The man of my dreams

So, today is our 10 year anniversary! Ten years, it has flown by, if we didn't have four children I would swear it was only like two! I was thinking back last night at how God brought me to the beautiful place.

I started praying for Jason, not knowing it was him, when I was in Jr. High. Yep, Junior High. I believe I was in 7th or 8th grade, and one of my leaders at church encouraged us girls to start now praying for our future husbands. Whatever is what I thought then, why then. But, I started it. I had a small slip of paper that I listed all the traits I would look for in a husband. As I grew up I would add different characteristics that I felt were important. I had it in the front of my file box that held prayer requests for different people. I had categories and would pray for a different list of prayer requests in each category each day, but always prayed for the husband I didn't know everyday. That piece of paper was very worn out and I would have to copy it from time to time, but the list kept growing. Little did I know that God was slowly answering all the things I had been praying for. Jason fits every single quality I prayed for in a husband. I can't list them all but he is definately honest, trustworthy, loyal, patient, caring, loving, thoughtful, funny, loves me for who I am, loves me for who God is making me to be, faithful, genuine, great father, sensitive, compassionate, selfless, servant, giving, manly, sweet, great listener, loves God with all his heart, spurs me on toward the Lord, and I could keep going.

I walked down the aisle to GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS, one of my favorite hymns, and God has truly been faithful to us in so many ways! He has blessed us with four beautiful, fun, loving children. He has blessed us with a wonderful house and a great community to live in. He has blessed us with the ministry we love at our church. He has blessed us with so many individuals that have come into our lives. He has blessed us with the same passion for Him and the same passion to see others come to know Him. He has blessed us with a love that I can only pray our children find someday. He has blessed us with helping us through all the good and hard times that have come. He blessed us in finding each other and helping us to see that we were made for each other so perfectly only on our perfect heavenly Father could have planned.

I praise God for Jason and thankful for the ten years that we have had together and I am so excited for each and every year He continues to bless us with. May in ALL THINGS we continue to glorify Him.

Our First Christmas Play& Family Christmas Photo

Christmas time

Our Annual Christmas Party was a lot of fun! We even had Santa come! Thanks Santa! Here is Brian, one of our kids from the youth group, came two hours early to help us get ready!

Our friends Mario and Suzi came with their family. They are missionaries to Croatia, and we have blessed to have them here for a while. They work with Family Life and Campus Crusade. If you want more information on how you can help them out, please let me know!

The kids have fun every year buying gifts for all the family members. The Dollar Tree loves us! Here are some pictures of them wrapping their gifts.

Caroling at The Cloud Gate (a.k.a. "The Bean")

The Carolers at the Cloud Gate

Us singing along with the carolers.

Mr. Al singing with Emily.

John "singing".

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all the earth!

We had a lot of fun, and will definately do it again next year!

What a great reminder

I read this today from this book and I loved it. As I pray for my kids each morning, this poem is a great reminder of the wonderful importance it is for us to do so.

Some have had kings in their lineage,

Some to whom honor was paid.

Not blest of my ancestors--but,

I have a mother who prays.

I have a mother who prays for me

And pleads with the Lord every day for me.

Oh what a difference it makes for me--

I have a mother who prays.

Some have worldly success

And trust in riches they've made--

This is my surest asset,

I have a mother who prays.

My mother's prayers cannot save me,

Only mine can avail;

But mother introduced me to Someone--

Someone who never could fail.

Oh yes...I have a mother who prays for me

And pleads with the Lord every day for me.

O what a difference it makes for me--

I have a mother who prays.

--Author Unknown

Reality Check

My daughter Emily told someone today,

"I use to think, when I was five, that I was living in a dream.

Then Ms. Addie died and I knew I wasn't."

Let's Say Thanks to our Troops this Thanksgiving!

Click the link here to send a Thank You message to a solider fighting for our country!

Building Character

"The world of the [very] young...[is] a place where good and evil are clearly stamped. It's a place where the better part of human nature triumphs over tragedies, and where innocence rides high." --Rosemary Wells

Building Character, it seems so hard these days. I recently was skimming for more information in A Well Trained Mind (I book I have come to love, I don't use everything in it, but it has helped me a lot!) when I got to the chapter about building character. There were a few books that caught my eye. I researched them and found this one. So I have taken it along with me to the library. It lists different books that, through the stories themselves, build character. The author discusses how some of the books are a great starting point for discussions, where as others are ones that the stories speak for themselves.

"The growth of the imagination demands windows--windows through which we can look out at the world and windows through which we can look into ourselves. The old stories were windows in just this way." --Katherine Paterson

The book is broken into different categories. I have started with the Picture Books. It is funny how there are some really great books out there you didn't even know exist. I strongly suggest if you don't have this book, get it. Here are a few that we have come across that have a really liked:

Brave Irene by William Steig

The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

Three weeks without Facebook, WHAT????

Ok, so a few weeks ago I decided to discipline myself. My kids always ask if adults get disciplined. They now know that sometimes they do have to do it to themselves! Usually, it involves giving myself a time out for a bad attitude or not having enough patience. A couple of weeks ago I was looking at two of my favorite rooms and they literally looked like a tornado came through and then chewed everything us and then spit it back out. Sad, I know. I was going to take before and after photos...my husband asked me to spare everyone. Although, looking back I think I should have just done it! Oh, well.

