Thursday, April 28, 2011

No more guessing...

Sugar and spice and everything nice
This is what little girls are made of....

However, come September 2011, the Fulton household will be full of

Slime, snail, and puppy dog tails!

According to our ultrasound tech she is 99.99% certain that

IT'S A BOY!!!

Never a dull moment

Wednesday was going along, like any other typical Wednesday: doing laundry, dishes, and other around the house chores. In the afternoon the phone rings and caller ID informs me that it is Wylie ISD.  This typically means I have a child throwing up, or lying down with a fever in the nurses offices at one of the campuses. Today, however, turned out to be a little different.

"Hi is this Katie?" (They call so often the school nurse is comfortable enough to call me by my first name)

"Yes it is."

"This is Sandy, the nurse at the Elementary school. I have Branden with me, and he had an accident at recess. He fell on his chin..." That's all she had to say, I knew exactly what was coming next. When Branden was about 22 months old he had fallen and split his chin.  It was able to be butterfly bandaged and we avoided stitches.... According to the nurse, we weren't getting away that lucky this time.

Here was my dilemma, I was without a car.... Because of the hailstorm, Zach's car was being repaired, and he had my car at work. Luckily we have terrific friends, and I was able to call up a friend a couple blocks away and she swooped in to pick me up and took Bubba and I to the ER. Meanwhile I had to call the Intermediate school to explain that Kristyn couldn't ride the bus home. Another blessing in friendship came through and Kristyn was picked up after school, while Branden was being sewed up.

We were in and out of the ER in two hours, which I thought was pretty good. And he made out with 6 stitches, and a great story to tell his friends. As he left for school this morning he was blushing at the idea that the girls would want to take care of him! :) 

Boys and their scars!

Waiting patiently for the nurse to come back and numb his chin

It was worse than it looks... trust me.

A numbing agent applied before the shot of lidocaine.

Ended the visit with six stitches! He was very strong and brave!!!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Mango says No!

Does anyone else remember that SNL skit with Chris Kattan, as Mango?  As ridiculous as it was, I always laughed hysterically... So I thought of Chris Kattan in short shorts, and a bright hat as I read what our Cub was this week.


Wow, look at that, 6 inches!!! Mango isn't saying no to much according to my ever growing appetite!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter Weekend 2011

Wow, what a blessed weekend we had! Zach's parents came into town and we got to spend the day with them Friday, while the kids made up a snow day at school. Zach and his dad got a round of golf in, while Mom and I did some Easter Dinner shopping, and then waited for the kids to come home. They were thrilled  to come home to their Farmor (Swedish for father's mother, and what they call Zach's mom), and were also happy that I suggested Shaved Ice for an afternoon snack. (This was such a hug hit, Farmor and I repeated the trip Saturday afternoon after stopping at HEB for some dinner groceries)

Saturday Farmor, with the help of Branden, made plattar, small thin Swedish Pancakes.  They were delicious, and I perfected my ability to flip the pancakes... These particular ones are quite tricky!  Then we ventured to downtown Abilene.

The first stop was the Grace Museum... The children's section was a huge success!


The kids got in touch with the Fine Arts!

Kristyn definitely has a flare for the dramatic... I have no idea where she gets that from (wink, wink)

Branden enjoyed playing this fun musical instrument... He wanted to play it all on his own! After The Grace we enjoyed some terrific art at the NCCIL, walked through the 12th Armored Division Museum and tried to take a look at Relics, but it was closed for the Easter weekend.


After walking around downtown we enjoyed lunch at Cypress Street Station.
Saturday night we enjoyed dinner at home and terrific company. Then rested up to celebrate our risen Savior at church Sunday morning.  Zach woke up extra early to help out for breakfast at our church. After a great service we headed home and took a few family photos.




After our photo shoot we had an Easter egg hunt in the backyard.



They were very eager to find the eggs... Zach hid them really well.





