I've been composing blog posts in my mind for the last year and a half, since I actually posted a real post...(I know it's ridiculous how long it's been) but I'm back with some great epiphanies and want you to know big things are happening!!! Changes are coming to the Oates household, please bear with me as I attempt to blog again and would love for you to share this journey, called life, with me.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Wesley's doing...
Last night James was Mr. Mom, as I had a migraine. The kids asked for hot cocoa, so he decided to make them real hot cocoa on the stove. They all stood around and helped pour the ingredients in the pan. Grace used a stool to climb onto the counter to get the cocoa from the cupboard and apparently Wesley watched her.
Wesley came to me today with cocoa on his pants and hands and said "I didn't do anything" Really? I went into the kitchen and found the lid for the cocoa on the floor and some cocoa spilt on the tile, not too bad though, i vacuumed it up with the dustbuster. The stool was pushed up to the counter and the cupboard open, so that explained how he got it. I asked him where the container was and he answered with a shrug of his shoulders. I looked around the kitchen, but didn't find it, until lunchtime...
This is a picture of the kid drawer. It is filled with kid plates and plastic cups, but also lots of cocoa. Thank you Wesley, that drawer needed to be vacuumed out and washed and all the dishes had been put away dirty, so I was needing to wash them all again anyway ;)
That little man is trouble!!! Happy Monday!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Swimming in Oct
Our school work was done,
swimming sounded like fun!
The weather was great,
the Verkaik's said come over any date! :)
I love the freedom homeschooling gives us. Only in California in October can you swim. We had finished our schoolwork and then packed lunch and got to swim for a few hours. The water was freezing, but the kids didn't mind one bit and always love to swim.
Thank you Tom and Dawn for opening your home to us.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Produce Pile
This week on Tuesday James started a juice only 30 day cleanse. I know this sounds crazy, but drastic times call for drastic measures. He would like to loose 50 to 60 lbs and felt he needed to jump start his weight loss. I found this "juice diet" from a friend who has been juicing and very sucessful at loosing weight, I sent James the link and he said he try it. The story behind the diet is actaully a documentary that is very encouraging and inspirational and there is a blog and entire community behind juicing. Joe Cross, the guy behind the diet was 100lbs over weight and had lots of medical problems and finally wanted to make some life changes. It is now 4years later and he's kept off the weight and transformed his life into a healthy lifestyle where he is advocating not only juicing, but taking back control of your life. If you want to see it, you can watch it on Netflix or visit here...http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/
So anyway, here is all the produce I bought for the first go around. I got all of this produce for right at $50. This is produce for James to juice, as well as produce for our family to eat also. I thought it was a pretty good deal!!! I'm sure juicing for 30 days will be difficult for James, but I know he can do it and will end up feeling SOOOOOO much better. If you think of it, please pray for him as he struggles through the task of weight loss and juicing for the next 26 days! Drink up! :)
So anyway, here is all the produce I bought for the first go around. I got all of this produce for right at $50. This is produce for James to juice, as well as produce for our family to eat also. I thought it was a pretty good deal!!! I'm sure juicing for 30 days will be difficult for James, but I know he can do it and will end up feeling SOOOOOO much better. If you think of it, please pray for him as he struggles through the task of weight loss and juicing for the next 26 days! Drink up! :)
Friday, September 2, 2011
Say Ya Ya Ya Yes to Vvvvv VBS!
Vacational Bible School consumed 3 weeks of our summer and I think the kids will say they were some of the best! We have been so blessed by each VBS and all the workers who dedicated many hours to make them possible. The fact that the kids get to have a blast, sing praises, make crafts and have snacks all while learning about what an awesome God we serve is priceless and better than a weeks vacation anywhere! The three oldest kids have participated in VBS programs over the summer for years, but this was Grady's first experience; he loved it!
