Charlene's Suggestion

Charlene did this quiz and suggested that I do it...so I did except I played around with my answers to make my inner soul sound cool! :)

What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are a warm hearted and open minded person. It's easy for you to forgive and forget. You are a grounded person, but you also leave room for imagination and dreams. You feet may be on the ground, but you're head is in the clouds. You believe that people see you for how you are, not how you look. But deep down, you know that's not exactly true. Your near future is calm, relaxing, and pretty much what you want. And it's something you've been anticipating for a while now. For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.

Inside the Room of Your Soul

End of the School Year

While we haven't reached the "official" start of summer, school is out and that means it's summer at the McQueary house!!! YEAH!!!!

I am a little sad though, Jourdyn will be in Middle school next year! :( Time has flown by and she is growing up too quickly! Please pray for us and for her, we have some big decisions to make this summer and we definitely need prayer to make the right ones!

The Posse has arrived

Daddy ordered Bob some friends and boy was Rowan psyched about it!!!!! I wouldn't let him open them until Rob came home but he carried around the package until he did! He's been in the livingroom playing with them for a good 20 minutes now!!!

Warmer weather

Yesterday, we had some nicer, sunny weather. So we went out to trim trees and clean up the front yard. We aren't going to do our landscaping until our sewer is connected but we are getting it ready.

Today was Nadine's last day of school and they had a party at the park out at Bayshore.

Fossil Park

This week is Jourdyn's final week of school! Which I have never understood why the last two weeks of school even exist because they are always jam packed with field trips, parties and just fun stuff! Yesterday the fifth grade went to Olelander Fossil Park in Sylvania Ohio. Jourdyn had a blast! And we are planning to go back this summer just for fun!

Memorial Weekend in VA

Okay so here are the remaining pics from VA. We had such a great time! It is always nice to escape reality!! On our way home we realized that our children never left Derek & Jackie's house, except to go to their pool. And they didn't complain once, except when we had to leave! They had so much fun!

Everyone played a lot of cornhole on Derek's custom cornhole set that we made him last year! You'll see them in the pics - we are thinking about making them and selling them. We would customize the paint for the customer! We'll see what happens!

Every time Derek & rob are together they adopt some kind of character or saying or something that they use the whole time. IT's not intentional it just happens that way. One year, by the time we left they were speaking nothing but southpark voices. This year it was some bad Indian/Arab (i'm not sure which) voice, but i think Indian because everything was "my friend that is not good business!" or it was "very good business." It's quite funny! And generally, they also find some off the wall stuff to wear. I'm sure when Jackie bought the clown hats at the circus the last place she thought they'd be was on Rob and Derek's heads...but she should know them by now! And of course, it was cute that the hats said "The greatest show on earth!"

Jackie and I were able to get out for some quiet time. We had lunch at the Olive Garden...I was so mad...it messed with my gallbladder and all I had was soup and salad. But hopefully, after next week i won't have to worry about that anymore.

Well, anyways, it was a great weekend! The Greenwald's are our family and we love spending time with them, even if just a day or two!

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Stirling & Ainsley's Birthday party

On Saturday night, we celebrated Stirling and Ainsley's birthdays! They are now 10 & 11! It was a sleep over! They had a dance off and went swimming!!! Here's a video of the party!

A trip wouldn't be right without...

shopping!!!!!!!! Check out my new Coach bags! And my pictures below have my new glasses in them, what do you think? They aren't everyday but I think they are a kick-butt accessory!

We're Home

We have arrived safely home after a weekend in Richmond!!! It was great. We spent the weekend just hanging out with Derek & Jackie and family! I have bunches to tell but I'm tired! So here are some of my favorite pics that contain me. Look for more albums to show up over the next couple of days! I took tons of pics!!!

Swimming at Aunt Jackie's

tate & abu getting to know each other

This was really cute because Tate was extremely interested in this little furry things. And they squeal. But Abu came right up to him and Tate put his face up to the cage. Abu would reach out and pat Tate's nose trying to give him kisses.

I told Charlene that while Tate is doing okay like this I don't recommend bringing them out of the cage because he may eat them!!!

