Happy Fall 'Yall

It has been a fun fall for the family.  We have been to festivals and costume parties.  Tonight we will be passing out candy to the trick-or-treater's on campus here at the Marland Children's Home.

It has been a little "tricky" for us with all of the traditional foods and treats available in our area.  Our good friends cooked up some "seaweed and octopus" for us.  And we have been lucky enough to have gluten free goods to bake and take to the outings we have attended.  Tonight the kids are feasting on a (small) bag of treats from our local health food store.  All are gluten free and most are sweetened with fruit juices.  Grammy and Poppy stopped by with our favorite treats -- Fruits and Nuts so we are rockin' this gluten free thing this season.



So Much fun at the Marland Children's Home Fall Festival
that their eyes popped out and went crazy!



May I present a BeyBlader, A Flapper Dancer and an Evil Bat girl
who later went as a BeyBlade Fixer

Kallie Volunteering at the Marland Children's Home
Fall Festival

Bobbing for apples with our friends

A New Addition

MiKayla and Kallie have a new nephew!!!

Conner Wayne

7lbs. 6 oz.

18 1/2 "

Black Hair and Blue Eyes

The report I have is that Momma and Baby are fine
and Grandma Lisa is exhausted and very excited.

We love you all!

Congratulations to the Darker and Crisp Families!!!

Exhausted

That's my guy!  I tease him about being "that uncle" that is always falling asleep in the chair.  I caught him in this candid moment with Ali James, the newest member of our family. 

This was them catching a quick nap between jobs.  He provides more than just comic relief for our family.  A full time job, a part time job, and then the time away to work on this months performance with the ReAct group.  His day starts at 5 a.m. and ends . . . ? 

I have talked him into a mini vacation (it really didn't take much talking).  We will enjoy a busy week of performances and friends and then the kiddo's are headed to the grandparents' for a few days. 

To summarize, These two make great pals!

Reality Check

Reality is like a giant slap in the face some days, and it hurts.

What happened to the 3 year old that never sat still?  She was simply a blur of activity.

Something wonderful about her is that she embraces all life has to offer with such passion.  She absorbs every detail about the world she loves. 

She is my teacher.  I am her student.

Children's Home in the News

CLICK HERE TO GO THE PONCA CITY NEWS ARTICLE

As I was sitting with my daughter at the hospital this morning the nurse came in astonished about the news that the Children's Home would be closing.  We hinted at how it affected us and he said that the article had made the front page news.  So I have included a link to this mornings article which will give you the facts as of now if you are interested. 

MiKay is feeling better and we hope that she will be released in the morning.  Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers.  We know that control over all is not in our hands, but in God's.  This of course applies to all of our circumstances yesterday, today & tomorrow.

tinaclonts@yahoo.com

In "Whom" Do We Trust???

Who among you would offer his son a stone if he asked for bread? . . . How much more will your heavenly father give to you?

I eluded to some of you that changes for the Clonts family are on the horizon.  So now it is official.  CH-CH-CH-Changes.

So the 80+ years of caring for children at the American Legion Children's Home in Ponca City, Oklahoma is coming to a close.  For us that means looking for a new home for our family and a new job for Darren.  Anyone who knows us well, knows that this is quite a blow for our little family.

Here's a story of a girl (me) who loves, loves, LOVES her exhisting circumstances.  Family, friends, home, work. . . and now has to face the reality of completely uprooting--ouch!  I am not alone and that saddens me that there are SO many families in our community that are facing the reality, not to mention all of the children who will now have to find new placements.

For many years now, we have had to learn to trust God in our circumstances, not a new or easy thing for us.  However, we are getting better at handling it as we face these types of things.  There have been many times that we felt God leading us in a particular direction and we could not see how we could possible obtain that on our own.  I can remember Darren and I sitting at the dinner table and literally saying "Ok, God (insert "tee hee" here), if that is what you want, we are willing.  But, we have no way of making it happen, this one is on you!" and (how do you spell wha-la) unimaginable doors opened and we were happy to (how do you spell ski-daddle?) move on through.

