Jack's Birthday Ideas

Jack's 3rd birthday is fast approaching! I can't believe he is already 3 yrs old--how time flies!

Many of you have asked about gift ideas. I created a wish list on the Toys R Us web site. You can access that by clicking on 'wish list' at the very top of the screen. Once inside, go to existing customer and enter our account as 'angela.strode@yahoo.com' and the password as 'jackson'.

He is really into books and games these days, as well as playing outside as often as he can. He wears a 3T shirt and 2T bottoms. His shoe size is an 8. Just give us a call or send an email if you have other questions.

Hope to see all who can make his party on the 10th!

Hi Ho...Hi Ho...It's Off To Work We Go!!

The other morning Ryan was getting ready for work while Jack and I lay in bed watching Mickey Mouse (tough life, I know!) Anyway, Jack looked up at Ryan and said, "Where you going Daddy?" Ryan said, "I'm going to work and you will go to school." Jack sat there for a minute and thought about it. The he piped up and said "No, I go to work and YOU go to school!" Ryan thought that was a pretty good trade! ha,ha

Speaking of Ryan's job, some prayers are needed for a new venture he is traveling on. As most of you know, for the past year or so, Ryan has been working an incredible amount of hours (sometimes up to 80-90 hours a week!) between his office job and his side work. Well, come this Thursday, Ryan will be in business for himself! He has left the firm he has been at for the past couple of years and is starting to concentrate on his "side work" full time now. This will be his "full time job"! Strode Design is the name of his business. We have been praying for this for quit some time now, for relief for the amount of hours he is working and the ability for him to concentrate on what he loves. It's exciting to see God working in his life! This is a very exciting, yet some what scary, time for us. I have all the confidence in the world that he will succeed! Please pray for him as he takes this leap of faith. Pray for his success and his happiness.

GOOD LUCK, BABE! WE ARE ALL BEHIND YOU!!

A Lesson From Jack

We have been talking a lot lately about how it's not nice to tell Mommy and Daddy 'No'. So, the other day Jack and I were going around and around about not running his cars over Annabelle. "Annabelle doesn't like it when you run your cars over her back" I would tell him. "Yes, she does!", he would reply. After a couple of rounds of this, I told him I would take his car away the next time he didn't listen. Sure enough, not even one second later, he looked at me and proceeded to put his car on her back. I then went to him and took his car away and said "Momma said no.". He proceeded to stare me down and say "Hey, that's nice!"

I guess he thinks it's not nice for Mommy and Daddy to so 'No' to him, either! Ha Ha!!

HE DID IT!!

Well, I'm SO happy to report that it looks like we have accomplished the big potty!! YIPPEE!! For about a month now, Jack has been in 'Big Boy Pants' and has been doing great. This journey has been one of many ups and downs. God has a very unusual sense of humor in this subject--just when you think you are making progress, using the potty, going 1/2 a day in regular underwear, being excited about using the big potty, etc, He throws you for a huge loop. All of a sudden, diapers seem like the ONLY way to go in your little guy's mind. What?? But we were doing so good! Come on, don't you want to be a big boy? Nope, just wear diapers Momma! After about 9 months of this up and down progress, something finally clicked! One day, I just suggested that he try wearing his big boy pants again and he was ALL about it! The rest is history, as they say! He is now in his big boy pants all the time (except for sleeping at night-that still has Momma a bit nervous.)and using the big potty.

GREAT JOB, BUDDY! MOMMA AND DADDY ARE SO PROUD OF YOU! (And all before you turned 3! Yippee!)

I found this older picture taken during our first days of starting to potty train--I think it's hilarious! Such a 'guy'thing! lol

The Smith Family

Many of you received an email from me at the beginning of the week asking for strong prayers for this family and their little Gavin. For those that don't know, I received an email from a friend of mine on Monday telling of the tragedy this family in experiencing. (She is a friend of a friend of the family.) All of the specific information is on their blog site, but the very short story is their 3 yr old son, Gavin, was diagnosed with a malignant tumor that took up 1/3 the size of his brain and has spread to his spine. Where I don't know this family personally, it really hit home being that's the same age as Jack.

Many of you have asked for updates on Gavin's progress and I'm so pleased to say that God is working miracles in this little one's life! I have added a link to their family's site in the 'Family & Friends' portion of our site so you can see the day to day progress. I encourage you all to read their story and begin praying for their family. There is so much power in prayer, and if we all pull together to lift this family and their precious son up, I'm convinced God will work more miracles!

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16

I Pledge Allegiance...

Tonight, as we were getting into the car to go to dinner, Jack surprised us all. I heard him mumbling something to himself and when I asked what he was saying I was shocked! He was reciting the Pledge of Allegiance! He apparently had learned it at school. Here is Jack's rendition: (you must imagine it in the sweetest, most innocent child-like voice)

"I pledge allegiance for the flag, for independence, for Joseph, for all."----hmm, for Joseph?? Only a child would hear it like that!

Jack and Harper

Harper and Jack are the best of friends! Thomas buddies! The two of them could sit for hours on end playing trains and talking about Thomas, James, Percy, etc. Jack will tell you that Harper is blue and Jack is green...meaning, Harper is Thomas and Jack is Percy.

Harper came over and played the other day after school. Listening to their conversations is priceless! On our way home, Jack kept saying "See, Harper, that's a big truck." and Harper would then say "I know Jack! That IS a big truck." My favorite interaction I have witnessed between them happened on this day. They were both playing at the Thomas table and Harper noticed Jack's potty sticker on his shirt. (We had been giving Jack stickers for going to the potty.) The conversation went like this:

Harper: "Jack, what's that?" pointing at the sticker

Jack: "Oh, that's my Mater potty sticker."

Harper: "Jack, you went pee-pee in the potty?"

Jack: "Yes I did!"

Harper: "Oh, Jack, I'm SO proud of you!"

It was priceless! I was rolling!!