This is Michael, Charlenes monkey. I got to hold him the other day when we dropped off Tate and Mia. Charlene's family is puppy sitting for us!!!

Maria Sue Chapman

There has been a blog set up as a memorial to Maria Sue Chapman. Please check it out and please pray for the Chapman family.

Misc. Picture

Took this pic with my cell phone at the zoo the other day and just downloaded it off of there. But I thought it was cute, so here ya go!

Also, some of you know that I have been sick lately. Well, I've had gall bladder problems for years (since I was about 18) and I've ignored it or just dealt with it. As of late, it's getting harder and harder to do that. So I have to have my gall bladder removed. My surgery is going to be on June 4th and it is an overnight stay for sure. They are going to try to remove it laprioscopically but because of the size of my gallstones may not be able to and at that point they will have to do full surgery which will put me in the hospital for 2 to 3 days. So pray that it will go smoothly!

Cinderella

Our hearts are breaking this morning for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. The morning news is that his daughter has died tragically. We are praying for healing and understanding for the Chapman family. God gave Steven this song for a reason. It has blessed the world! And made us all realize the treasures that we have! The treasures that God has blessed us with...our children! Cherish every moment while they are still in our hands!

American Idol: David wins it all!!!!

Well, duh? that wasn't a hard one to predict! But my David, David Cook won it all!!!! Last night the judges were so hard on him. They even called David Archuletta to win several times during the evening. It really seemed like no matter what David Cook did or how good he sounded, they were on the David A train last night. They both did a wonderful job and but David Cook has been the most consistent contestant on AI that I have ever seen.

I thought that for sure after being abused last night that he would be runner up! But he wasn't! And when Ryan Seacrest announced his name - I jumped up, clapped and screamed! I know, I know, I'm a loser! But it was such an awesome moment, because you could see on his face that he thought he had lost it too!

Not that he reads my blog or anything...but GREAT JOB DAVID!!!! David Cook that is!!! And by the way, Jason Castro sang Hallelujah again tonight! Another fantastic performance!

Happy Anniversary Mom & Jim

MySpace Generators

All dressed up

Today, Jourdyn decided to dress Mia up in one of her outfits. Mia is a Chinese Crested, so she is predominantly hairless (or naked as I like to call her!) She wasn't too happy about having to have clothes on today.
But she wasn't angry for long this is a pic of her all curled up in bed with Jourdyn.

Preaching and Worship

That is the title of my newest class. I am now in the third week of the course. It has been a lot easier than I imagined. I am going to count that one up to prayer and lots of it! Because I was terrified of the class several weeks ago.

This week I have to write my first sermon on either Genesis 15:1-6 or Luke 24:13-35
I am leaning towards Luke. It is the Emmaus walk story after Jesus' resurrection. I haven't chosen any themes yet because I am still researching the passages to see where I can go with them.

My professor believes in short sermons...like 20 minutes...that is the most awesome idea I have ever heard. Not because I don't like listening to the Word of God but because quite often when it's longer that's only because much more was said than needed to be. Also it makes this class easier for me!

In the next couple of weeks I have to write another sermon on any passage I'd like and I have to video tape myself giving that sermon. (That's scary!!!!)

Video of Jourdyn's Spring Concert

Well, this didn't work very well through smilebox, so here's a youtube of the video

A beautiful day

Before anyone else complains about another trip to the Toledo Zoo...I have to ask what else is there to do in Toledo? NOTHING!!!!! Thus we end up at the zoo! Especially on a beautiful day like today! Jourdyn had her friend over, so I had an extra kid at the zoo with us. But it was fun!

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Narnia - Opening Night

Jourdyn had her girlfriend, Katie come over this evening and we left the two little ones home with Rob. We went to Netty's for dinner and then to see Prince Caspian!!! What an awesome movie! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! The allegory is fantastic! If we could all remember Christ is right here beside us we would change the world!

I 100% recommend the movie. The spiritual content is so tremendous. C.S. Lewis is such a great author. Just for fun here's a piece of a letter he wrote Sept. 27th, 1949.

