Information Station

I found an empty wall near my kitchen which also leads to the laundry room to garage to outside. Everyone walks by it one time or another. I decided to turn that into an INFORMATION STATION. Do you ever run across an article you wish to share with your family or have other things to share? Someone asked me today - how do you stay so organized? Keeping the kids informed of everyday stuff on a simple basis is the key. Kids are not going to sit and read a book/article unless they have to....make it simple, that's my motto. Right now, the stuff that is on my information station is a kid's article about the upcoming election that I pulled out of our newspaper, a bible verse that I wanted to share with my kids this week, upcoming activities for school, such as Red Ribbon Week this week,the monthly hot lunch menu and other activities. An article to read about wants/needs. A memo reminding the kids that their Christmas lists are due to mom/dad by Saturday. Crazy, I know, but important. Sometimes we will even talk about the information at dinner and find out what kids are reading the information. Hhhmmmm, makes for interesting conversation. I am hoping to find some cork board soon and turn that wall into a 'real' information station. If you keep in interesting, the kids will enjoy reading what is on the board.

Briggor turns 3 on October 23rd!!

Mom, Dad and Briggor!!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Our Disney World Florida Vacation Sept 28th - Oct 5th

RYAN TURNS 14!

On September 27, 2008, our Ryan turned 14!! WOW! AMAZING! Time is flying by so fast!

COLE UPDATE From my girlfriend Mindy

I received this from my girlfriend, Mindy, regarding her precious COLE! Please keep him in your prayers!!

"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it". Before the creation of the world, God knew this day. God is in control. "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps"
Proverbs 16:9. God knows how much we can take and does not put more on us than we can take.

On October 13, 2008 Cole Robert Bloom came home from the hospital, 120 days old. He is nippling all his feeding, he is breathing without extra oxygen, he is off his Phenobarbital. He is still on diuretics which can help keep his lungs clear, through the help of keeping the kidneys working increasing urination. He is on some electrolytes which replace those lost while on diuretics. "Let us rejoice and be glad in it."
God has walked us done a hard road. Isaiah 40:4 "Every mountain and hill will be made low; The crocked places will be made straight, the rough places smooth; The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken". I have a picture in my head when I read that verse. I am going up the side of a mountain and it is a tough climb. There are many rocks and gullys and bushes. There is no path. I see the way ahead and I think the path down will be more of the same. But when I get to the top, it is flat, green, beautiful with a garden path to walk through. We have come to that place. The glory of the Lord is revealed. Cole is victorious, we are victorious but only because the LORD is victorious. 1 Chronicles 16:12 "Remember His marvelous works which He has done".
There will always be new mountains to climb and hard things to overcome But we have seen God's mighty power. We have seen the hand of God move mountains. Always remember for our faith has been built by the Favor of our God on us. Thank you for all your prayers. Thank you for standing firm in the promises of our Lord.

Not Enough God in our life....

Not enough God in our life.....that is the way I have been feeling these days. It's really hard with the amount of kids we have to really have a time to talk about God. We take them to church, they attend Sunday school and participate in church activities but do we really put God into our lives. Made me think how can I bring God more into our lives. At the moment, I am trying to figure out how I can integrate a little Bible Study into their young minds. See, I was went to a Christian school growing up and was exposed to God on a daily basis. But, now my children are attending public school where it is a no-no to discuss God. We have been blessed by a few things - with the help of my closing Bible verse on my emails - I found out through email correspondence that Tasha and Megan have Christian teachers. Hallelujah, Praise God! I have thankful for that! So, I sit and ponder the thought of HOW to build their relationship with God and to encourage them to read their Bibles.

But, it still goes back to putting God into our lives. A dear friend showed me pictures of a house that he visited and I saw pictures of Bible Verses that were put on regular paper and pasted to the wall for all to see...especially the children. WOW!! So simple, but so important! It sparked my imagination. I decided to try that in my house. I have this really great reference book....God's Promises. It is broken down into subjects with Bible verses that pertain to that subject. HHHHmmmm, flipping through the pages. I found 3 verses that caught my attention:

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

I placed these three verses in three perfect spots in my house so that all can see them. I have overheard comments and they have even sparked a conversation or two. This is such a simple task that I intend to update and keep exposing my children to God's Word. I feel a little better knowing that I am showing Bible verses to my children in a creative way. What can I do next?

My Absence

Where have I been? Everyone has been asking why haven't I updated the blog. Well, with moving, which requires empting boxes and the vacation we took....that has pretty much filled up my time along with the normal everyday wear and tear. LOL

Most of you received Mark's email regarding our vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida. We were there a week from September 28 - October 5th. What an incredible memory-making trip that was....so much to tell but not enough space to write. If you didn't receive the fun daily emails from Mark...let me know, give me your email and I will send it to you. They are great and totally explain our trip. It was the best Mendenhall vacation EVER!! I wonder if Mark and I can top this one.

I have been contemplating not doing the blog anymore. It is time consuming and I am having trouble putting pics into it. Something is a muck with my internet! Go figure. But, I miss writing down my crazy thoughts and adventures. Please keep checking in...I might not do it that often but I will try!!!

Love to all....thanks for reading!!

We have a musical family....

The Mendenhall's are a musical family. Just an update: Ryan is playing the electric guitar, Megan is playing the violin, Tasha is playing the flute and Skyler "BUD" is playing the recorder. It's really wonderful to hear my house full of sounds! On occasion, you will hear Megan and Jade singing their favorite songs throughout the house.

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS

Megan is participating in the BATTLE OF THE BOOKS at her Elementary School. It is a volunteer program.

For those of you who need more info about Battle... here you go! Battle of the Books is a wonderful program for students in the 4th through 6th grades, that partners literacy with fun and games. Students have a school year to read a list of 30 books. These books are picked in advance. Students read these books and begin to create and ask each other questions about the books. In April of the school year, the students who have read 20 or more books, get to go to the big showdown at the Kern County Battle of the Books. Here, they compete in teams against others to gain the most points.

Here is your reading time Line:
*Students who read 5 or more books by the end of the 1st quarter will have their names added to the reading chart + be invited to the Battle of the Books Breakfast.

*Students who read 10 or more books by Thanksgiving Weekend will be invited to the Battle of the Books pizza lunch.

*Students who read 15 books or more by Winter Break will be invited to come to the Battle of the Books day Lock-In. Here we will come to the library on a Saturday eat pizza, play games, watch movies, and have a blast!

*Students who read 20 or more books by March 1st will make the official Buena Vista Battle of the Books team, aka Team Bull Dog, and receive their competition T-shirt!

Megan has completed the first objective and is starting on her next 5! Each student is tested on their comprehension for the books that they read.