Fom Paul

You'll love this. . .

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=%22I+think+my+wife%27+a+Calvinist%22&aq=f


Another one for my wife. . .All in an 80's motif song at that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-lv8745InI

February showers bring. . .

Mud! The boys enjoyed every minute of the sunshine they could get today. I was glad they could release some energy!

They spent the afternoon in the mud, building docks, and just being boys!

Would you be my Valentine?

Like many married women this Valentine's Day, I received the gorgeous bouquet of red roses, yummy foods and thoughtful words from my sweetie. The first few years of marriage I was a fool and tried to "re-train" my husband into buying practical household items. I'm slower than most, but I eventually realized the stupidity of this! How wonderful to have at least a few days each year designated to be lavished upon! Paul is good to me and still lavishes practical gifts, as well! (How grateful I am for a God who lavishes His love on me.) We both enjoy the following youtube. Get ready to laugh if you haven't watched it yet. However, Paul is in no doghouse for the practical Valentine's gift he gave this year along with the "frivolous" ones . . . a Nike thingy that goes on my shoe and something that plugs into the ipod and keeps track of my miles! Sweet! My brother and sister-in-love have been using these for awhile and it seems like a good motivator to run that extra mile when I'd rather quit. So here it goes for the Nike Challenge!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twivg7GkYts

Naomi Turns "Pee"

Naomi turned 3, or in her speech "pee." I'd say she is a true Filipina who swaps her "f's" and "p's" but she manages to swap more that just a few sounds! What a difference one year makes in the life of a little one. This year she just loved everything about her birthday - except that it is over for another year. . .

While she didn't really wait for us to bring her breakfast in bed, she was easily persuaded to return to bed for her special breakfast.Every day is a party when your six best friends live with you! It's fun to watch the others enjoy celebrating with the Birthday kid. Of course, they get to enjoy the special birthday goodies downstairs at the table . . .

Jael is coming into her own, realizing that she has to make her moves if she's not to be left out. Here she takes matters into her own hands and hoists herself onto the breakfast tray to try and get that donut she saw!We were so blessed to enjoy a magical, wet day at Disney! In case you haven't registered you can at www.disney.com and enjoy a day free on your birthday. A little drizzle didn't slow the Micu Tribe too much, but kept LOTS of people away! We enjoyed walking on to most rides. . .

Staying dry and loving the sights!
While Naomi was hopeful to see Little Mermaid, we did manage a shot with Belle. The other mixed kid is Miss Katie who is interning with Disney this semester. She not only did us up with the tickets but spent the day with us! Thank you Miss Katie! We need another set of hands. .. plus, she took bigger kids on the roller coasters!
Josh and Jon hang tight. . .
Naomi caught a glimpse of Litttle Mermaid on the newly rennovated Small World ride.
The boys tried to make themselves scarce around the princesses. . .but were glad to take a shot with Mr. Buzz Lightyear.
Back at the Treichelts, Auntie Sharon and Angelique had a cake and presents waiting! (Dinner, too!)


Enjoying time together and time with family. . .



Nay-Nay finally crashes at the end of a very fun and exciting 3rd birthday. Uncle Larry doesn't seem to mind the little Snuggler!

It's also a tradition for the birthday kid to enjoy a "date with dad." Nay-Nay is dressed and ready to go out with her Daddy for her special evening. This is about a week later. . .still wearing the Birthday Disney button!

Yes, these children do have a mother! But rarely "picture ready."Her now second favorite place on earth! Chuck E. Cheese time.
How cute are they?!

Blessed. . .

I've been wanting to sit down and write this for awhile. . .

As though being married to a Filipino and having seven children wasn't enough to teach me flexibility and surrendering "control" . . .Paul being called as the Young Adult and Young Families Pastor has kept our home at a constant hum of activity! All I can say is. . .we are so BLESSED! Over the years we've had those young adults (the Miss Robins, Miss Amys, Mr. Joes, Mr. Nates. . .can't begin to list them all) who have impacted our lives and those who continue to impact us today. It is such a joy to see many off in other parts of the country, in foreign lands, others married and starting families of their own, and even some ministering with us today! I hesitate to put shots because I am lacking so many of you . . . Miss Charlotte spending a year doing art lessons with us. . .so many of the guys here swimming and playing. . .all you who have eaten around our table. . .Miss Tamara cleaning. . .

Also, a HUGE thank you for the Nano thing. I was very surprised. It meant the world to me when you honored Paul last January, but this Nano thing is really cool, too! Do you like my goofy self taking my own photo?! 2008- the year of the Blog; 2009- mastering my new Nano, 2010 - Facebook?? no promises. . .:)

Again, thank you Young Adults! We love you!

Playing Favorites. . .

Paul has been preaching through James and we've spent the last few weeks on James Chapter 2. While this section is dealing primarily with the partiality and favoritism shown to those of different social standings, Paul challenged us (me) greatly on the idea of favoritism shown in social capital, as well. Ouch. He briefly eluded to favoritism displayed in families and the challenges that creates. . .here's something on that:

Playing Favorites

10/15/2008

There is a question that I am often posed, but which still takes me a little by surprise, “do you have a favorite?” For years I have answered with my self-perceived humorous wit, “absolutely – the baby!” The joke being, of course, that in our home there is always a baby and a new one on the way within a year of the last one! So, for the past 11 years there has always been a favorite and everyone has been the favorite! As I type this out I now realize that what made perfect sense in my mind is probably why people left with a puzzled look. (But, no joke, the “baby” frequently is the parental favorite.) I am always thankful for this question, however, because it causes me to examine myself, my actions and how my children perceive my love and attention. I find myself asking them “do you think Mommy or Daddy has a ‘favorite’?” While some of you may find this reaction odd, it is very real to me. You see, the sin of favoritism has been a generational sin in my extended family – at least three generations strong and I have vowed (with utter dependency upon the Holy Spirit) to break sins’ hold in my own family. Thus, this question regarding “favorites” is welcomed. I am grateful that God’s power through Christ has allowed our family to be free, thus far, of this heinous, but “respectable” sin. While subtle, this sin wrecks havoc in homes and families (Just check out Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Joseph, etc. in Genesis!). I have lived as one “not favored” and I have been married to one who has received “unwanted favor” and it is ugly all the way around. Sin is never pretty. The consequences are always painful. Hurt is real. But, His grace is greater. And it is by that grace, through that grace, and in that grace that He grants me the ability to love each of my seven precious children individually and look each one in their eyes and express my love and know that they know that they are loved and enjoyed. Each one uniquely created and sculpted by the hands of God Most High. While this sin may not have a foothold my life, I do ask my children as their perceptions are real and valuable. I suppose I hope they will all respond as Hannah did the other day when I asked, “Hannah, who do you think is Mommy’s favorite?” Without hesitation, she answered “me.” Yes, my loves, you are all my favorites!! (We have a sweet children’s book on our shelf entitled: You are all my Favorites by Sam McBratney, I recommend cuddling up and reading it together. . .) My children are indeed ALL precious gifts to be enjoyed from a most gracious Father.

Tribute to my Man

Still the same hunk of a man I married 193 months ago today! Paul, the romantic, keeps track of our months married. . .I like to think it's for romantic purposes, at least! Isn't he cute?