"The moment one asks oneself "Do I believe?" all belief seems to go. I think this s because one is trying to turn round and look at soemthing which is there to be used and work from--trying to take out one's eyes instead of keeping them in the right place and seeing with them. I find that it happens about other matters as well as faith. In my experience only very robust pleasures will stand the question, "Am I really enjoying this?" Or attention--the moment I begin thinking about my attention (to a book or lecture) I have ipso facto ceased attending. St. Paul speaks of "faith actualized in Love." And "the heart is deceitful": you know better than I how very unreliable introspection is. I should be much more alarmed about your progress if you wrote claiming to be overflowing with Faith, Hope and Charity."

Blue Eyes

Spring Band Concert

This school year was Jourdyn's first year in band. Tonight they had their spring program. Here is some video from that program. We are so proud of Jourdyn. She plays the saxophone for band, but she also plays the piano. Her piano recital is in a couple of weeks!

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Day Outing

Jason's gone

I haven't told you all, you may already know, but here goes. Jason Castro was voted off last week! It wasn't a shocker. (and apparently my 50+ votes didn't help him!) He did rather poorly...mostly he forgot a few lines and did Bob Marley really bad. I am a little sad though. I knew he wouldn't be the American Idol but it was sad to see him go. The show wasn't the same this week! And by the way, I still predicting that David Cook is going to win it. I've said that since the top 12 show. Well, even the top 24, he was one of the ones I called to win it! So go David Cook! And he sang Switchfoot, "Dare you to move" last night.

New Things

First, there are some new things on my blog...ads. This is just a way for me to earn some extra funds by your clicking on them.

Secondly, when we had our pool taken out, they used a Bobcat. When I was here Rowan was calling it a tractor. When I left daddy tried to teach him "bobcat." Well, I returned and Rowan was telling me about the "kitty kat" in the backyard. So I told him "No, Bobcat!" And finally, he called it bobcat.

The next weekend when we went to Mt. Vernon they were doing some construction on their parking lots. We were driving through and all of the sudden Rowan starts yelling, "It's Bob, It's Bob, Hi, Bob, Hi" Now any where he sees a bobcat, he's yelling "Mommy, it's Bob, It's Bob!" Today, daddy took him to TSC and bought him his very own Bob. Relax, it's only about an inch tall! And it came with it's own flatbed truck for hauling! He hasn't let go of the thing yet!

We've also started potty training today! No luck yet! But we'll keep trying! And in the mean time waste a fortune on diapers everytime he says "mommy, potty!!" (Notice Bob in his right hand!)

Nadine was busy dressing herself again today! She's very colorful, isn't she?

Chores that a 2 and 4 year old can handle

Check out this video of Rowan and Nadine doing their chores!!
Remember pause the music at the bottom

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Zoo Trip with Nicole & Tatum

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GREAT news!!!!

It's Friday the weekend is here! I have been anxiously awaiting my final grade for my last class - Christian Theology. I thought for sure that I had lost my opportunity to earn an A because none of my papers were ever higher than a B. However, I received my final grade today and I got an A-!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!! My final paper was on defining and subsequently serving "the least of these" in Matthew 25:31-46. I titled it "And The Greatest of These is Love" (let me know if the link works)

I am very much a geek! I need to have the A in a class! So I was pretty much devastated by the realization that it would be an act of God for me to pull one off in this class!!! Well, God showed up and worked it out for me!!! Isn't He awesome?

A Stay-at-Home-Mom

Up until four years ago, when our second daughter, Nadine was born I worked outside of the home, you know at a job that I actually received a paycheck for. When she arrived many things were going on in our lives and we were lead to the decision for me to stay home, instead of working. Since her birth and Rowan's subsequent arrival I have been a stay-at-home mom (SAHM). It seems like almost daily I find myself having to defend our choice for me to be a SAHM. So I'm just going to give you some of my thoughts on this.