And of course you know this South Texas girl has to keep the tradition of cascarones going with her own kiddos!


We even got the Georgia boy in on our fun! :)


I'm pretty sure I was finding confetti in my hair Monday morning!

After the "egg"citement (sorry I couldn't resist) we finished preparing our Easter dinner and: Leg of Lamb, Au Gratin Potatoes (They were extra cheesy), Pineapple Casserole, Spinach and Strawberry Salad, Cherry Pie & Strawberry Pie with homemade whipped cream. It was a delicious feast! After our dinner we watched as the clouds rolled in. We were a bit skeptical, since we have seen the clouds and lightning, and heard the thunder, but have not seen rain in quite a long time... In fact, we have probably seen snow more recently than we have seen rain.  It did indeed rain however, and it didn't stop there. We were treated to a hail storm. We watched, entertained from the safety of our kitchen window as the golf ball sized hail fell onto the trampoline and bounced really high... But you know what they say about hail, "it's all fun and games until someone loses a back windshield." Well, I don't think it's really a saying, but it is now in the Fulton house! :)


It's better than one of our house windows, and no one was hurt. Praise the Lord for the much needed rain.

After dinner, the weather excitement and bath time the kids treated us to a puppet show.

All in all we had an amazing Easter weekend. We were so grateful and blessed to have our family here to celebrate with us!

Rejoice, rejoice oh Christians lift up your voice and sing
Eternal Hallelujah to Jesus Christ the King
The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find
None other is so loving, so good and kind
He lives!
He lives!
Christ Jesus lives today!...
You ask me how I know He lives
He lives within my heart!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

To Hear Him Say My Name

Sometimes I wonder if I learn more than my Sparkies during AWANA on Wednesday nights.

Since last night was the Wednesday before Easter, I thought that it would be appropriate to give a lesson on the resurrection on Jesus. As Christians we know that dying on the cross, while unfair and cruel, was not the miracle that gives us eternal life. It is the fact Jesus did not stay dead, but on the third day, rose from the dead and spoke to Mary Magdalene.

What amazes me, is that a story I have heard my entire life, can teach me something new, or remind me of something different each time I read it.  This leads me to what I learned last night.

Mary was the first of Jesus's followers to discover that the tomb was empty.  She was devastated. She assumed his body had been stolen. If I was Mary, I would've been beside myself, trying to figure out a way to put my Lord back in his proper resting place. I would've been furious thinking, "can't they leave him alone, even in death?"  She tells the disciples, and Peter and another disciple come to see for themselves. After they see what Mary said was true, they go back to their homes, but Mary stays outside the tomb weeping.  I don't imagine these are small "ladylike" tears either. I imagine they are tears like raindrops flowing from her eyes.  Then angels appear to her, and then a gardener (or so she thinks) approaches her and asks her "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?"  This is not a gardener, but Jesus Himself!  She doesn't recognize Him, instead asks him to give her the body and she'll take care of it.  Mary is so distracted with her grief that she doesn't recognize her Savior as He is standing in front of her.  But then the best part of this story happens (in my opinion).  He speaks to her again, and she recognizes Him.  It must have been the most beautiful word she had ever heard, and she knew that this was not a gardener but Jesus Christ! Jesus said

"Mary"

He said her name and she knew who He was. Oh the overwhelming peace and joy she must have felt to hear His voice saying her name.

It made me think, who's voice do I recognize above all else?  My husband, my children, my parents, my sisters... People I have close relationships with. I invest time in building and deepening these relationships. Would I recognize The Lord's voice if He said my name?  I would hope so, but to be certain I must invest in deepening my relationship with Him.  I want more than anything to hear Him say my name, and know with such certainty that it is my Lord speaking to me. My desire is to know Him, the way Mary knew Him. To trust Him and hear His voice, and recognize it when He calls...

Thank you Lord, for the miracle of Easter, so that I have the freedom to approach You and know You so intimately.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

I am what yam...

