Land of McGovernville

I found out recently that I know the person who does this cool thing called “Favorite Things Friday.”
I decided to go ahead and do it today so Brian can see what we have been up to on our blog.  4 of my favorite things will be highlighted, of course!

Check out Tiffany’s blog here for her Favorite Things Friday!

1. Friday night pizza and movie night (usually a Disney movie, though not always)

2. Friday is usually game night as well

3. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that my kids tell me (EVERY single time) we go to Trader Joes that they want to buy me flowers.  You can’t get any sweeter than that!

4. Cute chunky baby legs hanging out of a sling/wrap

(please excuse the bad picture, it was a really difficult one with horrible lighting, a wiggly baby and not so attractive mommy)

5.  Cuddly moments like this

6. Her free spirit (ok, so most days it is a favorite thing)

7. Watching my oldest child growing up into such a neat person

  Yesterday on our way to run some errands we stopped at a red light.  There was a homeless man standing on the corner.  Hoping to help feed this man I searched our van for any extra food.  Usually we have fruit, crackers and occasionally a loaf of bread or muffins on hand for our many hungry kiddos.  Today I did not.  
  Vincent, our ever so inquisitive child, asked what I was doing.  I explained that the man standing outside was homeless and did not have any food to eat.   I also told him I was trying to find some food to give to him.  In his innocense he suggested that the man should go to his house to eat.  I began to explain that the man probably did not have a home, which meant he probably slept outside on the grass. He thought about it for a while then told me that the man should sleep in his car.  I proceeded to explain that some people have no place to sleep at all and sometimes they don’t have any food to eat either.  The conversation didn’t go too much further than that but, he talked about this homeless man here and there through out the day.  
  Later that day I took him to AWANAS.  A man stood on the corner there as well and Vincent reminded me to look for food for that man.  I told him that I hadn’t brought any more food to the van, but next time we left the house we could bring some food. 
  Today before we ran errands, I prepared some lunch to put in the kids lunch bags for the van.  Vincent told me that he wanted to give his lunch to the homeless man that we passed yesterday.  I was so touched that he would give up his lunch!!  Knowing that my scrawny little boy (not because we don’t feed him!) could use any food he can get, I told him it was a kind thought, but we should pack a seperate lunch for the homeless man.  We did just that, however, we went a different way today and didn’t see any homeless people
  So, tonight as we prayed Vincent, as usual, wanted to pray on his own.  His prayer was this:
“Dear Heavenly Father I thank you for all that you do.  Please help me to be a better person and keep us safe and Daddy too.  Please help to build a house for that man who sleeps in the grass.  Put his house by the playground by the fence and keep him safe.  I thank you God for all that you do.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”
  I was fighting back tears as he said those kind words.  His compassion for others has blown me away!  It wasn’t like we sat down and had some sort of lesson about being kind to others, he just knew to do it.  He knew to be compassionate to others.  Wow. 

I am finally ready to share this with y’all.

Brian is deployed. 

I know this is not news, but for anyone new, it may be.  He left this weekend for a year long deployment to Afghanistan.  It is our third deployment since he left for Basic Training just 6 years and 6 days ago.  This does not make it any easier. 

Let me tell you about our goodbye just a few short days ago.  First of all, I should tell you that this goodbye ceremony was the first we have ever been to (remember, this is our third deployment).  It was well planned and well executed.  It started at 6pm.  We met in a barracks dayroom (basically a good sized room full of chairs).  There family and soldiers (some deploying with the unit, some not) hung out and occasionally soldiers went out to help load up the bus, get weapons or speak to soldiers about various issues.  Some families brought snacks, drinks and someone brought a cake.  It was a nice distraction to have the snacks, but I think it kinda wound the kids up a bit.  At after an hour or so of hanging out a General came by to speak a few words and thank the families for our support.  The soldiers then headed outside.  Just as we got out the kids and I prayed over Brian.  Vincent said the sweetest prayer and it melted our hearts.  The soldiers who deployed then got into formation.  At this point it is raining, but nobody seems to notice. 
The commandor quoted part of a speech from Saint Crispons Day.  She then asked for us to all come together and huddle around so we could pray over the deploying group.  Even though she said the prayer, Vincent said his own little prayers from the bottom of the huddle.  As the group went back to their formation I had one more chance to tell Brian that I loved him as the kids and I went back to the outskirts of the formation.  The soldiers then marched (litterally) onto the bus.  At that point the kids and I went to the van. 

So last time I mentioned that I had been doing Twofer Tuesday for a while…Mashel reminded me that I had mentioned seeing the idea from her a while back.  I need to clearify…I did a few (maybe 2 or 3) “twofer Tuesdays,” but not the typical post a picture of your twofers.  I originally posted 2 messages on Tuesday and called it a “twofer Tuesday.”  Much later I noticed Mashel following the Eight is Great blog and started posting my Twofer pictures on Tuesday and calling that post a “Twofer Tuesday.” Phew, sorry for the confussion.

