Hunky Dunky

Posted in my boy by thepriestmans

Sorry for the Facebook repeat. I decided this one was worth saving with our family stories.

I wish I could explain just how hard it is to keep it together when Jacob looks at me with the most serious face and with raised eyebrows says, “MOM. I HAFTA tell you dis. Dunky-Wunky dist totally FELL. He dist totally BWOKE a bunch, Mom. He did! And den, he couldn’t even be FIXED. I’m not even kidding. Dunky-Wunky is BWOKEN. But, MOM… He was SO BWAVE. Dunky-Wunky is SO BWAVE because he didn’t even CWY when he was all bwoken on his head. I’m so see-wious. And when all da kings and ho-ses came, day couldn’t even fix him, Mom! Day dist COULDN’T DO IT.”

Is it terrible that I asked him to tell me the story about 7 more times, just because I died inside of pure and utter hilarity each and every time he said Dunky-Wunky? I didn’t even know who the heck Dunky-Wunky was until he was all the way through the story the first time. And now, I just want to wake him up to hear him tell me the story again. Or the one about “Little Wed Widing Hood who was chased by da big WOOF-DOG while her Gwampa was at work.”

Next Morning:
First thing this morning, I asked Jacob to tell me the story of Dunky-Wunky again. He was just waking up (video includes puffy eyes, morning voice, and a hair spike), so I didn’t get as many details. Also, after hearing his version of the story last night, his older and wiser sister did her best to correct “Dunky Wunky.” But he still doesn’t get it quite right. So here it is, the shortened, partly corrected story of the now-called Hunky-Dunky. You’ll at least get a picture of the seriousness of his story telling last night…

20Jun2013

Lazy Days Of Summer

Posted in Uncategorized by thepriestmans

Around the Priestman home, we take this phrase seriously. And quite literally. (Or at least some of us do. There is one over-achiever that still works his tail off. We’ll have to forgive him for making the rest of us look bad.)

Summer Day Number 1. At around 11:15, I posted this on Facebook:

TODAY: First official day of summer vacation.

Weather: RAIN. Exactly what I prayed for. (Sorry, friends. I needed a guilt-free lazy day.)

Places I have to go: NOWHERE

Things I have to do: NOTHING (Well, except some serious housework and laundry. But we’ll see.)

Things I’ve done so far:
– Slept in until nearly 8:30. (It would’ve been later if not for 2 extremely persistent little people.)
– Fed the kids breakfast. (Sure, it was only so they’d stop nagging me about it. But just whatever. They ate.)
– Enjoyed a couple cups of delicious coffee while sitting in my recliner with a blanket.
– Chatted with friends on FB.
– Snuggled with my 2 littlest peeps.
– Spit all over my computer while watching youtube videos on how to whistle with my fingers. (It’s NOT working, Karen and Erick. The only sounds I’ve managed to make are gagging noises.)

Things I’ve NOT done:
– Shower
– Cleaning
– Laundry
– Any work of any kind

Things I don’t plan on doing:
– Anything that requires my hair done, make -up, or public-appropriate clothing.

It’s now 2 hours later, and I’ve accomplished TWO more tasks! I know, I know. Somebody stop me!
1. I fed the starving and begging children lunch. Nevermind what I fed them. Just know they ate. And were sufficiently satisfied.
2. I showered. And brushed my teeth. Because I’m just crazy like that.

And really, that last one is TWO things, so I guess I should say I’ve accomplished THREE tasks. But no worries, I got right back into clean but too-inappropriate-for-public clothing. Hello, yoga pants and ratty/stained sweatshirt.

And then, I texted my husband.

By “Laundry in the works,” I just meant the pile on the hallway floor has made it to the couch to be folded. Folding and further washing hasn’t actually started yet.

My point in telling you all this? I have two, really…

1. All you over-achievers posting about the masses of things you’ve accomplished on this here first day of summer? You’ve been hidden on my newsfeed. I prefer my laziness to be guilt-free. You were really starting to hinder that.

2. I’m sorry to say, I’m praying for yet one more super rainy day tomorrow. Unfortunately, this house is going to need cleaning someday. And clearly, today is not that day. Better luck tomorrow. It will just require more rain.

HAPPY SUMMER, Y’ALL!

11Jun2013

First Crush?