So, I said, I really need to get this done. Then an idea came to me. If I give myself a discipline I will probably worked extra hard on trying to get it done so that I could "reward" myself with the rooms being done AND getting to do something again that I have fun with. It didn't take long for me to figure out what I needed to cut out.

So, are my rooms done? No. Half way, possibly. Will my friends get to see me on facebook anytime soon? With the holidays...possibly not. Ugh! Darn normal life with laundry and dishes and teaching the kids, they get in the way! Why do I discipline myself...oh, yeah that is right because sometimes we need it.

I do have to admit because I did this to myself that it was a lot easier to tell the kids that there would be no TV, video games or computer games until the entire upstairs is clean. They are actually cleaning, now if they could do it ever so politely that would be even better, but I'm not complaining!

Anyway, I miss Facebook, sad but true. I heard a few of my friends had babies and some others had some exciting situations come up...and I have missed it. I miss talking with them and seeing the everyday things that happen in everyones life. It is fun to be able to see what is going on. So, friends, I will come back. I am trying. I am working hard (minus this short bit to actually write in the dark hole of my blog). But, my rooms will get done. And I will be so glad. And trust me there WILL be pictures.

Till then, at least I have this blog! Good thing I didn't take that away too! Phew!

Happy Creativity!

We love Halloween for the very fact that we get to celebrate creativity and use their imagination to be whatever they want to be!

We were so proud of John, he made his own costume (minus the helmet). He drew on some white long johns and then for Captain Rex's black "skirt" he tied a black t-shirt around his waist. He looked great!

Trick or treating at one of our favorite neighbor's house.

Yes, Jason and I were Bacon and Eggs! The perfect match!

Cinnamon went trick or treating himself and found some candy. (Don't worry you dog lovers out there we got it after this picture. No chocolate was consumed!)

Sadly, this is not all the candy we got...anyone want some?

Fun with friends!

If you have never thought of the pumpkin as a chance to remember what God has done, please keep reading.

1. First when you get the pumpkin you cut open the top. This is a great reminder that we need to open our minds to the things of the Lord, searching for Him.

2. Second, God takes all the crappy stuff out of our lives when we confess our sins and trust in Him alone to save us. (1 John 1:9)

3. Third, as you cut the eyes in the pumpkin we can be reminded to ask God to help us see more of Him. (Psalm 119:18)

4. Next, when you cut the mouth you can be reminded to share Jesus and all the things God has done for you with those you meet. (Psalm 118:17)

5. When you place the candle in your pumpkin it can be a reminder for our lives to shine for Him. (Matthew 5:16)

I know this is posted after Halloween, but I hope that you are able to look at pumpkins in a different light each fall. What another Great reminder of all God has done for us!

The treasures you find

I am in the process of cleaning out two rooms in our house. While doing so I came across a poem that my son, John, wrote for me last year. I love finding treasures in such surprising places. Here is his poem (just as he wrote it):

JOHN LOVES YOU

I like mom oh yes I do.
and mom heps (helps) me too.
See loves mom.
I'm reiley (really) good kid
my sistars are dad.

I'm 7 years old
and I will nevar stop
loveing mome
you the best mom in the
WORLD!!!!

My day has just been made.
What are some things you have found around that you hold and treasure?

Taking it all in

FALL IS HERE!

WE DECIDED TO TAKE IT ALL IN!

Our Adventure, the Chicago Marathon, October 11, 2009

We headed to the Health and Fitness Expo, the kids love going every year. Here is Jason and the kids under the count down clock. Only 14 hours, 32 minutes and 44 seconds until the race. Better get home for some good sleep!

Team World Vision! Jason raised money to provide clean drinking water to villages in Kenya. Go to www.firstgiving.com/jasonplatt to see more of what he ran for.

Tyler and Jason as they head off downtown to get to the start line.

These two pictures are suppose to be where John is cheering (at mile 11 below), but it wouldn't let me move it. So out of sequence it must be. Oh, well. *smile* Here are the girls cheering dad on while waiting in the cold.

The kids waiting on the "L" platform at 6:30 am. They were awesome. They woke up at 5:30 in the morning to get ready in time to see dad at mile 3. Go kids go!

Oops! I was so excited to see him that I accidently chopped his head off. 8-) This is at mile 3.

John cheering Dad on at mile 11!

The kids and I taking a warming break in a local McD's before heading onto the red line and onto Chinatown. The kids were great, they ended up walking from Chinatown all the way to the finishline (about a mile and a half away). I was really, really proud of them!

There will be more pictures coming, from the actual race. It got kind of crazy at the end so I totally forgot to get final photos. He did a great job. Finishing in 5 hours and 25 minutes. We are glad that he listened to his body and walked mile 9 due to his heart getting out of rhythm. Thankfully, it got back on track (he had pills just in case). This is his fourth marathon and I am so proud of him. He has inspired so many people (we joke because they say, hey if a fat pastor can do it so can I!). He inspired me to run the 1/2 marathon, and am contemplating, catch that contemplating running the full some day. If he has inspired you to do so, join him next year on 10/10/10! Wouldn't it be cool to have a medal that said that!!
(Please note: video to come)

Jason showing off his medal and bib with his dad.