Sunday, April 01, 2007

Sunday - Chapel and Other Events

Today was our first Sunday back at a chapel service as a family. What a treat!!! Zander sat through the whole service with Mike. I know, I know. Some of you have 2 year olds that do this...but this is an accomplishment for Zander. I received the notice to renew our membership in the FG association. I'm not sure I will. However, the latest newsletter arrived and I was reading the stories and latest news etc. It caused me to think back to how far we've come in just over a year. I get discouraged...but really things ARE looking up. Last year Zander was chewing his shirt and fingers, he hadn't BEGUN to potty train, he banged his head on walls and such, had
multiple daily meltdowns (really worse than what many would term "temper tantrums"), didn't want to interact with us, wouldn't interact with others unless it was TOTALLY on his terms and timing, would "zone out" for hours or days....in short he COULDN'T respond to the training we were so desperately trying to provide. This past year he's potty trained (within the first week of Stage 1 FG), he rarely chews, doesn't bang his head...yes we still have a strong willed boy but NOW he responds. He "gets it" when we talk to him. He doesn't have those "meltdowns" when he's corrected.....all in all....lots of improvement. I need to remember this because this lifestyle is tiring and hard. Things that I'm told "will always work", simply don't work with him. However, at this point those who meet him would simply think he's head strong. I don't think they would believe all his alphabet labels. I at times can't believe the ODD, ADHD, ASD stuff....until we have a bad week. ::snort:: He has blessed our family. He forces Mike and I to rely on GOD for parenting him and not our years of "expertise". ::snort:: He proves that parenting never becomes "old hat" - after 9 children, he's still a NEW individual. ::grin:: He has been the motivation for us finally going crunchy and making changes we needed to make. I hadn't realized how tired I had become parenting him "single" but it's been wonderful to have Mike home. Zander is happy again. He's not had one of those huge meltdowns since Mike has returned....and really not many "naughty strong willed" type behavior either. He's playing well with Nolan and Arielle. He's responding well. I think he'll be ready shortly to begin some "school type" things. I am excited to be able to look back a year from now to see what new mountains we've climbed with our alphabet child. Mike and I talked last night. We KNOW that GOD has created Zander with a strength of will and character. We want to do nothing to break that. Someday he will meet that challenge for the kingdom and/or himself...that challenge that caused God to make him STRONG willed and we want him to have that strength of will and character.....we aren't out to change his personality....only lead him to fear God and to a wholehearted, passionate, personal, pursuit of God. Hmmm....I've been thinking a lot the past week. LOL
Other than church, we went to Double Dave's today for lunch - Jamin's request. This is a pizza spot in town that we'd not tried. They had UNIQUE pizzas. I discovered last time we lived in TX that I would not find BBQ Chicken or garlic artichoke pizzas down here...but they had some of that type pizza here.
We then came home for "home project day".
Josiah had a work event that lasted until late. Jamin helped all over the place with all these jobs...he must have always been busy when I had the camera out. I also finally, took down all the snowmen. I need to switch out plates tomorrow but couldn't reach the boxes of plates when I was ready for that chore today....and by the time the boxes were approachable...I was too tired to tackle a new chore. LOL
Jared works on defrosting the monster....some day I will own a frost free freezer....tonight I have a list of what is IN this freezer....and the ice is gone...it gets bad quickly.
Mike worked on the dryer vents....I now have a dryer that works amazingly well. I also have a new understanding of what it means to "clean the vents".
Through the day, we kept the laundry going....trying to make up for the camping week. I do at least 3 loads 6 days a week.....now if all would consent to run around nekkid until I got caught up...I'd stand a chance.
Arielle and Nolan tackle the sock basket...after I told Mike that they didn't need new socks...just needed to match up the socks in the basket. ::snort::
Mike decides it's time for some play - snow ball fight
Jared Goes on the offensive

I'll work on photos and such from camping for tomorrow. I wanted to PLAY today, but it is very good to have some major projects taken care of. Mike begins work again mid-week. We've been on "holiday schedule". I believe this was a bad choice as I need to get the littles back on a sane bed time schedule by Tuesday night.
We started reading Jamin's book as a family read aloud tonight.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

The part about Zander hit home for me. Me and hubby have been talking about the same thing with our Jake. He is sooo strong willed and it worries us so much all the time. I told hubby that God gave him that personality for a reason and that he'll be fine. It's OUR patience and training that needs work:) Anyways, just an "I understand!".

Jen in Az.

Kristine said...

My dh recently discovered that our dryer vented into the side of our house--NOT outside.

It's like having a new dryer, everything dries much more quickly now, lol!

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

LOL Kristine....Mike was up in the attic vacumming out lent, behind the dryer....it's amazing. I can dry things in 30 - 40 minutes instead of two hours. LOL

Debbie said...

De'Etta, it is such a blessing to see how far you have come with Zander.

I love "prject" days. We seem to get so much done. We are due for one of those soon.

It makes me teary to see Mike enjoying the family and having you all back together.

Lisa in Jax said...

I just wanted to say that it's sooo nice to see most of you back together!!! Your vacation looked like a lot of fun.

And I've seen the same difference in Evie over this past year! We joined FG at the same time as you and we still have our ups and downs but she is much better than a year ago!

Our dryer vents out of the roof and needs one of those leaf blowers to get it clean.lol

Anonymous said...

Sis: PTL and so neat seeing how much fun you all had. Agree with you about Alexander. He is a doll and you two are great parents.

l/p