Posted in joy found, my boy by thepriestmans

It’s late.

I should be doing report cards.
I should be cleaning the kitchen.
I should be folding the laundry that has been laying in the corner of the hallway for longer than I care to admit. It might even be dirty by now.
I should be switching the load of laundry before the stuff in the washer starts to stink and I have to run it on a rinse cycle with more fabric softener. Again.
I should be in bed.

None of the above are happening, because I have this story that keeps making me smile, and I need to get it out. Some of you may have seen part of it already. I originally included it in my 10-list that I posted yesterday. But after hitting “publish,” I decided to take it out and make it it’s own post. It’s worthy of standing alone.

In yesterday’s post, you met one of Jacob’s heroes: Pastor Phil. The other is the beautiful Julianne Seely. You may remember her from this post, where I used Jacob’s adoration of her to try to convince him to eat his dinner. Whatever works, right? Only it didn’t.

Yesterday, Jacob came with me to drop Annalise off at her ballet class. Once we got there and saw Julianne’s car in the parking lot, I realized why he had wanted to go with me so badly: We pass Julianne’s dance class in the hall on the way to Annalise’s. Sometimes, we get to see her and say hello. This time, however, the door was shut. I kept walking towards Leesie’s class when I realized Jacob wasn’t with me. I turned around and saw this:

Yes, that is my child laying on the ground.
Yes, he is looking under the closed door.
Yes, that is the door to Julianne’s dance class.
Yes, he did cry when we left because, “I didn’t get to see Julianne! I dist got to see her FEET!!”

I tried to console him by reminding him that we would likely see Julianne when we came back at the end of class. There was no consoling. Only panic. “But what if she’s gone already? What if we miss her?” I switched my tactics to distraction, which seemed to do the trick. (Wondering how much longer I have with that tactic. It can be such a life-saver.)

After some errands, it was time to head back. Jacob spotted Julianne’s red VW bug as we pulled in. He started to giggle, clap, and even squeal with delight. “Mommy, LOOK! You were right! She IS here! We get to see her!” He was beginning to remind me of a pre-teen girl giddy over a boy-band. We were nearing full-on freak-out excitement.

“Mommy! I’m dist so excited!… Auntie Nee’s Honey is here!!!”

Auntie Nee’s Honey? Julianne is Auntie Nee’s daughter, but I’ve never used that phrase. And to my knowledge, neither has anyone else. Bewildered, I looked back at him for clarification.

His wide smile got even wider. He had a twinkle in his eye and he let out a little giggle. Yes, this was very much like a pre-teen girl freak-out. “(giggle) I’m dist so excited. So excited dat I forgot her name for a sec. So dat’s why I dist called her Auntie Nee’s Honey.”

Oh, if only Auntie Nee’s Honey were 18 years younger. Poor Jacob.

The Priestmans love you, Julianne! (Only most of us won’t come looking under any doors for you.)

11Jun2013

10-List

Posted in grace, joy found, my boy, my girl by thepriestmans

Growing up, whenever someone made me mad, my mom would make me say 10 things I liked about that person. You know, to focus on the positive and remember the reasons I’m thankful for that person. To think about why it is that I love them.

I hated it.

Lots of times, I could only (begrudgingly) squeak out one or two good things about someone before I would need to start a whole new list in my head of 10 things I like… about my mom. For making me play such a horrible game. Obviously.

Now I’m a grown-up (or so they say.) And a mom. I may or may not have made my children do the same thing. I’m not admitting to anything.

Sometimes you need a 10-list for life…

-Maybe it’s because someone caused your “Mama Bear”-ness to kick into high gear and you’d like to teach that person a thing or twelve. Just. Breathe. 10 things. 10 reasons NOT to rip their face off… And yes, you know you’ve been there.
-Maybe you were hurt and ready to quit and you forgot that there is good or how to smile, so you just needed a little smile-reminder.
-Maybe you got to a point where you felt like what’s the point and who really cares anyway and all this work is just turning into more work and I’ve had it up to HERE with it all. And who would even notice if I just drowned in it, because it’s already at my chin and will reach my eyeballs soon… but by then it will be too late.

…Or maybe, just maybe, you said too many things that tear down, and it’s time you forced yourself to say a thing or two that builds up.