It is assumed that my ability to stay-at-home is only a benefit of having a husband who makes extraordinary amounts of money or that our family is some how not hurting financially for our choice. Being a SAHM is a sacrifice that I make. More importantly, it is a sacrifice that Rob makes. Rob works almost incessant overtime just to pay our bills. He goes without many things from as simple as a much needed haircut to as extravagent as the motorcycle he's been dreaming of for over a decade. And God love him because I know I do, he doesn't complain. He bears the responsibility for five mouths and two dogs, and always makes sure that his family has before he does.

Being a SAHM has, at least in my case, nothing to do with our financial peace, because there is none in our home. We, like any other family, live paycheck to paycheck and many times our money runs out before the next amount arrives. Or as Dave Ramsey says, "there's a lot more month left at the end of our paycheck!"

Being a SAHM is a blessing that I never imagined. If you had asked me 12 years ago if I thought I would ever be a SAHM, I would have laughed at you. God has blessed my family beyond comparison and He has blessed me in ways I can't even begin to explain. The day is coming that I will no longer be able to stay home with my children. I know this is a reality because of the call that is on my life, so until then I will cherish each day that I have, as tough as they sometimes are, as a SAHM.

And just because I am at home that doesn't mean that I'm not busy. I have little time, lots to do and little ones to do it with! Praise God that He alone sustains me! Because there are many days that it would just be easier to get a job...

The Morning After

Rob's eye is mostly swollen shut and various shades of purple!

First Softball game

Well, before the game even started Cheryl and I were playing catch and she threw way over my head, so I yelled "head's up Rob" before I even turned around because he was behind me with Rowan. And I wanted him to protect Rowan. I turned just in time to see the ball bounce off Rob's face. His right eye was immediately swollen and is only looking worse and worse. But never fear, Dr. Jeromy arrived a few minutes later and said without dye he couldn't tell if the eye had an abrasion. So, of course, Rob took that to mean it's okay it's just a little ugly! We left when I was done playing. So we missed the end of the game. Rob did get to bat and he scored. I batted twice and was out at first each time but I at least hit the ball and advanced our players! We lost! 14 to 10. Check out the video, I've made!!!By the way, just in case you want to know who Cheryl is, she is the first woman on the bench in the pictures. She has black hair in a pony tail. We came home and got the ice pack. I gave Rob 4-200 mg Motrins and sent him to bed. Rowan crawled up and gave him some love. (Pause the music at bottom before playing)

Funny Moments We'll remember forever

I turned the corner to come down the hall and running towards me is Rowan, my two year old son with a pad stuck between his legs outside of his clothing...and yes, I mean a sanitary napkin. The boy has always had a fascination with tampons we have now moved onto pads...their sticky and can cling to things!!! When I laughed he took it off so I couldn't get a picture!

(this is my 150 post on this blog)

Daughters of the King

Today, was our 2nd annual Daughters of the King banquet!! And we picked the perfect speaker!! It was so awesome!! God is so good!! He really blessed us all this evening. Check out my Women of Hope blog for more info. I haven't posted yet - but I will so just watch for it. I am collecting pictures from all my ladies first.

Rowan sat on my bed for about 30 minutes today just playing daddy's guitar!

Oh and by the way, John...thanks for showing Rowan how to play rough with Tate. He pinned Tate into a corner and slapped at his face, so Tate did what he did with you while you were here and nipped at Rowan, unfortunately Rowan doesn't have the reflexes that you have to move away quickly (or to even know that's what Tate would do) and he got his face nipped. Tate didn't break the skin. He wasn't being mean, he was just trying to defend himself and get away. You can see it on Rowan's right cheek. But Tate did scare the crap out of him. And then he got beat with a shoe. (Tate not Rowan!) As soon as Rowan cried Tate knew he did wrong....he ran and hid.

This is what I wore to the banquet. I took this picture before I left the house today because I don't have a full-length mirror and I wanted to see what I looked like. I received many compliments on the top. So I guess I looked okay!

A Trip to the Zoo

Nadine had a field trip today!!! To the zoo! She was all excited! She couldn't wait to see the penguins! We saw so much more!! including hippos who forgot to keep it PG. The kids loved all the "playing!!"

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