I am contemplating a move to a more updated blog site.  I had a fabulous weekend at Living Proof Live Green Bay, but couldn't upload any of the "too big" photos to this blog.  So, I posted an entry at a new location and will see how easily I am able to customize that one to my liking over the next month or so.  I think overall it will be a good move, and easier especially in the picture department.  So, click on over to see pictures and details from this last weekend.

Here is the link:  http://www.tarahhoffland.blogspot.com/

See, it's super easy to remember!

Two entries in two days....it's almost too much, isn't it?  Here are all the pictures I promised from our amusement park experience.  Just so you know, I was trying to edit these pictures to make them bigger, but they get blurry when I do that.  Sorry they are so small.  I will try to edit them and re-download them later. 

Johnny was our map reader.

This was one of the first rides we tried....the WonderPets fly boat.  I love this series of pictures b/c it shows each of our kids' individual personalities.  Johnny was consistently the most anxious about riding new things, especially if there was any "tummy tickle" risk.  He was very worried about this one, but seeing that the 2-4 yr old set seemed to have no problem, I think he felt there was no excuse for him not to go on.  But you can see he wasn't too happy about it.  Anna: cool as a cucumber, Leah: ready for anything....clueless as to what might happen, Johnny: worried, David: generally out to lunch.

In the end, they had to have ridden this ride more than 30 times.  Every time we took a break or slowed down, they'd run over to it and go a few more times.  (there was never any line)  Click on this link to see this ride in action.  Think screaming preschoolers.  Not the best ride to do after lunch, I don't think.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNcF66c8D38

Johnny took much convincing to go on the log flume ride.  There were tears.  The attendant thought we were being cruel and unusual I know.  However, we knew (from experience)  if we didn't get him on it....he would be miserable the rest of the day.

He eventually got on.  Here he is walking off with mixed feelings.  A little bit proud, a little bit sheepish, a little bit wanting to go on it again.....and again and again and again. 

Leah loved the merry-go-round.....and lots of other rides that went in circles.    It was fortunate that we had 4 adults, so we could spread the fun around. 

Not sure why the Blue Skiddoo one is so big!  This ride was really fun...it was called back to barnyard or something like that.  It was basically a tiny roller coaster for preschoolers.  We all liked it, especially Leah.

Matt and I rode a rollercoaster....one that went up at a 90 degree angle and came down at a 90 degree angle.  And had 6 loops.  Because we are crazy.  And because the kids thought it was hilarious to watch us do it.  Here we are just going over the top....I am screaming really, really loud.

The kids met SpongeBob.  Not Leah....she was totally freaked out, and I don't blame her.

Anna asked me afterward, "Mom, since we shook hands and hugged SpongeBob....now can we watch his show?"    Sorry, Anna,  mom draws the line at cartoon characters who live in undersea towns named "Bikini Bottom".

Another funny happened when we were considering the "haunted house" ride.  It was more a funhouse/game kind of thing where you go in pairs and have lasar guns.  It was all black light, and you would shoot targets in the ride and it kept track of your points....so you were competing against each other.  Not real scary.  But, Johnny said, "Is it OK if we ride that, Mom?  Or does it have too much witchcraft?  [long pause]  But, we'll be shooting the witchcraft...so that will be good, right?"    You can tell he was really hoping to be allowed to ride it.  I went with him, and he beat me pretty badly!  I still say my lasar gun wasn't working right. 

The beginner roller coaster that would have been fun for everyone to go on.....was closed for maintenance of course.  We were very disappointed, but squelched it immediately for the kids' sake!  However, Anna and David both rode the Fairly Odd Coaster with me.  And it was a BIG one.  I'd never ridden anything quite like it before.  Check it out.  I was particularly proud of Anna.  Once she sets her mind to do something, she doesn't back down.  And it was scary!  But, she loved it and we rode it three times.  David rode it twice.  I don't have a picture, but check out this link to see how insane of a ride it was!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khgciViuyrE

Now, here are some picture of Leah simply b/c she's adorable!

And here are the tired parents.  Ready to drive home in an April blizzard at midnight.  We are not feeling adorable at this point.  But, happy that we all had such a great day as a family!  What a blessing!  Oh yay....this picture is really huge too!  Nice.

 

 

Well, we took a whole family fun day on Monday......back in December, someone gave us some unlimited ride passes to the small amusement park that is inside Mall of America.  We'd been trying to go, but sickness and schedules did not allow until this week.  We had a blast, and pictures will be forthcoming as soon as my friend e-mails them to me.  But lest you think the Hofflands do nothing other than have family fun days.......I thought I'd mix things up a bit and share some of the amazing things that God has been doing here in Rib Lake.

Over the last year, God has really been laying this community on our hearts in a new way.  Some of it might be related to Matt being on the elder board now at church (I know....elder??)  and with our church currently without a pastor (plus breaking ground on our addition)....the board is having to step up and provide more vision and leadership than usual.  Matt has had an added passion for our church reaching this community.  We have seen firsthand so many hurting and needy people here. 

