The Minich Family Blog: Every Family Has A Story...Welcome To Ours
Monday, September 12, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Choosing The Path of Love
I have been giving much thought to this lately. The path of love is not a popular path. There are so many excuses to not love.
But she....
But he...
But they....
And many of those "buts" may be true.....
However the right but is....
BUT YOU, I, WE, must choose the path of LOVE.
It is a higher road. It is not worn, as many do not tred it.
It is a narrow road. It is a painful road.
It is a joyous road.
Somehow, sorrow and suffering, joy and gladness, pain and happiness seem to
work together to make us strong.
I don't understand it. I just know that it is what it is.
Some of the greatest love in my life, has come out of the deepest of suffering.
It is hard to explain. I just know that God, Jesus Christ, while we hated him, chose the path of love and loved us FIRST. He loved us when we didn't love him. HE LOVED US. Did He suffer? YES, He did.
But HE chose LOVE. Because HE impersonates LOVE. He IS Love.
How can we LOVE those who hate us? How can we LOVE those who are too hurt to LOVE?
Follow Christ's example....Tell the truth, and give, and give and give...... and LOVE.
When I see those around who are hostile towards us, it is hard to return hostility with Love.
We MUST do it. We MUST.
Will it be received? Maybe, maybe not.
But it is a COMMAND in Scripture to LOVE your enemies and do good to those who despitefully use you.
Tomorrow, as the anniversary for 9-11 happens, and we all remember that day.... Let's also remember to LOVE, in the midst of our pain and sorrow and grief. Let's remember that we are ALL in the same boat, but for Christ; hopelessly Lost.
I pray that the Lord will grant me the gift of love.
But she....
But he...
But they....
And many of those "buts" may be true.....
However the right but is....
BUT YOU, I, WE, must choose the path of LOVE.
It is a higher road. It is not worn, as many do not tred it.
It is a narrow road. It is a painful road.
It is a joyous road.
Somehow, sorrow and suffering, joy and gladness, pain and happiness seem to
work together to make us strong.
I don't understand it. I just know that it is what it is.
Some of the greatest love in my life, has come out of the deepest of suffering.
It is hard to explain. I just know that God, Jesus Christ, while we hated him, chose the path of love and loved us FIRST. He loved us when we didn't love him. HE LOVED US. Did He suffer? YES, He did.
But HE chose LOVE. Because HE impersonates LOVE. He IS Love.
How can we LOVE those who hate us? How can we LOVE those who are too hurt to LOVE?
Follow Christ's example....Tell the truth, and give, and give and give...... and LOVE.
When I see those around who are hostile towards us, it is hard to return hostility with Love.
We MUST do it. We MUST.
Will it be received? Maybe, maybe not.
But it is a COMMAND in Scripture to LOVE your enemies and do good to those who despitefully use you.
Tomorrow, as the anniversary for 9-11 happens, and we all remember that day.... Let's also remember to LOVE, in the midst of our pain and sorrow and grief. Let's remember that we are ALL in the same boat, but for Christ; hopelessly Lost.
I pray that the Lord will grant me the gift of love.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
What Girls Do When Mom is Away
I had a doctor's appointment today:
I still can't fathom how pepperoni could possibly be good for the skin! LOL
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Alli's New Bicycle
Daddy and Alli went to get a new bike. The thing is.... Alli forgot her money! :) We have always had a deal. The kids pay 1/2 the price of the bicycle they choose. Alli has earned enough money to pay 1/2 so she and daddy headed out to get her bike. I realized she had forgotten her money, so we went and met them just in time! They were ready to check out! LOL
She loves her new bike!
Hevel and Chiara
Thank you both for the wonderful post cards! You are so sweet to think of us and include us in your adventures. You are both my list of people to see some day! :)
Here are the post cards we received today. :)
Hevel is in Hungary
Chiara is in Italy.
Thank you for making our day!
Here are the post cards we received today. :)
Thank you for making our day!
Monday, September 5, 2011
A Wonderful Labor Day
It isn't over yet, but it has gone so very well! We decided to not do school today and it has been so beautiful outside. I just LOVE it that we can open the windows!
