Baby Franky

To a wee boy I know,

who fell on his head.

He got a great big gash

and his hair turned red.

His father gasped and his mother cried,

making for a very long ambulance ride.

While he held on tight to bear-bear,

so brave and so strong,

his family talked to Jesus

all night long.

Thirteen staples later

and a thrilling story to tell.

We're so proud of you A. J.

and we wish you

very well.

Things Overheard In A Minivan Part 1

Ben to Eli, "When we grow up and move out of Mom and Dad's house I'm going to be a conservationist, what are you going to be?"
I glance in the rearview mirror back at Eli, curious of his reply. I'm sure Eli is thinking, What, I have to move out of our house???
Eli to Ben,"A Dad."( When the Lord knit Eli together He wove in extra large amounts of preciousness, so much so that at only 45 lbs. it often falls out of him. )
Eli to Mom," Mom, when I grow up will you buy me a house?"
Oh how I love this tender boy. I told him that when he is a grown-up the Lord will provide and he will be able to buy his own house.
Lord, please let it be the one next door to mine. Amen.

What Does Your Ortmann Say?

Matt and I were completely stumped Wednesday evening after a dinner of Hunan chicken and sweet and sour pork.We were sitting around cracking open cookies when Eli kept asking us what his ortmann says. Matt resorted to," ortmann is one of the dragons on Dragon Tales."" Yeah right", I say because I know my dragons names and there isn't a one of them named Ortmann! Cassie, Ord, Zac and Wheezie, just so ya know. Okay, I admit he was close with Ord, but this still didn't make any sense. When Eli finally got tired of repeating himself to his confused parents, he picked up a small strip of paper sitting next to his cookie, held it up in the air, sighed (loudly) and said " What does this ortmann say?" Of course you know what happens next. Matt and I bust up. Oh okay we get it -FORTUNE !!! Duh!! I take the strip of paper and read it aloud to Eli, "Your ortmann says, Life to you is a dashing and bold adventure." Pretty fitting ortmann if I do say so myself:)

A Noteworthy Post For My Uncommon Man

Okay people, this post is about to get really sappy. So, if you don't like all things sugary, honeyed and oozing with love, You might want to just back your little self right out of this blog. This post is for you Matt, and for anyone else who wants a glimpse at a few of the wonderful reasons I love you.

August 21,1991, a very special day in the history of my life,I'm sure the sun was shining brighter and the birds were singing sweeter. You and I started "officially" dating. Yes, "officially", meaning our parents drove us around for our dates since neither of us could drive at 15 years old!! You are the love of my life and I wouldn't change one thing about us or our journey from teenage sweethearts to young newlyweds, then parents, to the thirty somethings we are today.

We are proof that it dosen't have to be the"perfect marriage" to be worth it. We are definitely a "worth it" marriage. Matt, Thankyou for loving me and for your commitment to me. You are a gem and I look forward to all that life will bring and all that God's love will see us through.

Shannon's "Top 100 Favorite Things About My Husband" list (in no particular order)

1. You are kind.
2. You have green eyes.
3. You put gas in my van.
4. You follow Christ.
5. Your sense of direction.
6. You understand my simplicity.
7. You laugh at my goofiness.
8. You are my personal "book of facts."
9. The way you squirt whip cream straight from the bottle into your mouth.
10. You believe in my abilities, way more than I do.
11. You enjoy long drives.
12. Your hospitable.
13. The way you pray.
14. The way you grill steak.
15. Your strong.
16. Your love of trains.
17. You smell good.
18. You care about friendship.
19. Your evil laugh.
20. Your love of the outdoors.
21. You admit when your wrong.
22. Your a playful daddy.
23. You encourage my passions.
24. Your a gentleman.
25. Your gift of music.
26. Your desire for a close family.
27. The way you kiss.
28. Your fun.
29. Your nerdy side.
30. Your pyro side.
31. Your chiseled jaw.
32. You love me on my ugly days.
33. You like Chinese food.
34. You are adventureous.
35. You dress nice.
36. You are a pick-up man.
37. You take pride in supporting your family.
38. Your willingness to lead.
39. You are diverse.
40. Your hands.
41. The way you held our babies.
42. Your love of animals.
43. You lavish me with complements.
44. Your spontanious.
45. You'll watch chic flicks. (I won't tell anyone)
46. Your an encourager.
47. Your romantic.
48. Your inner meterologist.
49. Your bum.
50. Your love of roller coasters and all things speedy.
51. Your thoughtful.
52. You like to snuggle.
53. You can fix things.
54. Your hunger for The Word.
55. That you were at my side for the birth of our sons.
56. Your sweet-tooth.
57. The way you pamper me.
58. Your competitiveness.
59. You say sorry.
60. You watch cartoons and laugh out loud at them.
61. You call me from work just to say "hi."
62. Your affectionate.
63. The little boy in you.
64. Your predictable.
65. Your unpedictable.
66. You challenge me.
67. You don't understand my complexities.
68. Your on my side.
69. You help maintain our home.
70. You have let the power of God's love change you, and you have let me watch.
71. You let me be me.
72. You write me letters.
73. Your a decision maker.
74. The way you talk to the boys.
75. The way you look in a suit and tie.
76. The way you look in comfy clothes.
77. You do things that I like to do.
78. Your cluelessness about girly things.
79. Your voice. (singing and speaking)
80. You play guitar.
81. The way you rub your hands together when your excited.
82. The way you look in a hat.
83. Your understanding of science.
84. Benjamin John Missey
85. Elijah Matthew Missey
86. Samuel Josiah Missey
87. Your work ethic.
88. Your very protective of us.
89. The way you can't keep a surprise.
90. You show me constellations.
91. You try new things.
92. You like to "remember when" with me.
93. Your heart for worship.
94. The way you hold my hand.
95. Our inside jokes.
96. The cowboy in you.
97. Your tenderness.
98. Your support.
99. Your broad shoulders.
100. You love me for me. That' s right babe, these things made "Top 100" but you know this list could go on and on. Happy 17 years together!!! I love you.