The first VBS we were part of was in June in Rehobeth, at the Rehobeth CRC. Panda Mania! I got to lead a group and have Hope, as well as Alice Kok & Jadyn Kimm, plus 4 other little sweeties. This VBS was awesome! I served along side many others from the River as a leader, which was really cool. There were about 150 kids and each and every one of them were able to see God at work. The groups rotated thru, story time, games, crafts, snack time and a video session, each of which were well planned and exciting for the kids. Grace and Hope both really got into the worship time and often got on stage to sing and do the motions. The kids really enjoyed getting to know new kids, as well as participate in a VBS with kids from church. Wesley didn't get to participate in VBS, but got to play with other little ones and still had lots of fun.
The 2nd VBS the 4 oldest were part of was at the Packing House in Redlands, July 11-15. This VBS was huge! This one was Promise Island and the kids got to dress island style with hawaaiin skirts/shirts, leis and the girls wore a flower in their hair. The kids came home each day singing the songs and talking about the promise they had learned that day. Kids from our church and our homeschool group were all part of this VBS, so the kids enjoyed having friends with them. I was really looking forward to a week of just Wesley in the mornings, but it didn't quite turn out as planned. Wesley was an absolute wreck and was a naughty teary mess. I asked him what his problem was and he said "there's no kids. I miss Grady. We need to pick up our kids" Poor guy, he didn't know what to do with himself and I guess running errands or finishing projects with mom isn' that fun and he was miserable.
The last VBS was at Fellowship of the Pass in Beaumont and was the last week of July. We've gone to this VBS for 4 years now and every year the kids are excited to go to see friends from years past, there were also friends from our homeschool group and some friends from church too. The theme was the Big Apple and the kids learned about the big city and how God will meet us anywhere, even in a busy, big city. Wesley was better this time around and I have stuff planned so he wouldn't be bored doing "mom stuff."
We have enough VBS songs in our heads to last at least til next summer :) We are blessed!
The first VBS we were part of was in June in Rehobeth, at the Rehobeth CRC. Panda Mania! I got to lead a group and have Hope, as well as Alice Kok & Jadyn Kimm, plus 4 other little sweeties. This VBS was awesome! I served along side many others from the River as a leader, which was really cool. There were about 150 kids and each and every one of them were able to see God at work. The groups rotated thru, story time, games, crafts, snack time and a video session, each of which were well planned and exciting for the kids. Grace and Hope both really got into the worship time and often got on stage to sing and do the motions. The kids really enjoyed getting to know new kids, as well as participate in a VBS with kids from church. Wesley didn't get to participate in VBS, but got to play with other little ones and still had lots of fun.
The 2nd VBS the 4 oldest were part of was at the Packing House in Redlands, July 11-15. This VBS was huge! This one was Promise Island and the kids got to dress island style with hawaaiin skirts/shirts, leis and the girls wore a flower in their hair. The kids came home each day singing the songs and talking about the promise they had learned that day. Kids from our church and our homeschool group were all part of this VBS, so the kids enjoyed having friends with them. I was really looking forward to a week of just Wesley in the mornings, but it didn't quite turn out as planned. Wesley was an absolute wreck and was a naughty teary mess. I asked him what his problem was and he said "there's no kids. I miss Grady. We need to pick up our kids" Poor guy, he didn't know what to do with himself and I guess running errands or finishing projects with mom isn' that fun and he was miserable.
The last VBS was at Fellowship of the Pass in Beaumont and was the last week of July. We've gone to this VBS for 4 years now and every year the kids are excited to go to see friends from years past, there were also friends from our homeschool group and some friends from church too. The theme was the Big Apple and the kids learned about the big city and how God will meet us anywhere, even in a busy, big city. Wesley was better this time around and I have stuff planned so he wouldn't be bored doing "mom stuff."
We have enough VBS songs in our heads to last at least til next summer :) We are blessed!
Summer Bible Study
Summer brings with it so many good things that I look forward to, Bible study at our church is one of them. During the school year we attend a study at Trinity that offers a class for home schoolers which is great for Zach, Grace & Hoper. The Trinity study wraps up in May and then the study at the River started first part of June. There is just something comforting about being in a study with ladies you know and love. I need to be in the Word and feel so much better when I am being challenged on a daily basis to seek Him more.