This a.m. Mike and Sarah went to Home Depot while the other girls slept. I took advantage of the quiet and got in some reading and tea drinking. :)
I took Miss Alli out on a mother daughter date and we had a really great time. We found a pair of pajamas for each of the girls, the pair of shoes Anna wanted was on sale for 10.99, and we found a few other things that were needed. Alli spent a long time looking a the toy section and was just happy to look.
She was pointing out all the things that interested her, and I was happy to listen. It won't be much longer until we will be toyless around here. Both Anna and Erika have graduated from toy play except for an occasional barbie dress up session after being coaxed by Alli and Sarah. :)
When we got home, daddy was happily working on a few household things. The storm door now shuts properly, all the light bulbs in the bathroom now work and Erika and Anna's ceiling fan has a new motor and 3 way light thingy.... Daddy has been a busy guy!
Erika is very happy with her new ceiling light and fan. :)I took a bike ride with the girls in the afternoon.... I forgot how fun it was to ride! And then we finished off our Labor day with bean soup and a movie. What a great day!
Sister Love
I heard her ask Anna, "Oh sister, can you tighten my legs?" Anna said, "And why would I do that?"
Erika said, "Because you love me!"
And she does! :)
And then Erika passed on the kindness by brushing out Alli's hair after she had it washed. Alli
Friday, September 2, 2011
Six Months
Today marks 6 months since I went to get Alli. What a great milestone! Alli is doing so well.... I am really proud of her!
Today was also the first time she took a test. She was so worried about taking that test and even said I was a hard teacher! :)
Guess what? She passed her test with an A and even did the bonus question!
We have spent 2 weeks now on phonics and early reading. I cannot believe the improvement in her reading already! She has been doing short vowel sounds with 1 letter added... such as ba be bi bo bu, then ga ge gi go gu, and so on.
We mix short and long depending upon the symbol. She has gotten quite fast at it, as opposed to before where she was guessing all the time.
GOOD FOR YOU MISS ALLI!
Today was also the first time she took a test. She was so worried about taking that test and even said I was a hard teacher! :)
Guess what? She passed her test with an A and even did the bonus question!
We have spent 2 weeks now on phonics and early reading. I cannot believe the improvement in her reading already! She has been doing short vowel sounds with 1 letter added... such as ba be bi bo bu, then ga ge gi go gu, and so on.
We mix short and long depending upon the symbol. She has gotten quite fast at it, as opposed to before where she was guessing all the time.
GOOD FOR YOU MISS ALLI!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Dolphin Tale
There is an exciting movie coming to a theater near you!
DOLPHIN TALE .......
Sally Clarkson's Son is involved in this movie. You can read about it HERE.
Pretty cool! A dolphin with a prosthetic tail! :) You can watch the trailer on youtube. :)
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Jdpg9NsgEaI
Sally Clarkson's Son is involved in this movie. You can read about it HERE.
Pretty cool! A dolphin with a prosthetic tail! :) You can watch the trailer on youtube. :)
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Jdpg9NsgEaI
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
When Trauma Invades
My fellow bloggy world friend Annie posted on this topic last week. I wanted to share more of our own experiences regarding how Trauma invades in interpretation of events.
Part of this comes from my own life experiences, and the rest from what we have observed with the girls.
When I was a kid, we lived in some very bad areas in Southern California. Southern California evokes all sorts of "Pictures" in the minds of those who have never lived where I lived. While I lived in California, and not far from the beach, it was a crime ridden, gang infested, congested, unhappy kind of a place. We had to be VERY careful. I learned early on that I could not trust the people who walked down the street. You didn't make eye contact out of fear. You locked your house, your car, made sure every window was locked, and still, things were stolen.
Our home was broken into 2 x's that I can remember as a small child.
One night, I remember the shadow of a man by my window. I put my legs down hoping the shape would go away and the shadow was just me..... it didn't go away and I covered my head with my pillow and prayed the scary image would go away. It did. And then the image tried to climb into the kitchen window instead. Apparently my window was locked.
One time my mother was at the grocery store when I returned home from school. She had left the back door unlocked for me to get in. A man from across the street saw me try the front door which was locked, and then go in the back door.
He must have known I was alone. Who knows how long he had been watching me.