To make a long story short, God has given both Matt and I some cool opportunities to reach out to some people in our community.  The Spirit basically compelled us in both situations.....you just know when God is laying something on your heart that you must obey.  And the very cool thing, is it's all connected....they are connected to other people with whom we've tried to cultivate relationships.  We are praying for a revival here in Rib Lake!  We had B, a well known alcoholic in town, pray to receive Christ yesterday afternoon in front of our house.  He is headed to rehab, and we are praying that God will restore everything that is broken in his life.....and there is LOTS broken.  Funny thing is, his oldest boy (his boys were taken away from him a couple years ago b/c of neglect and abuse) was at a Jr. High retreat a month or so ago where Matt spoke.  He raised his hand at the end.  Matt didn't know then that he was B's son.  But, it's very cool that there is that connection now.  I have been given the opportunity to study the Bible and disciple a gal named A.  A gal that I have noticed and prayed for here in town for years.  She's got the broken life that so many here have.  But, she is hungry to know the Bible, and knows basically nothing beyond that she believes in Jesus Christ.  She has tons and tons of questions.  I am scared to death and excited b/c so far God has been so faithful in giving me direction as to what to do.  And, I trust that He will continue to do that b/c I feel completely inadequate for this.  A is good friends with R, another hurting gal in town who has been on our hearts with a difficult past.  R's son was also at that retreat, and he also responded to Matt's message.  More connections.  G the barber, another one we've tried to have a good relationship with in spite of his controversial editorials about Christian's in our public school, happens to be B's landlord.  Matt met with them both yesterday and it just blew my mind that he was sitting there basically talking about B needing to let the Lord work in his life and give up control.....with G....and he was actually nodding his head!  Crazy stuff, huh?  The opportunities just keep coming, and it has been amazing.   This is the short version....there is so much more history and cool ways that the Lord has worked in these situations that I could tell you!  The Lord is at work!

Satan has also been on the prowl, ready and hoping to attack our church during a transition.  Attacking us here at home.  Matt has had 6 mos of health scares.....he's wrestled with fears related to that, and Satan definitely capitalized on them!  Where God is working, Satan is also looking to devour.  Please pray with us against Satan's influence in this town.  Pray for the people here that God wants to reach and their kids!  Pray for our church as we seek leadership and as we try to be a faithful demonstration of God's love in our community.   Pray that Matt and I would be faithful and attentive to God's leading in these situations.  I am not naive enough to think B, in particular, has an easy road ahead of him.  We walked this path with another alcholic a few years back, and it wasn't an easy one.  It's a neverending battle.  But I am praying that God will be victorious......He will have to do it, and what a testimony in this town it will be!  I believe His hand is moving here, and it's been exciting to see it!

Stay tuned for fun day pictures. 

Matt took Johnny over towards Oak Forest Center yesterday to spend a couple nights with his bestest friend, Josh.  Josh was on LTD last year and his family is now raising support to be the directors at OFC.  They have kept in touch via e-mail and the boys have missed each other tremendously! 

And, a couple weeks ago, the RVA was taking a field trip to Harvest Home Farm (where our good friends, the Poulos', live and work).  We'd been looking forward to it forever, but the night before we were to go Johnny was throwing up.  So, I planned to go anyway with the other three despite my exhaustion from the night before.  But, we got 45 minutes into the trip and Anna started throwing up.  So, we had to turn around and go home.  All 3 kids were devastated to be missing this, especially David who likes no place and people better than HHF and the Poulos's.  So, I promised him that we'd go again soon.  And, I thought it would be good to get away for a day and do something special since Johnny was getting to go to Josh's. 

That's my intro.....yesterday we spent a lovely day at HHF.  Just me, Anna, David and Leah drove down early.  It was a gorgeous, blue sky day in the upper 40's.  The kids played hard outside almost the whole time.  There's no end to the options for playing there.  Becky and I took a long walk up around the ridge surrounding their gorgeous property.  We played with lambs, calves, dogs, cats, chickens and llamas, and sat in the sugar shack sampling freshly boiled maple syrup.  Then the kids went to AWANA with their friends, and Becky and I had coffee together.  We hardly knew what to do.....nearly 2 hours of coffee and conversation with no children running in to interrupt!  It was a wonderful day and so worth it even as I drove home late last night trying to stay awake!  Here are some pictures of the kids from yesterday.

Gus and Leah are our two kids closest in age.....only 6 mos apart.  They were great pals all day.

They had many baby lambs......they've been being born over the last month.  They still have 3 or 4 more pregnant ewes to go.  Leah and Anna got to bottle feed these:

David spent time with his favorite dog in the world, Rob.  Rob is getting old, and we worry this might be the last time David sees him.  Luckily, he also bonded with a newer pup....Tess.  Here she is with him.

And here's David with Rob and Tess:

David and Anna got to bottle feed the calves.  Don't they look like farm kids?

I saved my favorite for last.  Here is Cowboy Gus and his sidekick, little Miss Sunshine:

Here are some pics of us girls from the weekend that Aunt Beth and Uncle Barry were here.  Anna has her "Felicity" doll dressed in more modern attire.  (the girls got shirts to match their dolls)  And Leah has her bitty baby "Emma". 

The kids have been all about learning to type the last couple weeks.  All three of the oldest has been through this entire free program that we found online.  It's super fun and here is the link in case anyone else wants to use it.  Dance Mat Typing   I seriously cannot believe how well they can type after going through this!  Even Anna keeps her hands in the proper position and types away.  On webkinz, there is a game called "Lunch Letters" that gives typing practice and Johnny is almost earned his certificate for the easy level.  Wow, I didn't learn to type til I was in high school.  Anyway, I'm happy about this because I feel like typing gives David another way to write without having to think so hard about reversing letters.

We had a really good week of school.  David is earning stickers for each math paper he does without reversing any of his numbers.  He has 5 stickers now, and when he has 10 he earns an ice cream treat at Mannmade.  Both boys happen to be working on multiplication now.  And funnily enough, they were both learning about pronouns this week. 

