Halloween 2007

For the second year in a row...we were able to go trick or treating WITHOUT snow clothes on:)

I will be playing catch-up since I know how to post pictures now...

This and That

The other night we celebrated 10 years since our first date, March 25, 1998, by going to a Predator's game...on the way we did some extra celebrating with one of Metro's finest, Kevin got himself a date with traffic school or a speeding ticket on his record and out of our pocket...our babysitter had parked behind the family car, so we jumped into Kevin's car he drives to work...it won't pass IM yet (we didn't have the failed IM certificate in the car), so it can't be registered yet...the tags are expired and Kevin hasn't changed his license over from Kentucky yet.
Also...the only proof of insurance I could find was over a year old (although we do have insurance) ...we were more than a little nervous...apparently Officer Coleman is a benevolent fellow because he let us go with warnings on all that...I have an appointment to get the car fixed now...the ironic thing is that I am typically the person who would have had all these violations unlike Kevin who thinks if you aren't 15 minutes early you are late...we had a great time at the game:)
Thank you Lord for mercy!!

Here we go!!

This is actually an old photo of Zeke, but it was so cute and relevant I thought I would break it out. When Zeke started going to the potty BY HIMSELF at 18 MONTHS I couldn't understand what the big fuss about potty training was...now I get it after Z-2 and Z-3...

Kevin's school that he works for has a pre-school, we get a significant discount, I would like to utilize this opportunity...small caveat, all children have to be potty-trained...for 3 out of 4 I am good on that requirement.

I want to potty train Zach by his 2nd birthday, May 5th, or very soon thereafter...tonight I brought home the potty chair...let him play with it...took his diaper off...he sat down about 25 times, and then in the 30 seconds that I spent with the chair upside down trying to affix the rubber non-skid pad to the bottom...he started to potty on the floor, by the time I got the chair in position he was done, I hope this in not a sign of things to come...

This could be dangerous...

Now that I know how to put pictures on I may never again clean my house...

July 2000 right before Leah Daily became Mrs. Donald Endress. Christmas 1997, we were at a tournament somewhere and hit a local mall, wish this was a little sharper picture....Santa and Mrs. Oatsvall and all the elves.
Darrin and Rachelle visiting Zeke in the hospital October 2002, prior to them having their own brood when they had lots of extra time and money:)

Memories!!

I tried to upload more, but maybe I got too many in one post...

Leah is all the way to the left and I am all the way to the right, this is in front of a glacier in Alaska the week before my wedding, this is in August 2000, there is a big iceberg right behind us, not sure if it is going to show up or not...
This is Zeb's birthday, since it is illegal to video a birth in Alaska, my pal Rachelle was stealth and got the whole thing on tape!! She was also with me through 2 days of labor, thanks Rach:)

The REAL Gwen Oatsvall ;)

Too soon...

I was going through some old pictures, found this pic of my friend Misty from college, she passed away in a car wreck soon after college. When I started thinking about her, the first things that came to my mind were that she loved Jesus, she loved her family, and she always made the people around her feel loved no matter who they were. That's how I want to be remembered.

Testing....

Only have a minute...hodge podge:)

1. God is awesome beyond comprehension, words could never adequately describe how he is working in my heart and the heart of this wonderful man he has blessed me with for life. I am seeing maturity in both of us that is almost scary:) Still just the tip of the iceberg, but God is faithful ALL THE TIME.

2. My church is incredible. If you do not feel your place of worship is an absolute HAVEN and place of TRUE worship and AUTHENTICITY, sell your house and move to Nashville, I am not even kidding, it is that worth it!!

3. I have had an epiphany in my spiritual development, I have long been preparing myself for greatness in the kingdom...the next Elizabeth George, Stormie O'Martian, or Beth Moore...(PLEASE don't laugh) but Sunday I was COVERED with peace when I internalized the statement ***I want to be God's agent in the world accomplishing HIS will HIS way.*** If it is as Joyce Meyer Jr., sobeit...if it is as a real estate agent...teacher...counselor...pre-school worker...mama...WHATEVER...I truly desire to be only what God would have me to be

4. I went to my first Nashville Predators game last night...I thought I hated hockey...but I am HOOKED! I love it!!

All for now...more to come:)

Trouble comes in two's I guess...