This summer we studied
This study was great. I love Beth Moore and her quirkiness, as well as how she challenges women to seek God's Word and see things we might not have seen before. She presents valid truths in ways that women relate to. I must admit though, it was a challenge for me do stay on top of my study, as there is about an hours worth of reading and questions, 5 days/week and summer is full of vacations and fun. I need the challenge and find it ever so refreshing to start the summer mornings off with a cup of coffee, my Bible and study sitting outside as the sun starts to rise.
Linsey Jacobs, thank you for your insight and Godly wisdom and leading us all through this study, I adore you.
Things I love about you...
I've been overcome with gratitude lately at how amazingly good my life is, how blessed I am to have 5 kids, a wonderful husband, great family and reliable friends.
Last weekend, James and I got to get away for 2 nights, just the 2 of us. We slept in, talked for hours, read our books, laid by the pool, ate yummy food, sat in the hot tub and had few drinks. We went to a great wedding and enjoyed the drive both there and home with just some music and conversation.
While lying by the pool and glanced over at my husband of 14 years and my heart was filled with gratitude and my mind filled with thoughts, like a movie reel of our life together. I closed my eyes, not wanting any of those thoughts and pictures to vanish. I jotted them down in the back of my book and wanted to share those of my 6 greatest loves. It's the little things...
Jamesy...You make me laugh, When life is difficult, when life is great, you always make me laugh. Laughter soothes my soul and reminds of what's good in life, please don't ever stop!
Zachary...My sweet boy, I love that your first response in basically every situation is to pray. You remind me that NOTHING is too big or too little to pray about and that God always listens and answers our prayers according to His will. There is little sweeter than to hear you pray.
Gracie...I love when you brush my hair. I so enjoy our quiet conversations, that you're honest & still a little silly. I hope you'll love to brush my hair & chat with me at night years from now.
Hoper...I love when you first wake up, hair all a mess, quackers in hand, thumb in mouth and sleepily say "Mornin Momma, Love you."
Grady...I love that you sing everything. You follow after my heart, because all of life is better with a song. Please don't ever stop singing, even if it's just in the shower.
Wesley...I love your gentle spirit. When you gently rub my face and filled with emotion say "I like you Momma" I want to grab your chubby little hand and hold it there forever!
Last weekend, James and I got to get away for 2 nights, just the 2 of us. We slept in, talked for hours, read our books, laid by the pool, ate yummy food, sat in the hot tub and had few drinks. We went to a great wedding and enjoyed the drive both there and home with just some music and conversation.
While lying by the pool and glanced over at my husband of 14 years and my heart was filled with gratitude and my mind filled with thoughts, like a movie reel of our life together. I closed my eyes, not wanting any of those thoughts and pictures to vanish. I jotted them down in the back of my book and wanted to share those of my 6 greatest loves. It's the little things...
Jamesy...You make me laugh, When life is difficult, when life is great, you always make me laugh. Laughter soothes my soul and reminds of what's good in life, please don't ever stop!
Zachary...My sweet boy, I love that your first response in basically every situation is to pray. You remind me that NOTHING is too big or too little to pray about and that God always listens and answers our prayers according to His will. There is little sweeter than to hear you pray.
Gracie...I love when you brush my hair. I so enjoy our quiet conversations, that you're honest & still a little silly. I hope you'll love to brush my hair & chat with me at night years from now.
Hoper...I love when you first wake up, hair all a mess, quackers in hand, thumb in mouth and sleepily say "Mornin Momma, Love you."
Grady...I love that you sing everything. You follow after my heart, because all of life is better with a song. Please don't ever stop singing, even if it's just in the shower.
Wesley...I love your gentle spirit. When you gently rub my face and filled with emotion say "I like you Momma" I want to grab your chubby little hand and hold it there forever!
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