a comment and tell me if you want your name in the drawing.  On Monday, October 8th, I will draw one name out of a “hat” (or, whatever’s handy).  Winner receives a brand-new copy of the book.

“As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”  John 15:4

Cowardly, wayward, and weak,
I change with the changing sky,
Today so eager and strong,
Tomorrow not caring to try.
But He never gives in,
And we two shall win,

Jesus and I.

-Corrie Ten Boom

I’m drinking hot tea from my favorite Alaskan mug.

Thanks for the comments on my earlier post. Thankfully, I was able to sleep this afternoon on the couch.  After putting my youngest and the older kids to bed, I turned the fan up to full-blast, cuddled up with a quilt and a feather pillow—and put my 5-yr-old on the other couch with strict orders not to make a peep!  And, somehow an hour went by.

It was very relaxing.

It is so gorgeous outside today.  There is a gentle breeze making my wind-chimes chime and the leaves rustle.  It is bright and sunny, yet quite cool.  

 I took my 2 yr. old and the dog down to one of the ponds earlier and my son was so cute.  I sat on a big rock and watched him throw rocks repeatedly.  The dog chewed things and ran around like his feet were on fire.  I want to make sure he gets LOTS of running time today!

Along with schooling, the kids and I “made the porch pretty” again.  We swept and cleaned it, rearranged the rockers (they had made a tent on the porch yesterday), and picked little bouquets of my garden flowers.  One bouquet is in an old, chipped tea-cup and the other is in an old creamer/pitcher (made by Homer Laughlin China Co.–remember, I love fiestaware, and the HLC co. makes Fiesta, too)  We have pink roses left, and bright dark yellow mums, pansies, and others.  They cheer me up.

Of course, my husband is at work today, but on SATURDAY all of us went for a walk together.  Won’t you come along?

We are thinking about having a garage built, possibly next year. My husband and the boys pounded in some stakes to get an idea of how big it should be.

In these next two photos, 10-yr-old is fighting a war.  He attacks bushes and trees like they are the enemy.  He didn’t know I was watching him from the other side of the pond.

Sister, watching her brothers.  Wonder what she’s thinking?

Walking hand in hand.  Helping little brother.  One’s got bare feet–and the shoes were left behind on the trail, to pick up later.