I didn't blog about Zach's tumble down the stairs outside, the concrete stairs, and I had really almost forgotten about it except for when I see his half tooth that had to be filed down...who knew they couldn't put a cap on a baby tooth?? Makes sense I guess...

I have had 4 children over the last almost 7 years, never have they broke a tooth, but now in less than a week Zach broke a tooth and I noticed yesterday that despite my belief that he hadn't broken a tooth, he also has a broken tooth (I think it might have cracked it and the piece didn't break off until later because I was pretty sure he hadn't broken a tooth) ! 7 years, no broken teeth, now 2 in one week!!

The same thing happened with black eyes, 7 years, no black eyes and over Christmas break 2 black eyes in one week.

Yadda, yadda, yadda...

Crazy Day!! 3 Cheers for Mayfield!!

Yesterday had big ambitions...all of which came to a screaming halt about 5 minutes after productivity commenced, I was finally dressed with all the kids dressed, fed and ready for the day...I was putting the trash out when I heard synchronized wailing from the back yard, I assumed each was to blame for the others angst, until I saw Zeb with a mouth-full of blood running down his face and shirt...he was apparently standing too close to the metal bat Zeke swung at full-force, both were extremely traumatized, took Zeb to a walk-in clinic that didn't accept our insurance and eventually ended up at the ER because they did accept our insurance.

It took 3 hours for them to say the cut was in a place that they don't stitch (the little thing on your gums above the line directly between your 2 front teeth that attaches your lip to your gum had been "lacerated" aka ripped apart) and that his teeth would be sore for a while and he needed a tetanus shot. For our 3 hours of combined waiting we were awarded with a total of 3 minutes between the dr.'s assessment and the tetanus shot. Praise the Lord he didn't need more than that.

Zeke was still extremely upset, so we all went to Chuck E Cheese to take everyone's mind off of the physical and psychological turmoil that was present...called my 4:00 hair appt to tell her I was about 10 minutes late and she informed me that she had gone home early and wouldn't be cutting my hair...thanks for letting me know...hadn't washed my hair that morning...so I had to take Zeke to baseball practice looking very pretty (still in my yardwork clothes...)

Got onto the interstate where unbeknownst to me a tractor trailer had overturned...took 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to the next exit...Zeke missed his first practice...the night ended about 2 hours after bedtime with happy meals for everyone.

Chuck E Cheese and Mc Donald's in the same day...my kids thought it was the greatest ever...there goes the eating out budget for the rest of the month!!

All in all the day didn't go how I planned, but it ended well with a bowl of moose tracks:)

Self-disclosure of sorts:)

So I recently read on a great website, www.48days.com a startling statistic, only 4% of people who are job hunting find their job via the internet. This makes me feel a little better that I have been looking for a job for over 5 months now and haven't found one...I have been using the internet exclusively...wish I would have read that statistic 5 months ago!

My resume is less than impressive, and even when I get an interview few people (none so far) will be able to appreciate the skill sets that are involved in being a mother of 4 and having been a youth pastor's wife for 8 years despite the fact that I earned a Master's degree with a 3.9 GPA while also staying home with 2-4 children...(shameless plug to make myself feel better and compensate for not finding a job yet...)

I have to admit part of me is ecstatic about not finding a job, I love being at home...but when it comes time to pay bills I realize we do need a second income...I am praying God will bring me something family friendly and lucrative all in one:)

T-U You Know!!

Headed back to Chattanooga for the day Saturday, met with some old friends and toured our old stomping grounds, The Walking Bridge, Downtown Chattanooga and The Chatanooga Choo Choo, ate pizza in a train car which was the highlight of the day for the kids.

Man I miss that simple, simple time in my life!! Why did I think life was so hard?

Gettin' Out of Debt Dave Ramsey Style!

Last fall sitting in our missions conference I listened to a presentation from a missionary family to Peru. They needed people with a heart for missions to come and join their work to help with Women's Ministries and their whole work in general. I wanted to stand on a desk and say, "Here I am, send me!!" I tried to mentally stand up until I realized I was hopelessly glued to my seat by DEBT. (not really hopelessly, I have Hope)

I have long been saddled with this heavy burden...it has felt so impossible to ever be
debt-free...my fabulous friend Leah got me hooked on Dave Ramsey and yesterday we invested a nice little sum of our tax return and went to Dave Ramsey's HQ in Brentwood, TN for financial advisement, and it was worth every last penny!