The next thing I knew was he was knocking on the front door and offered me a quarter if I'd open the door. I refused.
Then I saw him see the back door was open. I ran to the back door and tried so hard to get it locked. It was terrifying. He was walking to the back door and we had those stupid old skeleton keys. It was so hard to get it locked but I did it just in time. He left very angry.
I never told my mother.
My parents thought I was too old to be afraid of the dark. I remained PARALYZINGLY afraid of the dark well into my adulthood.
My mother in law used to joke that she is the only mother in law who every babysat her daughter in law. My husband worked the night shift. :)
I also had some very scary experiences I cannot write about here. But needless to say, they were traumatic and it effected how I viewed things.
When Annie wrote about the serene setting and how one person interprets things very differently.... I am that person too!
I think when Mike and I first married, I drove him crazy locking everything. He would walk out of the house and I'd lock the door. I locked car doors, I locked the garage and I locked every window. I am a very good locker. LOL
Mike's upbringing was WORLDS apart from my own. He grew up spending his days on the Lake of Pawtuckaway in the Summers, and Nashua NH during the school years. He ran the streets and played and never felt a sense of danger. He has fond memories of his childhood.
To THIS DAY..... when I walk out of a store, I have my keys in my hand set for self defense just in case. Logically, I know I am in a pretty safe place. But my experience tells me otherwise.
When I see somebody walk down the street in our country area, I am immediately suspicious.
Mike sees a guy walking down the street. I see a criminal.
Isn't that AWFUL!!!!!
I don't like to view things like this. I FIGHT IT..... and I have done pretty well overcoming much of it. I even leave the door unlocked during the daytime now. :)
The experiences I had as a child, have helped me to understand where my girls are coming from sometimes. While they are different, there are some common themes.
So, when Annie showed the picture on her blog..... I looked at it and thought about what I would have been like several years ago. I would have seen a bad person lurking in the bushes, or could have seen it wasn't safe because nobody was around. Today, I am not that person.... Today I can look at a picture like this:
and actually enjoy it!
The other day, Alli and Sarah went for a bike ride. Sarah, is no longer afraid like she used to be. 5 years ago, we had to stay in the bathroom with her, even in the day time. Today, she can ride her bike freely and enjoy everything.
Alli, is still afraid. Alli is afraid of a car running her down. She is afraid somebody will kidnap her. She is afraid when Sarah goes ahead on her bike, it is because Sarah is trying to win in a race that doesn't really exist. Alli gets her feelings hurt because she sees that Sarah wants to be first. Sarah gets confused because as she says, "I'm just riding my bike."
Alli is still interpreting her present experience by her past. They are not the same. They cannot be measured by the same standard. Alli is hypervigilant about relationships right now because she has never experienced so much love. Not because others didn't love her, but because she couldn't receive it.
Now that she can, she is cherishing it, and trying her hardest to hang onto it. She is far from this serene picture. She is learning that she doesn't have to try so hard. We love her period. She is learning that Sarah loves her too. She isn't competing. Nobody has to be first or win. We are all winners. :)
Because of our new notebook experience, that I wrote about here, both Alli and Sarah were able to write about the bike riding experience of yesterday. We would have never known! LOL
And we were able to explain to each of them separately what the other is possibly thinking and how they can try to understand each other.
It really REALLY did help!
This a.m. Sarah and I looked at some peaceful pictures and talked about fear and what a fearful person might see. Sarah suddenly said, "I used to be like that!" :) I was so happy to see her understanding CLICK, and she was given renewed energy to love on her little sister who so desperately craves her acceptance. :)
Part of this comes from my own life experiences, and the rest from what we have observed with the girls.
When I was a kid, we lived in some very bad areas in Southern California. Southern California evokes all sorts of "Pictures" in the minds of those who have never lived where I lived. While I lived in California, and not far from the beach, it was a crime ridden, gang infested, congested, unhappy kind of a place. We had to be VERY careful. I learned early on that I could not trust the people who walked down the street. You didn't make eye contact out of fear. You locked your house, your car, made sure every window was locked, and still, things were stolen.
Our home was broken into 2 x's that I can remember as a small child.