Our baby is the size of a sweet potato! :)  This is one delicious preganncy, I think I may make mashed sweet potatoes this week in honor of our cub!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Guacamole???

So last week (week 16 for those who are keeping track) our cub was the size of an avocado. 
This week the cub is measuring in at the size of an onion!... Mmmm this makes me want guacamole, just need the lemon from a couple weeks back! :)

A friend loves at all times

Branden came home this afternoon, rather upset with one of his friends. In fact he went as far to say, "I am not John's friend anymore." (Since I don't know John or his mother I will be calling him John instead of his real name) This was quite surprising because since "Meet the Teacher Night" Branden has called John his best friend.  I was curious as to what would cause Branden to be this angry with his best friend. I didn't have to wait long because Branden proceeded to tell me that John had gotten physical with a little girl in their class. 

From the explanation it wasn't violent and she wasn't hurt, but from a young age Branden has been taught "You don't hit to solve problems, and you NEVER hit a girl."  Called me old-fashioned but that's the way it is in our house.

So when the little girl told Branden this he confronted John about it. John didn't deny it, just said that it wasn't that hard and he didn't hurt her. Branden said it didn't matter, you don't touch girls, or treat them like that, and if John was going to act like that Branden wasn't his friend anymore. (I was gushing inside at what a gentleman and knight-in-shining-armor my son was for this little girl).

I listened to the story and then reinforced how proud I was of him to stand up for the little girl, and that he was right to rebuke John for his behavior.  I was also proud that he didn't get into a fight with John and simply walked away. I then reminded him that John was his friend, and because he was human, he made a mistake, and when we make a mistake God forgives us. So, maybe before he ends his friendship with Johnhe should give  him the opportunity to apologize. He listened to what I said, and then as most kids do got distracted with the idea of playing outside with his sister and went on his way for his afternoon activities.

We had AWANA at church last night, and the lesson that Branden heard was on the Crucifixion and why it was necessary for Jesus to be a sacrifice. We all need forgiveness. We got home from church, got showered and ready for bed, and what seemed like a random questions Branden asked, "Is there a verse in the Bible that says 'if you want a friend you have to be a friend?'"  I said I knew there were lots of stories and verses about friendships, and I would look later for that one. 

Then the coolest thing happened. Branden sat next to me on the couch and looked up at me and said, "Can we look now?"

I looked at him questioning his motives, I had to make sure he wasn't just trying to prolong the inevitable bedtime.  He must have sensed this because he said, "I want to talk to John about what happened today. And I want to tell him about being a friend, but I want a Bible verse to tell him too."

Wow, was it possible? My six year old son, understood the concept of a biblical rebuke? He was being the best friend John could have...  An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. (Prov 27:5-6)

My heart was filled with joy, as I began praising God for speaking to my son's heart, and giving him the desire to share scriptural truth with his friend.  We searched for some verses, and with Branden's help we decided on Proverbs 18:24, There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother, and Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times.

My prayer this morning is that God would speak through a six-year old boy, that loves Him, and loves his friends enough to share the Truth with them. My prayer is that the children Branden speaks with will hear God, the way only children can.

As a parent, my prayer is one of praise, that God is following through with His promise, Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Prov 22:6) May the Lord continue to guide Zach and I with wisdom as we train our children.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

"Why"

God as my friend…
Throughout my life, and my walk with the Lord, there have been various analogies that I have drawn about my relationship with God, and in turn they have led me into a closer relationship with Him. I remember being a teenager in high school, and my youth pastor told us that it was okay to tell God we were mad. This was a new concept. When I didn’t like the way things had gone I could just tell God? It stemmed from the lesson that God wants a relationship with me, His child. A relationship is one-sided and non-productive if we don’t communicate and have conversations. So, I began conversing with God. My conversations ranged from the good, the bad, and the shallow (I was a teenage girl I had my moments). The conversations I had with God, allowed me to draw closer to Him, and feel His presence. A song by Nichole Nordeman describes this stage in relationship with God ideally.