I have seen a few signs of spring.  Our grass is trying to peek through around the edges of the yard.  I heard a mourning dove for the first time the other day and Anna saw our first robin!  I was walking with Betty the other day and saw a gorgeous, big red-headed woodpecker by the lake!  The biggest one I ever saw.  I don't usually see those....usually smaller varieties.  Maybe it's just passing through.  Anyway, I'm so looking forward to spring and the birds returning!  The ones that have wintered here are beginning to sing more....especially on a sunny day.  And, I am seeing some squirrels poking around the backyard....to Betty's great delight!  I love Spring!

Well, we have some school to wrap up yet.  So I'd better go.  I'm trying a new recipe for BBQ roast beef sandwiches tonight for supper and the smell of it cooking in the crockpot is driving me batty!  It smells so good, I can hardly stay out of the kitchen!  I think I need to go sniff it again before we settle in for some reading. 

I am seriously lamenting the fact that we have no working digital camera at this time.  Because I would love to show you a funny picture right now.

We just got new hardwood floors.  It's a long story, but to make it short.....home depot put in wood laminate last year for us and completely botched the install.  So they gave us a settlement of sorts and were set to reinstall whatever we wanted.  We decided we weren't so thrilled with the laminate anyway and put in real wood. The whole ordeal turned out to be a big blessing in disguise!

SO, dear Betty was leaving nice claw marks every time she'd get riled up.  Even with trimmed nails.  So I did some surfing, figuring that somewhere someone had solved this problem.  Sure enough....I found these:  www.softpaws.net    I spent about 30 minutes applying them to Betty this afternoon.  And now she has gorgeous PURPLE claws.  And she makes a squeaky tapping sound as she walks across the floors instead of the clickety clack.  I'm thrilled, but it does look SO funny and I wish I could show you.  She definitely looks like a doggy diva now. 

Oh, let's see what else is going on.  We had visitors a couple weekends ago.....my Aunt Beth and Uncle Barry.  We had a lovely time going out to dinner and bowling with the kids.  Anna beat everyone except Uncle Barry.  (including me and Matt)  Leah had a blast.  Of course it took roughly 5 minute for her ball to get down the lane.  One time it didn't even make it!  Very cute....it was her first time.  The boys skied, the girls decorated Valentine cookies and played with American Girl dolls.  It was so nice to see them!

School is going OK.  David made it through his first tests.  It was somewhat frustrating for me, but really not so bad.  He did quite well in grammar, composition and lit.  Not so well in Science and History.  But it wasn't because he hadn't learned it.  It was mostly because he got confused and turned around in multiple choice/matching sections of tests.  You know they basically do everything they can to trick kids.  It was OK....it was really his first time taking a tradtitional test.  However, in Science this time, we are going to do an "alternative assessment" where he has to give a presentation on the things covered in the chapter.  He's doing a powerpoint presentation on the classification of organisms (Kingdom,Phylum,Class, Order, etc.)  and also a poster presentation of an ecosystem with its food web.....and a discussion about the interactions therein.  I think this type of 'performance' will really motivate him and allow him to learn the way he does best....hands on and creative.  We also switched his Math back to MathUSee, a much more manipulative based learning.  I am very thankful that the charter school allows us to customize his learning like this and desires to make him as successful as possible.  He is now learning multiplication happily to my great relief.

We are also hoping to get funding through our insurance to put D through the Davis reorientation therapy for dyslexia.  But, we won't know anymore until we speak with his pediatrician on March 17th. 

I know I've been saving funny quotes and stories up, but right at this moment....they all escape me!  I hope A. Beth will e-mail me a couple of the pics she took while she was here, so I can post them. 

 

Attempting to summarize the last couple months here.  Good news is that so far this winter, we have yet to see a breakdown with D like we did last winter.  Of course, we haven't had any stomach flu this year yet either.....   He's been doing quite well, with both anxiety and GI issues.  So, that's a big praise.

We've made alot of changes in school for David.  I think the last time I wrote, we were just getting ready to start the Verticy academy with him, as well as put together an IEP.  Now, it's February and we've been at it for a couple months.  He goes to the school for occupational therapy once a week, where the girl works on his handwriting mostly.  And, I can already see some improvement.  He goes for speech/language therapy twice a week and I don't see as much good from that at this point.  It's not bad, but I don't know how much it is really improving anything.  Maybe it takes time.  They are mostly discussing conversational skills.  A very good topic to work on with David, but like I said....it will probably take time to see results.

School with him has been grueling.  We are moving very, very slowly.  The Math especially seems to be too advanced for him, but I am sticking it out to the first test.  We may end up switching back to Math U See at that point.  The other curriculum is excellent....it is just alot of work.  The phonics/language is SO very multisensory, there are just lots of activities to do.  Phonics/spelling can take us almost an hour sometimes and so can Grammar/composition.  However, there is also alot of repetition built in.....so maybe we will get into a rhythm here and it won't be so slow. 

I still feel that he has really hit a wall with his dyslexia.  School has been SO much harder for him....he has such trouble remembering number sentences (math facts) correctly, and words.  He's at an age where they are throwing big terms around and asking him to remember them.  In History....Mesopotamia, Tigris, Euphrates, Hieroglyphics....don't get me started on all the Science terms and in Math even....Commutative, Associative, Identity properties of addition.  The concepts are easy for him to grasp.  The words look like a jumbled mass of letters to him.  He can't remember them. 

I just finished "The Gift of Dyslexia" by Ron Davis.  It made more sense than anything I've read to this point as far as how to teach a dyslexic.  There is a licensed Davis facilitator in Wausau who is doing an intial consultation with David next week to see if their week long "reorientation and symbol mastery" program would work well for him.  I suspect it will if he is motivated enough to go through it.  However, the cost of the week long program is out of this world.  So, this week I am working on finding funding for it.....going to see his pediatrician and see if we can't get insurance to help. 