To anyone else who read through this - I warned you, so get your head out of the toilet and stop puking.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Ahoy, Matey!

Meet Jack Sparrow, the cat not the pirate. What's that? You say, he looks familiar? As well he should. Jack Sparrow was born in our house underneath the stairs in a Christmas tree box. So now you know where to place him. Jack Sparrow lives across the street at the Callahan residence, but I think he still misses his mommy,Maybelline. Yes he has lived there since he was only five weeks old and yes he is over a year old but regardless, this is how I find Jack Sparrow nearly every morning. Peering in through the sidelight window as if he is just checking on us making sure we still live here or maybe he just wants to catch a glimpse of his mommy. Whatever the reason, I always like when I walk by and see his cute pink nose on the glass. It makes me go, that's Jack Sparrow and he was born in our house underneath the stairs in a Christmas tree box.

Deep Thoughts And Talking Salad

Okay,I must confess I am just a tad bit jealous that my dear hubby was able to go up in a small cessna with our good friend Derek Kalista!! Derek finished flight training and now he's a "real" pilot, way to go Derek!!! Matt took some really awesome pictures during their flight and I could'nt help but ponder how small we must look to our almighty God. I know what your thinking, "Great, she's pondering again." But, for real, this time I was actually having mature grown-up ponders, well minus the singing cucumber and tomato, "My God is so big so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do.....woohoo......."
It just seems like so often I let life bog me down and block my view of God's size and power. The deficieny is in my own faith. I forget that He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world,1 John 4:4. Why can't I grasp the significance of this? An all-powerful God defies my imagination. All-powerful refering to God being able to do anything He wants to do, being the source of all power, physical and spiritual, posessing perfect, sovereign power. Great is our Lord and mighty in power;his understanding has no limit.Psalm147:5
This powerful God is on our side friend, He really cares, He really is in control, He really brings good out of adversity. No problem or person is all-powerful. Only God. The odds in our favor are limitless.
So sing on cucumbers, let it fly talking tomatoes......My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do........
F*Y*I Our house is on the center street 5th one up from the botttom. The one that looks like a stalk of broccoli is in the yard. funny.

The Naked Mole Rat (update)

So, whatd'ya think? Do our babies still look like little rodents that eat their own poo? This was one of the pictures I had out on Craig's list. The Kaufmann family took two of our kitties and gave them a sweet home. The other three were out on Craig's list for less than 24 hours. I posted the ad at about 6pm on Monday, at 8pm I had a lady and her 4 year old daughter picking out their favorite and by Tuesday at 6pm they were all in their new homes. I miss our little rats. Maybe we will manage to get Mab's fixed before she goes out and gets prego again. Maybe not. Anyway at least we will get a break from the boys building kitten habitats:) Oh, you don't know what a kitten habitat is? A kitten habitat consists of mounds and mounds of pillows and blankets (from all rooms in the entire house)piled as high as they can go with a small empty spot usually at the center but not necessarily, then you pile all of the kittens in there and they nest. Then a small but mighty force similar to a tropical storm comes along and puts his hand in one of the openings and goes awwwwwww.key.awwwwww.key. This usually marks the beginning of the end of the kitten habitat. Until tomorrow. UHHHH.