“When I was weak, unable to speak, still I could call you by name. And I said, heartache healer, secret keeper, be my best friend, and you said I am.”

Christ as the groom…
Being married my eyes have been opened to the marital relationship as one that is parallel to Christ’s relationship with the church. In Ephesians there is a command, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” As a church we are submit to Christ’s authority, so as a wife we are to submit to our husband’s authority, as it is God ordained. This isn’t a bad thing, or a restrictive measure. It is a glorious thing because our husbands love us as themselves! This is a whole debate on it’s own and actually not what I have been meditating on today.

God as a parent…
Mother of two and a “cub,” I would lay down my life for these kids. I have an undeniable instinct to love and protect them. I feel pain when they are suffering, a physical pain inside of me when my child is hurt, emotionally or physically. They are my babies.

When Kristyn was about 6 months old I was cleaning house and listening to a new CD I had just bought, This Mystery by Nichole Nordeman. As the song Why was playing, I stopped in my tracks. I stood in the middle of my living room, listening to the lyrics of this song. By the end of the song, I was on my knees sobbing into my lap. I cried, unable to get any words out to God, but cried to Him.







I had heard the Easter story countless times. It never felt redundant or old, I knew Jesus was killed for my sins, and because he was raised from the dead and alive, I was able to accept Him and have eternal salvation. This was not new to me. Somehow, for the first time in my life, Jesus the Son stepped aside and I saw that God was a Father.

A parent.

Like me.

He had the same instincts to love his child, protect his child, hold his child when he was hurt. And somehow, for some reason, He pushed aside those instincts and let his Son suffer…. For me… I saw my God in a new light. I had a different understanding and appreciation for the sacrifice that was made on Calvary. Jesus the Sn made a sacrifice, but so did God the Father. He watched as His son was hurt and rejected and killed. Praise His name that the story doesn’t end there. Because he lives there is eternal salvation, and Glory in heaven for someone as imperfect as me.

As my relationship with God grows, so does my understanding that He cannot be kept in a box. He is not just a “heartache healer,” or a “bridegroom,” He is the Alpha, Omega, King of kings, Lord of lords, Prince of Peace, Yaweh, I Am… Glory be to God in the Highest as we celebrate Easter.

Why by Nichole Nordeman

We rode into town the other day
Just me and my Daddy
He said I'd finally reached that age
And I could ride next to him on a horse
That of course was not quite as wide

We heard a crowd of people shouting
And so we stopped to find out why
And there was that man
That my dad said he loved
But today there was fear in his eyes

So I said "Daddy, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why is He dressed in that bright purple robe?
I'll bet that crown hurts Him more than He shows
Daddy, please can't you do something?
He looks as though He's gonna cry
you said he was stronger than all of those guys
Daddy, please tell me why
Why does everyone want him to die?"

Later that day the sky grew cloudy
And Daddy said I should go inside
Somehow he knew things would get stormy
Boy was he right
But I could not keep from wondering
If there was something he had to hide

So after he left I had to find out
I was not afraid of getting lost
So I followed the crowds
To a hill where I knew men had been killed
And I heard a voice come from the cross

And it said, "Father, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why are they casting their lots for My robe?
This crown of thorns hurts Me more than it shows
Father, please can't You do something?
I know that You must hear My cry
I thought I could handle the cross of this size
Father, remind Me why
Why does everyone want Me to die?
When will I understand why?"

"My precious Son, I hear them screaming
I'm watching the face of the enemy beaming
But soon I will clothe You in robes of My own
Jesus, this hurts Me much more than You know
But this dark hour I must do nothing
Though I've heard Your unbearable cry

The power in Your blood destroys all of the lies
Soon You'll see past their unmerciful eyes
Look there below, see the child
Trembling by her father's side
Now I can tell You why
She is why You must die"