I feel like I am constantly a detective on the hunt with him.  I've been reading book after book after book about medications, OCD, autistm, dyslexia, reading books written BY autistic people.....thus my fun reading list has been kind of non-existent these days.

The other kiddos?  Well, Johnny got his semester report card and had all A's again.  We are on the downside of his year, and 3rd quarter is actually looking easier than the first two.  He's studying astronomy in Science, a topic which we widely covered last year.  And Geometry in Math....my favorite!  He is reading the Magic Tree House series and devouring them....also the Henry Huggins books by Beverly Cleary.  I'm so happy that he finally found some fun books that interested him.   A funny...the other day, he saw his report card laying on the table and picked it up.  It was all A's.  Johnny's comment?  "What!?  No A+'s?  This is an outrage!"  Big snort from Matt, who was sitting at the other side of the table.  We are working on Johnny's perfectionist tendencies.

Anna is trucking along, wishing she were in the RVA....but mom can't handle the workload.  Especially at her age when really all she needs to do is learn to read well and memorize her math facts!  She is my neatest writer so far, and is reading spectacularly!  She reads a chapter or two every night from a Junie B. Jones book.  To herself.  I've never been a huge fan of Junie B.  But, I remember my friend saying her daughter just loved how Junie talks and thinks.  Somehow we ended up with one here, and Anna picked it up and read it cover to cover.  So...I give up. 

A couple funnies: 

The other day Johnny asked me about the "big feast we are going to have in heaven".  "Mom, will everyone be there.....even Moses?"  "Yes, Johnny, I think Moses will probably be there.  Cool, huh? How would you like to sit next to Moses?"  [long, thoughtful pause]  Johnny: "No, I think I'd rather sit by you and dad". 

Matt took Johnny with him last weekend on a trip.  He had several concerts and they went to a Chris Tomlin concert with some supporters one night as well.  When they got home, Matt asked Johnny what his favorite thing about the trip was while we were eating supper.  Johnny said, "The concert!"  Matt said, "Really Johnny?  My concert?"  Johnny: "No, the famous one."  Matt pretended to feel bad.....and Johnny reminded him that he doesn't want to be famous.....he wants to be nothing. 

The other day I was strolling through our local IGA, where I inevitably know almost everyone in the store.  Leah was sitting in the big part of the cart and I grabbed a pack of feminine products and tossed them in.  She said (and I write it in caps because that is how LOUD she said it...could hear it three aisles away at least): "MOM, I HOLD YOUR DIAPERS FOR YOU, OK?  OK, MOM?  I HOLD YOUR DIAPERS!"  Thanks, sweetheart.  I chuckled the whole way out the store.  And it got even funnier as we discussed it in the car, but I won't write that in here....maybe a bit too inappropriate. 

 

Since I'm feeling overwhelmed at the idea of catching up on the last month blog-wise, I thought I'd just post some pictures that I finally managed to get uploaded.  Mostly from the dinner theater.  And then two pics of the girls from Lisa's wedding back in September.  Someone just sent them to me and I love them!

The entire dinner theater cast and crew:



A few behind the scenes pics of cast and makeup.  In one of the pics below, you can see some of the "bulb" costumes...that skit was about a string of Christmas tree light bulbs.  In order to stay lit, the bulbs had to "stay true".  If one said anything that was not true, the entire strand would go out.  It was hilarious, and they were rigged up electrically so that when they were all standing on their pads, all their costumes would light up.  If one stepped off, it would break the circuit and they'd go out.  Nifty, huh?  Here's a pic of their electric hookups that went in their costumes: 

This is "the apostle John" in full makeup for his monologue at the end.  You can see two bulb costumes sitting there to the side.



Here's the old sea mariner in his full make-up....and his wife (in real life), who was "Mom" in the first skit with the two little boys (a.k.a. Matt and Sam in PJs).


Matt and Sam in PJs.


Anna learning to knit backstage with our good friend Leah (known as "big Leah" by our "little Leah")


I really wish I had a picture of "Night and the Candlemaker", which was a really neat skit done with a puppet.  Wonder if someone has a pic of that somewhere.

Alright....here's a few others.  The two girls at the wedding.  I love these two pics, especially the second one.


And lastly, our most recent family picture.....the staff board picture taken back in May.  Signing off now!

Leah is maybe our funniest preschooler yet.  Or maybe we just get a huge kick out of her b/c she's likely our last.  Anyway, I thought I'd jot down some of the things that are Leah these days.

When she does something that makes me impatient or cross with her (like dumping all the crayons out all over the floor or pouring water into teacups on the side of the bathtub...which means all over the floor) she asks me worriedly "Mom, are you naughty at me?"  Gets me every time.  Especially when I'm impatient for no good reason.  It has a way of deflating my irritation!

Her most common answer to just about everything?  "a-cause"  Leah, why did you use up all your sisters stickers?  "a-cause"  Why did you whack your brother with the stick?   "a-cause"  Why are you scared of the dark?  "a-cause"  A maddeningly vague answer that she uses for just about everything.  If we really push, we can get a "a-cause I want to do dat". 

She sings and sings and sings.  If I drive anywhere with just her, I'm treated to many songs from the backseat.  And, she gets them word for word...I just love it.  "My God is so BIG"  "Hear Chwist calling 'Come unto Me'"  "The B-I-B-L-E"  "Jesus Loves Me"  "Upside Down"  and "Jingle Bells" are the favorites these days. 