So now I see some light at the end of the tunnel, it is still a VERY long tunnel though, but I have commited myself to God that I am going to follow the guidelines set in place yesterday in the hopes that we will be able to get out of debt and someday go to the mission field, or adopt internationally, or make a lot of money and help a lot of other people do those things.

I have started selling a ton of stuff on Craig's List to pay off smaller debts...I have already made $240 on things that were just sitting around my house!!

Stay tuned for more updates:)

The Creditors

Wednesday night someone called and offered us 2 tickets to go see a Nashville Predators game. I am not a hockey fan, but I will always try a pro sporting event at least once.

Well, Zanna got sick, so I didn't want to leave her with a sitter, and Zeke had to be up for school the next day, Zach at hockey game would put somebody in the psych ward, so by process of elimination Zeb ended up going with Kevin.

Zeb thoroughly enjoyed the experience, particularly memorable to him is the "video" on the jumbotron which apparently shows the mascot devouring a few opposing players.

On the way out to the car, Zeb looked around in the dark parking lot, and said, "I hope no creditors jump out and eat us."

Valentine's Extravaganza

A few weeks ago I casually asked Zeke if he wanted to buy or make Valentine cards for his class. He said he wanted to make them, I figured he would want to buy them. This week has been crazy, so finally at 8 pm last night we sat down with construction paper, glue, scissors and most importantly to Zeke, glitter; because in his words, "Glitter just makes everything nicer." Who knew??
We figured out what he wanted to do and got started, he tired out after cutting out the 2nd heart, so I finished cutting, gluing, and *GLITTERING* 17 little cards...it looked like a glitter factory exploded on my kitchen table...I am anticipating a clause next year in Zeb's Valentine letter, "Parents, please, no glitter!"
I learned a lesson, next year we can make cards for family, but for the class we will be buying!!

An epiphany...

In a recent...ahem...disagreement with my husband, in an instance where he had (in my opinion) been insensitive (kind of like a buffalo) I was very angry, and hurt. Obviously I am not anymore or I wouldn't be blogging about it.

I was doing the dishes, and I was praying that God would help me know how to handle this situation. My train of thought was how exactly can I approach (manipulate/control) this situation and get the most emotional bang for my buck (or the most sorrow on my husband's part in wronging me) not in a vengeful way, but I had been wronged and it needed to be made right, and he needed to understand my delicate nature and how he had offended his bride. I waited for an answer and heard nothing.

I thought about the story about the beggar woman finally achieving her goal from the ruler because of her persistance, and how the Bible says if you lack wisdom or understanding just ask. So I put on my best 4 year-old impression and told God that his Word said to ask, so I am asking; and I just started asking, "What should I do?" over and over in my head...thankfully I was alone because I probably looked like a crazy woman.

God in his infinite love and mercy overlooked my self-centered immaturity and whispered to me I Corinthians 13. (Not audibly...but I heard him) This was NOT what I was looking for, so I stopped asking. I would like to say I obeyed immediately...but I don't want to get in trouble for lying...so this morning I read it, this is howthe Message Bible put it.

I Corinthians 13:4-7 (Parentheses mine)
Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," (ouch) doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, (Oh me!) takes plesure in the floweing of truth, PUTS UP WITH ANYTHING (Even having my feelings hurt?? How can this be??) trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.

Save me from myself, Lord!!

Here's to another month of not being pregnant!!

I'm just really excited about not being pregnant and I thought I would share.

More lip from Zanna...

Zanna to Zeb, "Mommy's a meanie bo beanie." (Because she is not allowed to go out to play until she cleans up her current excursion which happens to be the art box.)

Zeb in stern reply, "No she's not. She follows the law. The law that says you can't go outside until you do your job."

At least I am getting through to somebody.

Embarrasing things...

Zanna has recently screamed while standing and pointing in restaurants.

"Mommy, they're chewing with their mouths open!" Referring to a woman and her daughter sitting across from us, who were indeed chewing with their mouths open.

"Mommy, he got ice-cream without permission!" Referring to the 50 year-old man sitting at the table next to us.

"Mommy, his shirt in on backwards!" Referring to a man, whose shirt was not on backwards.