I can remember many times when great joy has filled our hearts thinking NO. WAY. and just riding that giant wave and finding ourselves in a place better than what we could have ever expected for ourselves.  (i.e. living with my parents for 6 months trying to get on our feet, again, with our 3 kids and finding out that we were pregnant with Bennette 'insert enourmous grin here'-- one of the best things that EVER happened to us--who plans that?)  How many stories do you want I have a long list, that is a fun one. 

 What are you going to do?  What's the plan?

I have not a clue.  It is still fresh.  We are grieving but we are positive.  We are not ready, but I believe that our circumstances over the last year has been preparing us for change and in that aspect, we are ready.  We are not ruling anything out at this point--we know better. 

So tune in next time for another exciting episode/adventure . . .

Peace be with you, all of our friends and co-workers facing the same realities that we face.  We are not alone, nothing happens that God is not in control over.  Email me, we will exchange grief and positiveness!
tinaclonts@yahoo.com

Love you ALL!

Bracelets for Kim

Per Robin on Facebook:

We are selling silicone braclets (purple) that say FAITH LOVE CONQUER AND KIMBERLY ON BACK SIDE. to help Kim with medical expenses. It has been doing very well we had to order more. If you would like one or more let me know . $5.00 a braclet. Thanks everyone for all your support.

Contact:

Robin: robin_mike06@yahoo.com

Bob and Marcia Crandall

Please spread the word!

Thanks, Tina

Monday, August 30, 2010

In My Arms

I sat in church last night with my baby asleep in my arms.  I had walked out of the house with only colorbooks and not crayons for our visit to the evening service at church.  Zach was happily drawing with pens and pencils, but this was just too much to ask Bennette.  She was a bit tired and not very tolerant of my forgetfulness.  So she climbed on my lap and put her head on my shoulder and nodded off into the land of sleep.  This is not as easy as it used to be.  She is a very healthy 5 now, but she is still the baby.


She lay there asleep in my arms and as our Pastor spoke, I began to weep.  I couldn't control the flashbacks that I felt.  They were just too overwhelming.  Thinking of my two youngest in my arms is sentimental, they are young enough that they still almost fit.  I love the way that I hold them and they hold me back until that moment when they fall asleep and then it's all on you, just you and the very large limp noodle of a child in your arms. 


Flashback to a time when my two oldest children were actually small enough to sit on my lap.  Kallie would climb up and "waller" you until she got comfortable.  At three, she was the size of a six year old but still just a baby and needed her cuddles and snuggles.  I am bawling like a baby just to think of her now, almost 6 foot tall, independent and beautiful, she still needs her momma moments but it should be me crawling into her lap now.

I can remember MiKayla's apprehension to bond with us in that way in the beginning.  You could better connect with her in through play.  Any ball would work, but games were good too.  I can remember inviting her into my arms and eventually receiving a hug back.  The first time I remember her literally jumping into my arms is when I met Darren at the E.R. because MiKay had busted her head open at a school function.  I carried her into the hospital, Darren kept saying "Let me carry her", I refused because this was the first time I remember her clutching on to me for comfort.  After that day it became easier and easier for us to bond in that way.

As I shared my flashback moments with Darren on the way home, we talked about how we look at our children.  They want us to see them for the "big kids" that they are, and we do.  But we also see that little child, that every experience makes us fall in love with them more and more.  When I look into my children's eyes they are the same eyes that used to look up to me to care for them and provide for them.  Darren says it's like that commercial where the Dad is giving instructions to his daughter as she gets behind the wheel of the car to drive off.  He is instructing a teenager, but he sees her as his precious little five year old.

How blessed we are to experience our children and some day our grandchildren.  Thank you for the overwhelming support we have always received from our family and friends to help us raise our children.  Some of you are there for my children when they choose not to let me be, and for that I am grateful that they have formed those relationships with you. 

We face this week with great expectations.  From this momma's heart to yours, have a great day!  Remember to stop and appreciate the things around you.