She's also learning spanish apparently from Dora, Dora.  This cracks me up.  The other day she was singing, "Abre-open, Cierra-closed....I speak Spanish and English too....Abre-open, Cierra-closed"  and she takes it very seriously.  She answers Dora in spanish every time she asks the audience a question.  The other day it was the spanish words for up and down.  She can count to five in Spanish.  And the funniest thing is when Leah gets stuck somewhere....like on a counter, the window sill, or on top of her brother's dresser....I hear her yelling "Help, Help! Ayudanme!  Help!"  The first time she did that it took me a bit to figure out what on earth she was saying and where she got it!

She's going through a phase where she's really scared of the dark.  For awhile, she'd talk about monsters in her room.  I'd come in at night, and she'd say "Monsters" and I'd pray with her, and she'd be fine with that.  But just recently, she's really upset if it's too dark.  And "too dark" is a relative term b/c even with her nightlight on and white Christmas lights all around her window, "It's getting dark!  It's going to get dark!"  It's bright as day in there!  I had to take the bulbs out of her overhead light so I could say "look, they don't work" otherwise she'd want to sleep all night with it on.  I asked her the other night why she was so worried about the dark...."What does dark do to you?", I asked.  She said, "Dark does this...." and gave me an intense look from under her eyebrows.  It's so interesting sometimes how little kids communicate things and feelings. 

She's little Miss Independent.  Wants to do everything herself.  Except go to the bathroom.  She can't seem to manage that yet as far as getting herself properly arranged, and inevitably has to go right when I've just sat down to teach or just bundled her up to go out.  "Mom, are you naughty at me?"    

She's very into role playing and caring for all her stuffed animals, talking to them just like a little mommy.  And, the other day I heard her in Anna's room just talking and talking away on Anna's fuzzy princess phone.   It was the cutest thing! 

 I can't ever let her out of the cart in any store b/c she has a strong love of "hide and seek".  She loves nothing more to play this at home, and thinks it's great to play at WalMart in the clothes section....or anywhere that a hiding place comes to mind.  The more mom calls her name, and the more panicky her voice....the more fun it is!  Just last night, we were all at a relatively small family video store and I suddenly realized that I couldn't hear Leah's running commentary any more.  Where was she?  I circled the store once, twice, began calling for her louder and louder.  Finally enlisted dad and the kids.  About the time we were getting really wild-eyed and other patrons were starting to look around too....I heard a little giggle.  She'd been hiding behind a shelf in the game section.  "I was hiding!" she said gleefully as her dad pulled her out and gave her a good talking to.  I couldn't help, but remember doing that to my Grandmother once and taking some years off her life.  Even worse, I was older and not playing "hide and seek", but purposefully watching her panic.  I know.  God is giving me my just rewards. 

But, there is nothing more snuggable and kissable than a little, pig-tailed Leah in her footie PJs.  I can't kiss and hug her enough....what will I do when she's too big to sweep up in my arms and squeeze!?   We are very thankful for Leah Joy, and she has certainly lived up to her middle name....bringing us joy even on the most discouraging days!  And since she just arrived at my elbow, informing me that she has to go potty....I guess it's time to close.

Wow, finally!  We've had it lurking in the backs of our minds for a year, and Matt's been writing since March!  And last night, it made it's debut.  Well, kind of on Thursday night.....it was the final dress rehearsal in front of the staff.  I took the kids that night.  It was the first time I'd seen it as well.  I'd read the scripts and heard this and that from Matt, but hadn't really seen anything of the actual acting.  I was blown away by the coherence and power of the messsage!  Praise God!  I have witnessed in an amazing way how God slowly put this thing together in Matt's mind, and gave him each bit.

It is a powerful dose of truth and aims to reveal who Jesus Christ is....the Truth, the Light, our Hope!  Straightforward.  Way more straightforward than last year's show, which was wonderful too....but, a little more couched in warm fuzzy and spectacle. 

Satan has fought this show tooth and nail.  He has attacked Matt, our family, the cast, individual cast members, the technical details, even the weather!  I expected it this week.  Relationships inexplicably tense that had to be worked out, one cast member (with a powerful closing monologue) has a little boy with epilepsy who had an unusual 24 hours of seizures every half hour....causing him extra stress and little sleep.  Flu is going around...both stomach and cold.  Yesterday, I was moved to pray almost all day long for everyone involved.  That God would protect it all from Satan's counterattacks, that the Spirit would be there and move in hearts.  I knew for a fact that there were close to ten individuals attending opening night who probably did not know the Lord.  I know that God is going to use this....please continue to pray!

Tonight, I get to attend with my MIL, her friend, and my neighbors from across the street.  I can't wait.  Last night's audience was super....they wanted to laugh, they were attentive...it was a great way to start.  And everyone (according to Matt) seemed excited and happy as they left.  I can't wait to hear how certain people responded.  Our entire RVA office was there....the administrator and his wife, the teacher's assistant and her friend.  I'm pretty sure they do not know the Lord.  Tonight is another full show with people coming who need the truth.

Another cool side note is that Anna has a small part in the opening scene.  She has been unusually stage shy in the end (unusual for how dramatic she is).  And yesterday afternoon, I sat down with her to give her a pep talk.  I told her about the special message that God had given daddy to share in this show.  How God wanted to use it to bring people to know Jesus.  And how she had a special privilege and job from God to do her part in it!  That she didn't have to think about Anna or the people or being shy.....she just needed to be her 6 yr old self and do her job best for God!  I told her she needed to sit up (in the bed), speak loudly and smile!  And do her part with as much energy as she could, and remember it's not about her, but how God would use it!  AND......she did super last night!  Matt said she was visible, she spoke loud and happily, totally different than at the dress rehearsal.  We were so proud of her!  Even though her part is small, I loved that she could catch the vision and have a chance to do this with her dad. 