One night, I remember the shadow of a man by my window. I put my legs down hoping the shape would go away and the shadow was just me..... it didn't go away and I covered my head with my pillow and prayed the scary image would go away. It did. And then the image tried to climb into the kitchen window instead. Apparently my window was locked.
One time my mother was at the grocery store when I returned home from school. She had left the back door unlocked for me to get in. A man from across the street saw me try the front door which was locked, and then go in the back door.
He must have known I was alone. Who knows how long he had been watching me.
The next thing I knew was he was knocking on the front door and offered me a quarter if I'd open the door. I refused.
Then I saw him see the back door was open. I ran to the back door and tried so hard to get it locked. It was terrifying. He was walking to the back door and we had those stupid old skeleton keys. It was so hard to get it locked but I did it just in time. He left very angry.
I never told my mother.
My parents thought I was too old to be afraid of the dark. I remained PARALYZINGLY afraid of the dark well into my adulthood.
My mother in law used to joke that she is the only mother in law who every babysat her daughter in law. My husband worked the night shift. :)
I also had some very scary experiences I cannot write about here. But needless to say, they were traumatic and it effected how I viewed things.
When Annie wrote about the serene setting and how one person interprets things very differently.... I am that person too!
I think when Mike and I first married, I drove him crazy locking everything. He would walk out of the house and I'd lock the door. I locked car doors, I locked the garage and I locked every window. I am a very good locker. LOL
Mike's upbringing was WORLDS apart from my own. He grew up spending his days on the Lake of Pawtuckaway in the Summers, and Nashua NH during the school years. He ran the streets and played and never felt a sense of danger. He has fond memories of his childhood.
To THIS DAY..... when I walk out of a store, I have my keys in my hand set for self defense just in case. Logically, I know I am in a pretty safe place. But my experience tells me otherwise.
When I see somebody walk down the street in our country area, I am immediately suspicious.
Mike sees a guy walking down the street. I see a criminal.
Isn't that AWFUL!!!!!
I don't like to view things like this. I FIGHT IT..... and I have done pretty well overcoming much of it. I even leave the door unlocked during the daytime now. :)
The experiences I had as a child, have helped me to understand where my girls are coming from sometimes. While they are different, there are some common themes.
So, when Annie showed the picture on her blog..... I looked at it and thought about what I would have been like several years ago. I would have seen a bad person lurking in the bushes, or could have seen it wasn't safe because nobody was around. Today, I am not that person.... Today I can look at a picture like this:
The other day, Alli and Sarah went for a bike ride. Sarah, is no longer afraid like she used to be. 5 years ago, we had to stay in the bathroom with her, even in the day time. Today, she can ride her bike freely and enjoy everything.
Alli, is still afraid. Alli is afraid of a car running her down. She is afraid somebody will kidnap her. She is afraid when Sarah goes ahead on her bike, it is because Sarah is trying to win in a race that doesn't really exist. Alli gets her feelings hurt because she sees that Sarah wants to be first. Sarah gets confused because as she says, "I'm just riding my bike."
Alli is still interpreting her present experience by her past. They are not the same. They cannot be measured by the same standard. Alli is hypervigilant about relationships right now because she has never experienced so much love. Not because others didn't love her, but because she couldn't receive it.
Now that she can, she is cherishing it, and trying her hardest to hang onto it. She is far from this serene picture. She is learning that she doesn't have to try so hard. We love her period. She is learning that Sarah loves her too. She isn't competing. Nobody has to be first or win. We are all winners. :)
Because of our new notebook experience, that I wrote about here, both Alli and Sarah were able to write about the bike riding experience of yesterday. We would have never known! LOL
And we were able to explain to each of them separately what the other is possibly thinking and how they can try to understand each other.
It really REALLY did help!
This a.m. Sarah and I looked at some peaceful pictures and talked about fear and what a fearful person might see. Sarah suddenly said, "I used to be like that!" :) I was so happy to see her understanding CLICK, and she was given renewed energy to love on her little sister who so desperately craves her acceptance. :)
Monday, August 29, 2011
Mom, Dad and Me Books
The other day I was thinking about what an important job it is to communicate with my girls. Sometimes they don't ask things, because they don't want somebody else to hear their question, or they are too shy.