 

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Heerree's Bruc-ey!!!

My all time favorite shark--Bruce from Finding Nemo.  Anybody who is Anybody knows that this is Shark Week.  At our house, the ecclectic homeschoolers wishing we were radical unschoolers are celebrating Shark Week.  Fun facts, books, research and of course the Discovery Channel is in store for all of us.  However, when the little ones go to bed . . . it's time to introduce Kallie to . . . duh da, duh da, duh da, duda. duda duda . . . okay either you get it or you don't.  I think she's ready ;0)

I have had to explain many interesting and new things while watching Discovery Channel during prime time.  The kids understand that they are reacting true events of real people.  You should have seen Zach's face when the "Pirana 3D" movie commercial came on.  He did not filter that we were watching a commercial and he freaked.  Hilarious!!!!

*********************

We did survive the yard sale this weekend.  It was hot, but there were a lot of people out and about.  I must brag about how well our friends took care of us.  Not only did they participate to make it a BIG yard sale but they made it fun and easy.  They were taking money before I could even drag myself out of bed the first day.  I heard it suggested that we post a sign that said "Early Birds will be Shot!", but once 6:30 a.m. rolled around people were practically throwing there money at us to get to the good stuff first.  And then there was Saturday morning and the big breakfast that they cooked up for us--yummy.  We had so much help that things went super smooth.  Thank you, Thank you!!! 

*********************

So what is your favorite "Bruce" qoute or moment?  Or maybe you have another shark favorite to share. . .

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

A wonderful day for a playdate with our friends. 

The temperature was hot but the sprinkler was wet. 

We spent a great afternoon outside.  

Kallie and I had our noses in our new books in the shade.   

The little ones compared scary faces

(Bennette's really is pretty scary).

An exhausting afternoon, I hope all the other children crashed as hard at bedtime as mine did.

For more pictures of our afternoon visit my facebook photos.

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Kallie and Zachary take the stage.  I have posted a picture of them.  Here is the link to the videos on YouTube.  Once there we have also loaded two other videos of clips from the Pinocchio production that took place last Saturday.



Did I mention how much fun that we all had?  Here are some reviews:

"Loved It!"
--Nanna and Pa

"Good."
--Bennette (5)

"Spectacular!  And I wouldn't lie or my nose would grow"
--Dad

Happy Wednesday everybody.  This week has been chaos, I hope to get back in my regular groove after we get through the weekend.  If "you" read this (and you know who you are)--We Love you and Miss you so much it hurts ;0)

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Don't Look Behind You! 

Girls day out yesterday and guess who got to tag along with Aunt Lisa and Momma--no not the Hulk (or "Hook" as she kept referring to him).  We went to this mega-mongo used book store in Tulsa it was so neat.  We took a picture of Hulk when we first arrived but Bennette was too scared to get near the monster.  Four hours later when it was time to leave she was finally brave enough to have her picture taken with him.  She was so excited for the other kids to see this massive thing. 

Thanks to my hubby and to Kallie for covering for me, I was able to escape for the day.   And one more plug for the bookstore http://www.gardnersbooks.com/ a great resource for homeschoolers or anyone else.  They Buy, Sell, and Trade.  I made some great trades and we bought books for as low as .25 cents. I walked out of there with a huge bag of books for $5 and some change.  Cha-Ching!  Did I mention that we spent 4 hours there and I could have stayed longer.  What a great start to a long weekend, Thanks Lis'!!!

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

"Happy American Day!!!"

Quote by Miss Bennette (5) and very appropriate.  We spent the afternoon and evening with family and friends in our neighborhood.  We are only about a mile from the lake where they set off the main city fireworks.  The trees block our view so we typically crash our neighbors yard in order for a prime view.

Watching the fireworks this year reminded me of years gone by.  My favorite memories are those where the kids are so mesmorized by the huge colorful bursts in the sky.  This year I reminised about last year and how our oldest daughter took a couple hundred pictures of the nightworks on her cell phone trying to capture the perfect photo.