Well, I'm overflowing with thankfulness this morning....can you tell?  And Matt is a bit euphoric as well.  But it's still going to be a long weekend, and we not only have lots of housecleaning to do today, but also school (Johnny has a test on Monday) and more dinner theater! 

OH, and how could I forget????  Little Micaiah David Peters was born on December 2nd around 4 am.  Look up in the Bible where his name comes from (II Chronicles?).  A prophet who spoke the truth.  Pretty cool name, I think.  He was over 9 lbs and is doing great!  Congratulations, John, Andrea, Charis and Alathea!  And welcome to the family, Micaiah! 

I suppose it's about time to update.  I was seriously contemplating shutting down the blog.  Maybe I still am.  I just don't have enough hours in a day lately.  Not even on the weekends!  It seems that with both boys in the RVA now, plus David's extra testing and IEP procedures, plus David's health struggles this fall, plus Anna's stubborn strep that won't go away no matter what, plus Matt's health scare, plus usual ministry craziness......I'm either frantically trying to get caught up on schoolwork and housework or we're rushing to a doctor's appt. for someone.  It just doesn't quit. 

Dinner Theater sold out.  That's a good thing, and they decided to add another night the following weekend.  I think it's about 1/3 sold so far.  Matt will have a busy week of dress rehearsals.  Please be in prayer.  We have felt that God really put this program together and have felt the spiritual warfare against it!  God is really working in our community right now, and I am praying that the message and theme of this is really going to touch lives.  Dark/Light, Truth/Lie, Fear/Peace....these are themes that the show is built around.  I have seen God's hand put this thing together though, and I am excited to see what He will do with it.

We were in Chicago for Thanksgiving.  That is always a fun time, and something the kids especially look forward too!  A big deal for Anna this time around was getting to go to the American Girl store with A. Beth and U. Barry to pick out a doll.  We'd been reading the books for a month or so, having her get to know some of the characters.  She picked Felicity (colonial times) and she is beautiful and much loved!  She also got to partake in one of our favorite Chicago activities.....'doing' tea.  She, A. Beth and I had tea at the Ritz (with Felicity of course).  A real, live tea party!  I'd been looking forward to the day I could take her along. 

School has been very, very busy.  Johnny got his first quarter grades and has all A's.  We have a very, busy week ahead as he has his third tests coming up next Monday.  David is just getting officially started with his Verticy stuff.  It's very good, but also quite time-consuming and hard for him.  I'm struggling fitting in enough time with Anna in this mix....she's so good at her schoolwork, and Grade 1 isn't exactly strenuous.  Therefore, sometimes I feel like she gets the short end of the stick time-wise.  Another reason I was happy to get to spend some special time with her in Chicago.

We just watched the Packers lose.  Again.  We aren't happy.  Actually Matt is mildly gleeful.  He bought himself a Jets hat while we were gone.  He's still bitter that they drove Brett away, and a small part of him (OK maybe not so small a part) wants the Jets to do awesome, and the Pack to stink it up so that it will prove that Ted Thompson messed up in a big way.  Yes, we've been watching Jets games too now....one of our local networks is carrying their games as Brett has such a huge following here.  I am not hoping for the Packer's demise quite as much as Matt.....it's not Rodger's fault, and they have some great guys there!  They deserve to do well.  I think they have the most talented team of receivers in the league.....as well as the best receiver coverage on defense in Woodson, Bigby, and Harris).  I want them to win!  But we are two games out of the playoffs now, and it's not looking good.  SO....go Jets!  I think the Pack is lacking some leadership on the field this year....Matt is right there.  Brett was the leader of that team, and Rodgers is young and new.  He doesn't pull them together yet.  And watching the Jets play with Brett has made us realize what the Pack is missing....that key veteran leadership role that Brett played.  Now that I've waxed eloquent about that, I should go downstairs and see if the Jets are still winning!

Well, we are awaiting the birth of our new, little boy cousin!  When will he make his appearance?  Every morning I wake up and check e-mail to see if there's any news!  The next time I decide to post, I'm sure there will be some!

The lake is frozen.  And yes, we had a bunch of ice fisherman out there today.  Some day maybe I will figure out what the attraction is. 

Well, time to go chip away at the pile of Thanksgiving laundry! 

Johnny has to write a weekly composition assignment, and this week it was two poems on colors.  They provided the form "looks like, sounds like" etc. and Johnny was to write the rest, using whichever colors he chose.  The second poem was to be about his favorite color.  They were not to be rhyming poems, but more abstract.  I thought it was really fun and enjoyed reading what he came up with.

Colors by Johnny Hoffland

Yellow looks like a grumpy little duckling.

Blue sounds like my brother whining.

Brown smells like the dog poop in my yard.

Orange tastes like very, sweet candy corn.

Red makes me feel mad!

 

Green by Johnny Hoffland

Green looks like the trees outside.

Green sounds like the leaves rustling.

Green smells like fruit snacks.

Green tastes like peppermint candy.

Green makes me feel cool.

I love it!

This afternoon, Leah was finishing up her lunch and I was lost in thought staring at her. 

Leah:  "Mom, why are you wookin at me?"

Me [startled out of my reverie]: "Because you're cute and I like you!"

Leah:  "Oh.   You're wight". 