I remember longing to talk with somebody when I was a young teen. There is such a need at that age to connect, to feel like you aren't alone, to be reassured! I was such a gawkly, awkward kid at this age. I wasn't a beautiful girl.... I was taller than all the boys, skinny, and insecure. I had thoughts that were deep and grown up, and thoughts that were rather childish....
All weekend I was trying to figure out another avenue to communicate. We take the girls out alone 1 time each month, and that is really fun! Sometimes they go alone to the grocery store, and that is fun too....but sometimes they need more.
So, I came up with a Diary of sorts. It is a 3 way diary between Mom, Dad and each of our girls.
I purchased them each a theme book, on sale for 40 cents! (score!)
The idea is that they will write an entry each day. It doesn't have to be a question; maybe a compliment or a complaint. It could even be a poem or a serious pondering. And then, mom and dad will write something back.
I am really looking forward to them communicating freely with both of us. They already do for the most part, but I can tell there are times they want to say something and hold back. I hope this will be an avenue to help them get around their shyness or awkwardness.
Today, each of my girls thoughtfully wrote something in their book, and placed them on my desk to read for later.
It is so precious to see their words. It was clear on the very first day that this is going to be a GOOD thing! :)
And now, I need to go and ponder one of the questions! LOL
A Funny For August
Anna, "What did you have for lunch?"
Alli, "I had Roman Numerals."
Anna, puzzled look..... "Alli, that is math!"
Alli, "Oh, I mean Ramen Noodles".
LOL
Alli, "I had Roman Numerals."
Anna, puzzled look..... "Alli, that is math!"
Alli, "Oh, I mean Ramen Noodles".
LOL
Sunday, August 28, 2011
So What Else Do You Do When It Is 106?
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Science Project
This week and last week we were studying cells. We learned all about the different parts of the cell, including the Nucleus, Cytoplasm, DNA, ER, pores, cell wall, mitochondria, lysosomes, golgi bodies, centrioles, RNA, ribosomes, etc......
It was really FUN... 2 girls earned 5.00 for being able to say, "deoxyribonucleic acid" correctly on demand, and to know it's function. :)
We had a day full of laughter talking about how the DNA is the encyclopedia of the cell which will later determine many things about us inherited from our parent's DNA. The girls were hilarious "guessing" what some of those things were. :)
Of course the funniest one was the suggestion that Sarah has a hyperactive uncle bouncing around Ukraine somewhere smiling at everybody. LOL (you would have had to have been there)
So, for our experiment: We made our owndisgusting edible cells. :)
We started last night with making Jello and putting it into 4 different bowls.
Something happened to Erika's cell when we were turning it over. It sort of fell apart.
Anna said there was something wrong with it's DNA. LOL
All in all..... it was a very good science week. :)
It was really FUN... 2 girls earned 5.00 for being able to say, "deoxyribonucleic acid" correctly on demand, and to know it's function. :)
We had a day full of laughter talking about how the DNA is the encyclopedia of the cell which will later determine many things about us inherited from our parent's DNA. The girls were hilarious "guessing" what some of those things were. :)
Of course the funniest one was the suggestion that Sarah has a hyperactive uncle bouncing around Ukraine somewhere smiling at everybody. LOL (you would have had to have been there)
So, for our experiment: We made our own
Anna said there was something wrong with it's DNA. LOL
Thursday, August 25, 2011
BCLC "How Do I Know It Works"
I love checking out the feedjit information on how folks find my blog. The most recent inquiry was a google inquiry on "How do I know it works!" Regarding BCLC.
I'm glad whoever it was found my blog.
Because I CAN HONESTLY SAY: "IT WORKS!"
LOVE WORKS!
Today, the girlies and I were reading the 4th Chapter of 1st John. The entire book of 1st John is about love. But today was just great. LOVE YOUR BROTHERS (sisters) :)
LOVE NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER FAILS!
EVER!
I'm glad whoever it was found my blog.
Because I CAN HONESTLY SAY: "IT WORKS!"
LOVE WORKS!
Today, the girlies and I were reading the 4th Chapter of 1st John. The entire book of 1st John is about love. But today was just great. LOVE YOUR BROTHERS (sisters) :)
LOVE NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER FAILS!
EVER!
A Daddy Alli Date
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