Do you know which Oelkers boy is which?

TORNADO!?

Today a tornado hit Aumsville- a small town three minutes from Turner, where Jonny works. 

It's so hard to feed this baby!

Nehemiah Study

I joined another bible study, initially for Homeschooling mom's (our church has such a big & great support group for the homeschooling families) but is really for any woman who wants to come.  In fact, at last Friday's study I was so encouraged to parent my two year old with more grace & patience for him and myself by a woman who doesn't even have children.  So neat!  Anyway, I really enjoyed last week's study.  It was over Nehemiah 3 & 4. The study is one where we actually have a little homework to do.  Its been cool to read the text and then dig deeper by reflecting on questions relating to the reading and then relating to our personal experiences.  

Here are a few interesting things I gleaned from last time... 

• Types of people involved in the project of rebuilding the wall & similarities to God's people today?  People from all walks of life!
• Where is it that God's people (then & now) should begin working? v.10  Near our homes & in our homes. 
• thought- Think of the benefit to God's people if everyone acknowledged HOME as their first priority of service.  My first priority & ministry is my husband and children!

• What is the most ambitious remodeling project you have ever  undertaken?  What lesson did you learn about yourself through the process?  No real physical remodeling projects for me, but personal remodeling that is prompted by the Spirit is a life-long project.  It can be so painful at times, but yields great fruit.  I'm in the middle of one of those right now!  Those 'projects' are just a reminder of how sinful and utterly useless I am without the Lord's gracious hand upon my life.
• thought-  Remember that the purpose behind all work undertaken for the Lord must be the glory of God- not the organization behind it or the people involved.  Jesus Christ fulfilled His purpose and left His followers motivating words to do the same:  "I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work You have given Me to do."  -John 17:4
• Do you have a work to do for God?  -Ephes. 2:10  Right next to that verse in my bible I have the date 09.12.09 and the words "be a mommy".  My building project is to build a christian foundation for my children as I raise them in the Lord.  I can't do that without the 'building plan' of God's Word.  He is the architect. 
• The words built & repair are used often in the text.  What do these words mean?  Cause it to continue- rebuild.  Restore to a good or sound condition after decay or damage.  To make good.  We are made good by the lumber of the cross (JuRita shared that one with us!)
• Why were the gates of such great importance?  They are the instrument that either allows or prohibits the flow of traffic.  They are used a lot.  They are noticeable.  They spoke of the character of the character of the town?  They led to the center of the town?  Vulnerable?  Who & what am I allowing to enter my home?  Are we being good stewards with the home He has provided?  Are we locking and opening the 'gate' at appropriate times for the well-being of our family and glory of the Lord?
• thought-  Locks and bars are mentioned five times, indicating not only the importance of doing God's work but of protecting it.  
• thought-  Locks and bars are used to protect from what is outside, and also to keep safe what is inside.  

• Anyone working on a building site is required to wear a hard hat on the job.  What 'hard hats' do you wear? The armor of God- Ephes. 6
• thought-  Consider (search the scriptures for) the enemy's tactic's to enter and the believer's counter tactics to lock him out. 
• Memory verse:  "So we built the wall... for the people had a mind to work."  Nehemiah 4:6

This boy is somethin' else!

Eli never ceases to amaze me.  In some ways his personality seems to be so much like mine and other times, such the opposite.  It almost seems like he has some of the qualities I like about myself and doesn't have the ones I dislike.... which makes for, I think, a fabulous little personality bottled up in this cute little boy!

One of his personality traits is how outgoing and gregarious he is.  Definitely more of an extrovert than an introvert.  I'm the opposite.  I like people, but, for the most part, I wait for them to approach me.

Today at the park there were four boys, two of them ages 11 and the other two probably about 6, playing football with each other.  Eli was slowly going up and down the slide watching them.  He's quite the athlete and loves sports.  After a few minutes of observing, he asked me if he could go play football with those boys.  I was about to say no, when I stopped and thought about why I was saying no.  Because we don't know them.  Because you don't just join in someone else's game... especially when they're strangers.  Especially they are all older than you.  What if they make fun of you!?  I realized those were all my fears and why I would be shy in a situation like that.  There was nothing dangerous or morally inappropriate going on at the moment, so I decided to say, "Sure, you can ask them." 

The next few minutes were so exciting for me.  I anxiously watched.  I wanted to hold his hand and walk with him, but I felt like I should stand back and observe.  But believe me, my eyes were on him like a hawk!  I felt nervous for him.  (I'm such a dork!)  He confidently put his hands in his pockets and took a few steps toward the group of boys.  He stopped and observed some more.  The two younger boys took a seat on a nearby bench, so Eli approached them first.  This was so interesting to me!  They were the less intimidating looking... definitely the ones I would have asked if I was a little kid. He walked right up in front of them and this is how the conversation went:
Eli:  "Hey.  Are you guys going to play more football?"
Boys:  "No."
Eli:  "But those boys are playing football."
Boys:  "They're just playing catch."
Eli:  "I can play catch."
Boys:  blank stares.
Me:  Heart racing.  Praying... please don't let those boys be mean to my Eli.
Eli:  "Can you go ask them if I can play with them."
Boys:  "No.  You can."
Eli:  "Okay."  He slowly walked over to the bigger boys.  (Hands still in his pockets.)
Eli:  "Hey, can I play catch with you?"
They looked back and forth at each other for a bit, and then said okay and came in closer .... um... because it was a little four year old kid wanting to play catch.

But you know what?  They threw it, he caught it, and threw it back- no problem.  They scooted back a little.  They threw again, he caught it, and again, another perfect pass!  He was passing a football with kids almost 3 times his age!  One of the times one pass was too high, and it hit Eli right in the face.  I could tell it really hurt.  Like, if it were me and him playing he might cry a little.  The boy said sorry and asked if he was okay.  Eli paused a minute, rubbed his face, then in his tough boy voice said, "Yeah, I'm fine."

Oh my gosh!  Eli is so cool!  I would NEVER be brave enough to do something like that when I was 20 let alone 4 years old!  I was trying not to stare, and I thought I should back up more... plus there was Noah screaming at me to push him on the swing...  =)

When it was time to go, I gave him a little warning and he told the boys, "Okay, I can catch one more time, but then I have to go home to make cookies!"  After his catch he ran towards me, but yelled back, "Bye, guys!  Thanks!"

I love that little boy. =)

like minds...

I'm probably the only one who gets a kick out of this, but take a look....
I love to see Eli's mind & personality develop.  I think he's gonna be an organized type like his mama. 

This is his "spaceship".  See how perfectly symmetrical it is?  Even down to the colors!!  I was SO impressed.  =)

This is a cool little magnetic nativity scene Grandma Oelkers mailed to the boys.  Noah puts them in his mouth... (is he EVER going to stop doing that!?) but look how Eli set it up all by himself.  I thought he did such a good job putting the Shepperd with his sheep, the animals all around the stable, and the gifts with the three wise men.  He knows this story so well.  He said, "Here's the gold, frank- sense, and MYRRH!"  Again, so organized!

Not right

I read this interesting post on a friend's blog.  I was shocked to find out what those bigwigs at KLOVE are paid!!!  We listen to HOPE 107.9 most of the time- a local station... I wonder if they're on the same pay scale....