One other tidbit of information....Johnny is praying every night for a parakeet.  Hmmm.  Every night.  I feel caught btw. a rock and a hard place.  I mean, this is the kid who not too long ago asked me, "Mom, how do I know God is really there?"  On the other hand, I know firsthand that parakeets aren't the hardiest of animals....particularly when there are younger siblings around.   Mine died of pneumonia (or something) and was always a grouch after my preschool age sister tried to pull its tail out and shut it in a dresser drawer.   I also remember that I particularly hated cleaning its cage.  Plus there's the fact that Betty loves nothing better than to bring us dead baby doves...remember?  We're btw. a rock and a hard place here!  I'm trying to stall him.  I asked him the other day if he thought God would give him a parakeet like next week or maybe wait for a special occasion.  He thought He might wait.  AND, he has assured me that he is only praying for a parakeet if it's what God wants him to have.  So there....maybe we do have an out. 

This is mostly a school related update.  But, some exciting things are going on with the boys schooling and I wanted to share!  First off, I am having a fabulous experience with the RVA.  I love the administration, the other parents, and all the support and resources that are available to me.  Johnny is doing so well and flourishing with all the great stuff we are learning.  The first quarter is drawing to a close, and he currently has all A's.  It's been a little challenging keeping up with all the appts. we've had lately, but if we can keep up now, we can keep up anytime!  We've just had to be doing some school on the weekends when we're running around alot during the week.

We had our first virtual field trip on Friday to NASA space center in Houston.  It was really cool!  We had a 'tour guide' who took the kids on a tour of the astronaut habitat on the ISS.  We could see her, she could see us and we could interact with her.  The kids were able to ask questions and all.  David was awesome!  He sat in the front row and asked some VERY GOOD questions.  Johnny got to participate in a dizzying experiment to give an idea what space motion sickness feels like.  That was the one thing David didn't volunteer for.    Anyway, it was really cool.  I'm looking forward to the other ones this year.

Now, here's what's new.  I went to my first PAC meeting (parent advisory council) and learned more about a brand new section of the RVA called "The Verticy Academy".  It's a partnership of Calvert school and the Jemicy school.  Jemicy is a well-known school in Maryland (I think) for college-bound students with language based learning disabilities like dyslexia.  They have partnered with Calvert to present a new home-based program called Verticy.  They use the Orton-Gillingham multi-sensory approach to teaching LLD students.  It's a top notch program and there are currently less than 40 students nationwide.  It looks now like David will be one of them!  We have completed the pre-screening process and are now in the process of taking placement tests in order to customize his curriculum.  So he will also be in the RVA as of next week, and be going through this fabulous program alongside of Johnny.  David will technically be doing Grade 4, though, so their material will be somewhat different plus David's will include all the Jemicy school adjustments to provide for his level of ability with language writing/reading/spelling/organization. 

Alongside of all this, we are meeting with the administrator and the special ed director at the elementary school on Wednesday to set up some services for David throughout the week in support of what he's doing through Verticy.  I hope to have some tutoring maybe twice a week and possibly even some occupational therapy as well!  David is really excited about all these developments, and I hope that the added structure and accountability and feedback will really enable him to flourish as well.

I am so thankful that we have this opportunity at no cost to us.  And, I've been getting info from a friend whose son has been in special ed all along due to a major seizure disorder.....she gave me glowing reports about the special ed director and the actual teacher, who is on worship team at her church!  I feel so good about it! 

SO, that's what's going on.  'whew'.  On the physical side, David has had a really good week.  His anxiety has subsided a good deal.  We are still working on the epigastric pain, he has a procedure on Monday.  We will do this and maybe one more procedure to rule out anything fixable going on.  He's been going to weekly cognitive behavioral therapy and enjoying that.  I feel like we are on the upswing. 

Matt is completely wrapped up in the dinner theater now.  It's crunch time.  Check out the camp website to see the new poster.  It's called "The Light Before Christmas".  Be in prayer as it is definitely an outreach event with a pretty heavy underlying theme.  (light vs. darkness) 

Now, we are having neighbors for dinner tonight and speaking of crunch time.......  I have alot to cook, alot to clean, and should probably get a shower sometime here soon!

Here is a link to the photographers pics of the wedding Leah was in.  Beware....there are 278 pictures!  When you go there, the slideshow w/music automatically loads and plays.  I recommend clicking on the grid below it to look at the gallery pages.  Then click on the first picture and scroll through them individually.  Or by page. 

Lisa's wedding pics

To help family....here are the numbers of pictures that feature Leah or Anna.  Pic #2 features Anna in the corner of the mirror.     #28-33 are Leah practicing beforehand and the pictures beforehand that she was in.  She was in a great mood at this point!  So was I, seeing as how her hair was done, heer bow was tied and she was willing to keep her flower wreath (which I made) on her head.  #75 was right before the processional....2.5 hrs later.  She was exhausted, about to lose it completely and proclaiming that she didn't want to do it.  In a desperate scheme, I gave her the binky and then tried to hold it hostage until she did her duty!   Didn't work.  What did work was her daddy scooting to the front.  She hadn't seen him all morning, and was happy to march down properly if he was at the end.  The other little ring-bearer had long abandoned his post...the boy walking down just before Leah is his big brother.  Thing was....Leah was scared of him.  So we sent him down alone.  #89-90 capture the big moment.  You can see me scooting out of the picture in the back in #89!  You can also see me standing in the back during a bunch of the ceremony pictures.  My back hurt too badly to sit down anywhere!  Finally, #248-249 are of Anna.  She helped me serve at the cake table.  Her best partner-in-crime Nellie Hopkins was with her pretty much non-stop.  #272-276 are a hilarious set where Anna, Nellie and two other girls were touching and licking the ice sculpture.  The second one cracks me up b/c Nellie is sticking her tongue out to lick and Anna is in the background with her tongue out in full empathy! 