Now, onto the adorable pictures you are all anxiously waiting for…you are, aren’t you?  I thought so

Hi folks!

We at McGovernville, are starting something new.  It is called “Shout Out Mondays.” 

Here is how it works:

Every Monday will be a shout out Monday.  I am going to post a “shout out” to someone new every Monday.  Then, you, the reader, can add a comment shouting out to this person.  Tell them hi, ask how they are doing etc.  Person being shouted out to can then reply and say hi everyone else, if they so please.  I even made a cute new gif to go along with it.  Play along and do your own shout outs on your blog if you wish! 

Today’s Shout Out Monday is….

Nana is my mom.  She lives in Texas and has recently taken a liking to the computer.  I think she realized that she could conceivably see more pictures of her McG grandkids than she ever needed to.  So, Nana, here is your shout out! 

Vincent James July 2006

I guess you can consider this my “wordless Wednesday”  I will write more tomorrow (or soon after)

Today an amazing woman named Barb from our church helped us out in a big way.  Barb came to me at church a week ago and told me that she would like to help me out by taking our oldest two kiddos every so often during Brian’s deployment.  WOW!  What a blessing!  She didn’t wait for me to call her, she emailed me!  She mentioned that she had off today and would like to take the kiddos out.  I let her know that Brian hadn’t left yet (he still has a few days left with us), however, we could use her help.  I told her that I needed a “clicker.”  I wanted family pictures.  I have this fabulous camera that I love (and use regularly), but I can’t really get any family shots with myself included.  I asked her if she could come take our family pictures.  I let her know that all she had to do was “click,” as I would set tripod and camera up.  She told us she would gladly do it! 
We met up at a local downtown building called Freighthouse Square.  I knew it had a lot of charm, contrast and great photo ops, and, of course, I had shots in mind already!  Barb was AMAZING!  She not only took pictures, she helped wrangle and calm down the kiddos.  Toward the end she was so great in getting them to coopperate!  I only had one request, that she just kept clicking away (instead of waiting for all of us to look at the camera).  She did just that.  In the hour or so that we were there the two of us took over 300 pictures!  I was so thankful for her help. 

So, with out further adieu, a sneak peek of today’s picture shot:

been a busy day.  not feeling very creative or bloggish.  though I do want to brag mention Jack.  he has been signing “night night” lately.  so proud of him.  Ruby, has been blowing kisses (then clapping for herself) to everyone she sees.  she even makes a very pronounced smacking sound, too cute.

Ok, back to playing along…4 little men does a random picture challenge, thought I would join in today.

The month picked was: January
The picture number picked was: 8

Here ya go:

First I will start with the prayer request.  Many of you might remember “Aunt Mandy.”  We have gone to church with them for 2 years and have become close friends.  She was even at the birth of Jack and Ruby and was gracious enough to video tape the whole thing. 
She and her family have been an amazing blessing to our own family and we always hope that we can be the same to them.  Right now we have found ourselves in prayer for them.  They have wanted a baby for a while now.  They have had some medical obsticals and as of this summer they have been given the go ahead to try to concieve.  Month after month of negative pregnancy tests were hard.  On January 1st, however, Mandy finally got a postive test!  We have all been celebrating ever since.  Her doctor, thankfully has kept a close watch on her to make sure that things are going smoothly. 
This past week, they weren’t.  The kinda good news, her blood work has shown certain numbers to be doubling rapidly and it might indicate a TWIN pregnancy (she found this out at 5 weeks 5 days, the SAME EXACT day we found out about our twins!).  The bad news, she has had a few more “issues” that might indicate a problem.  I have spoken to Mandy and she knows that I am sharing this with you, dear blog reader.  I told her I wouldnt’ reveil too much personal info, but I am asking for you guys to pray for her family, especially this much desired baby.  I know that God has a plan and we all live in it, but please pray especially for comfort and his presence during this roller coaster ride.

Now, onto Flashback Friday..

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I am a bad Mommy.  I forgot to even post about Vincent’s first ever Christmas production at church (or ever for that matter).  Held on Christmas Eve, The production itself was (obviously) the story from Luke about the birth of Christ.  It was a short, yet meaningful production. Vincent’s class were dressed as sheep (with a few cows thrown in for good measure) and they sang “Away In a Manger.”  It was so cute.  He did so well and was so proud.  It didn’t even phase him to stand on stage and sing, he loved it.  As always, here are a few pictures from the event:

Waiting for Mary to arrive:

Vincent’s class singing.  Vincent is the last one on the right…you know, the cute one with croked sheep ears.