Sauvie Island Pumpkin Patch

We had a family day at the pumpkin patch. We had fun being together. Family days are rare so we were extra grateful.

Uncle Cameron's Birthday!

Cam, you're so big now, I remember when you were "my baby" and barfed down my pants! Sooo sick still. Thanks for being my brother and setting a great example for your big sis. And most of all, thanks for forcing me to read Harry Potter! I ate a cupcake in your honor, Ez snuck one in your honor...read below for full story. We miss you and are excited to see you at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I know what will make me happy

I was in Ez's "clubhouse" playing with him and he walked out. After about 3 minutes I realized it was too quiet so I went to see why and he was under the dining room table with a cupcake half eaten. This is day 2 of sneaking a cupcake and he got in semi trouble the first day and BIG trouble this time. So this is how trouble time went. Bear in mind that we don't have much time outs, he's a really good kid but apparently when there is a big box of cupcakes in the house the temptation is heavy.

After bawling for about 5 minutes when his cupcake was taken away and he was scolded with his full name, he told me that a show would make him very happy. I explained that he was in trouble time and trouble time was time to think of what would make MOM happy not Ezra...bawling for 5 more minutes. Then, I would like to color in my 1-2-3 book because I'm sad and that would make me happy. So, again, let's talk about not what will make you happy but what will make mom happy like cleaning up all of your toys. Resume breakdown. I decided that I needed a quiet room which led into walking around the house with him crying after me. I explained to him that I needed quiet and if he wanted to be in the same room as me he would need to be quiet. Ok, we're making progress. "Mom I would like to clean up my toys and then maybe you could let me watch a show?" What a great idea, wish I woulda come up with it! So as he's very happily cleaning his toys because he does not like to be sad he comes to me and says that he is very sorry that he swiped a cupcake and made me mad, he explained to me that he made a very bad choice! He will make good choices now and not swipe cupcakes. My work is complete here, alleluiah!

This leads into a must tell story of kids and bad choices. He came home from school and told me that lots of kids were bad in class today. I told him that all people are good but they make bad choices. Everyone makes bad choices sometimes but it helps us figure out how to make good choices. Here is what he told me later. Mom, kids are bad choices. Ummm.........

Seatbelts and Airbags

Please wear your seatbelts and turn your airbags on. They saved 3 of my family members last night. I'm feeling eternally grateful that my mom, stepdad and brother Chris were spared last night. Please pray for a recovery of their minor injuries and a softening of their hearts.
The girl that caused the accident is addicted to meth and needs your prayers as well. Pray that this accident will be a realization of the need for her recovery.

An appropriate great email I received today from a great friend:

Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone.Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often?When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially.Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror.The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand.Bob? Bob from Church?Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket.A cop catching a guy from his own church. A guy who happened to be a little eagerto get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd never seen in uniform.'Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this.''Hello, Jack.' No smile.'Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids.''Yeah, I guess.' Bob seemed uncertain.Good.'I've seen some long days at the office lately.I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit -just this once. Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement.'Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?''I know what you mean, I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct .'Ouch. This was not going in the right direction.Time to change tactics'What'd you clock me at?''Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?''Now wait a minute here, Bob..I checked as soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65.'The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.'Please, Jack, in the car'Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard.He was in no rush to open the window.The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad.Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again.A tap on the door jerked his head to the left.There was Bob, a folded paper in handJack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.'Thanks.'Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror.Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost?Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke?Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read.
'Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter.She was six when killed by a car.You guessed it - a speeding driver.A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free.Free to hug his daughters, all three of them.I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heavenbefore I can ever hug her again.A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man.A thousand times I thought I had.Maybe I did, but I need to do it again.Even now.Pray for me.And be careful, Jack, my son is all I have left.''Bob'

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDSEY (ONTILOU)

We had a party at home tonite for Aunt Lindsey, we sure do miss her. Happy 27th birthday! I can't remember Lindsey being born. I was 5, the only recollection that I have is that I wanted to name her Susie and cried when my parents said no way. What a mistake, oh well, parents never listen. So there was no Susie but, but the world was blessed with Lindsey Christen Taylor. I still don't know how to spell her middle name after all of these years, now she knows that secret! Lindsey, even though I got 5 years on you I still look up to you. I love you and I'm so proud of all of your decisions because they're based on your divine plan. I admire your strength to hold strong to the iron rod and strive to do that as well as you. Thank you for being a great example for your nephew, that is a great blessing to a parent to have such strong examples in their family. Someday you'll get your birthday card we made you. I wish you much success in your 27th trip around the sun.

Look Mom, I drew an apple

Ezra's first day of school