Enjoy these....I'm not sure how long they will be up.  This gal does such a nice job.  She's the one who took those great pics of our family 2 yrs ago.  The outdoor pics at camp afterwards are particularly beautiful!  I don't know how Lisa will pick!

OK,  about the endoscopy.  David did just fine.  He didn't get sick afterwards from the anesthesia, which was nice.  We came home with some great pictures of his insides.  They did find that his upper stomach was swollen and irritated.  This is what is causing the epigastric discomfort he has been in.  They took some tissue samples for a variety of tests that we won't have back for a week.  But, in all probability, he suffers from acid reflux issues like Leah does.....and the severe anxiety and stress he puts on himself only exacerbates the problem.  That is where I think we will end up.  Also the fact that he is over-sensitive to any sensory disturbance and overreacts not only to pain, but also to fear.....you can see how it's all a 'perfect storm'.  So, continue to pray that we would have wisdom and direction as far as how to proceed.  Thank you.

The last month has been really rough.  Have there been any good things?  Yes, and perhaps I should start with those.  No, I think I'll end with those.  It's always good to end on an up note, right?

David has really taken another nosedive since early August.  He began to have some gastric discomfort after eating about that time.  We kind of wrote it off as anxiety, and didn't think too seriously about it.  But it gradually got worse until a few weeks ago, he was crying and screaming with pain and fear off and on all day (and sometimes at night) and refusing to eat at all unless we absolutely forced him to.  At this point, we felt alot of it had to be anxiety based b/c he was also clinging to some 'props' that have to do with his fear of throwing up.  Huddled over a bucket was his preferred position.  But eventually we were able to get rid of the props and 'drama'.....but he was still writhing and crying from pain that now seemed frighteningly genuine. 

Was it anxiety that had led to a gastric issue or was it a gastric issue that had triggered the anxiety?  That is the question we (and all his physicians) have been dealing with.  We actually worried that it was his heart at one point....prompting a pediatrician-recommended trip to the ER and an ECG.  We found he had an untreated strep infection.  We are exploring PANDAS....an autoimmune malfunction that is associated with strep and can cause OCD type symptoms.  We have been in to the psychiatrist, the psychologist, multiple trips and phone consults with his pediatricians, the ER and lastly a GI specialist in order to rule out a physical cause to his pain.  They've done bloodwork, ultrasounds and tomorrow will do a endoscopy (a colonoscopy, but at the opposite end).  So far.....nothing.  Yet I have a child who every half hour or so writhes on the floor in pain saying he can't stand it any longer.  He's not really getting any fun attention from it.  There is literally nothing more I can do for him.  And he's a bit distraught b/c Johnny and Anna got to go with Matt to St. Louis today.....a trip we were all to go on, and which would/should have been alot of fun.  But, it was out of the question to go with David at this time. 

I feel strange praying that they find something tomorrow.  I guess I want them to find something physical that we can fix.  The alternative to me is way worse.  Physical problems are easier to fix I think than mental or spiritual ones.  I have found that it is a difficult thing to look your child in the face while he is crying from pain and tell him there is nothing wrong.  The thought that we could have to go on like this makes me want to give up now. 

Alright, you get the picture.  Pray for us.  Pray for David.  Pray the Lord directs us as far as future treatment.  Pray for Matt as he's got alot on his plate ministry-wise and complete insanity at home.

The good stuff.  Leah was an absolutely adorable flower girl in my very good friend Lisa's wedding.  Lisa and I have known each other since Grade 3.  I usually say she's my longest friend, meaning a friend I still have that I've known the longest.  Although even as I type this I'm realizing that I actually met Charity when I was 5 or 6.  Hmm, guess I never thought of that!  Lisa and I have followed each other around for years....elementary school, then high school, then college and now we both work at CFS.  I'm so happy for she and Michael!  Anyway, Leah made it down the aisle despite the fact that it was an hour past her nap time.  At the last minute, she didn't want to go...but thankfully Matt had the presence of mind to scoot to the front of the chairs and let her catch a glimpse of him down there.  Then she went down just fine and remembered half way to toss some leaves!  I am hoping to post a link here to the photographer's pictures when she has them up.  I took some too, but I won't reiterate my computer problems once again.  I threw my back out something terrible the Thursday night before the wedding.  I survived the weekend on Aleve and crawled in to the chiropractors office on Monday.  Thankfully, I am now completely healed!  It was miserable with all the flurry of wedding activity....I couldn't even sit comfortably or bend or drive or anything.  And you can imagine all the crouching and bending I had to do!

The other high note in my life right now is Johnny's school.  I think we both find it an escape.  I am so glad to be doing the RVA right now, he is enjoying the material so much, and I am enjoying how well-laid out it is.  Plus all the support from the staff.  He got all A's on his first round of tests and seemed to enjoy the whole testing process.  His writing/composition is getting better and better.  This week's composition was TWO pages!  At first, he'd complain about a paragraph!  Now, he's really getting into it.  I'll have to start posting some of his compositions.  I am actually talking to the administrator about enrolling David in the Verticy academy.  It's offered by Calvert in partnership with the Jemicy school, which is a school for college-bound kids with language-based learning disabilities (like dyslexia).  They would screen David and basically tailor make a curriculum for exactly where he's at, and it would all be geared towards multi-sensory learning and kids with LLD.  This is a new opportunity the RVA is offering.  If we can get through this latest stuff with D, I would really like to get him into this program even still this year. 

So that's about it.  I've got tons to do before we go in tomorrow morning, so I'll just end now.  Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!