I may or may not have experienced all of the above these past few weeks. But I’m not admitting to anything.

I’m reminded I need to get back to journaling my Gifts of Grace. The things that remind me how much my God loves ME. That his grace is big enough to hold even me. And even more than that, He takes great delight in me. He delights in Me. Why does that surprise me every time I read it? And when my fists shake and my heart aches and everything is anything but still, He quiets me with his love.

Here are some of the love gifts of grace that have quieted my soul these past few weeks. Things that have made me remember to smile when I didn’t feel like it. My 10-list for life right now:

1. A teacher smile. While correcting a measurement test, I got to a question on appropriate units for measuring temperature. The Super Tall Kid in my class answered in three words: “Fair In Height.”

2. I was blessed to attend several graduation parties for students I taught for two years. I was Miss Kuzina their 4th grade year and Mrs. Priestman for 5th. They threw a shower for me at the end of 4th grade, and a few even attended our wedding that summer. And now? They’re all growed up and heading off to college. I know, I know. I couldn’t possibly be old enough to have former students graduating already. Or to have others already graduated, married, and with kids my own son’s age. Just… whatever.

3. Annalise is also growing up and would like me to stop using baby words on her. I told her that the belt needed to go around her tummy. She said, without a hint of disrespect in a totally serious and surprised-I-didn’t-already-know-it tone, “It’s called a waist, Mom.”

4. Jacob and I were having a conversation about obedience. Every day. Every 3 minutes. Forever. In one of those conversations, I said he had disobeyed. “No, Mom. I unbeyed.” Exasperated, I asked him what he was talking about. “When I do what you ask, it’s called O-beying. When I don’t do what you ask, it’s called UN-beying. Mom, it makes perfect sense.” Yes. Yes it does.

5. Matt’s parents took the kids for a couple hours one Sunday afternoon just for fun, which gave me time to work. I somehow found myself alone on the patio in the sunshine with good coffee and a good book. Who needs work? Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa!

6. Annalise and I had a discussion about a behavior pattern she (we) are working on. Proverbs 29:11 “A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back.” At first, she felt the verse didn’t apply to her, because she’s not a man, of course. Um, no. So I read it again. “A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back.” I waited. She thought. And then she grimaced. “Mommy! I do not want to be that fool. Because you know why? His house went SPLAT!” You know, because it was built on the sand, and the rains came and… you know the rest. Splat.

7. One of Jacob’s favorite people on earth is Pastor Phil. While getting his haircut the other day, Jacob informed the hairdresser he “wanted his hair short, but not as short as Daddy’s.” She asked how short Daddy’s hair is. “Weeeeeally short. ‘Cause he doesn’t have any hair!” She laughed. He continued, “Just make it like Past-oh Phil’s. I want it dat short.” She responded, “Make it like Buster who?” He repeated his request and told her all about his “buddy” and our church. Mom Smile.

8. When I picked Leesie up from ballet today, she was given her ballet pictures along with several wonderful compliments from different grown-ups about how she is doing in tap. My girl stood there and beamed. Sometimes, those are the things that fill a Mama’s heart the most. I can’t wait to see her perform this weekend.

9. The kids were invited to ride on a tractor in the Farmer’s Day Parade with THE Pastor Phil. (I thought Jacob might die.) He loved every second, but he was seriously cool as a cucumber once we got there. And while it was no carriage, it was the perfect chance for Annalise to master her princess wave.

photo(65)

10. Friends. Friends that bail you out in a pinch. Friends that encourage. Friends that are more than willing to take your kids, even when they’re all sugared up from way too much candy being thrown at the parade. Friends who laugh with you when – after we momentarily lose our daughters – one comes outside of the building saying the other is still inside in the bathroom but has “a paper towel stuck to her bottom.” Just don’t even ask. Friends starting their day in matching hats…

…and ending their day in matching birthday suits…

And really, how can you not smile when you see those two faces?

Oh yes, and a bonus item. I guess it’s an 11-list.
Getting my phone to find a picture and instead finding this:

38 of them in all. THIRTY-EIGHT. Plus several videos of her singing just exactly like she’s the star of a Broadway production. Dancing and singing… a song about Princess Annalise, of course. The videos won’t be shown without her permission, but they were just too hilarious not to mention.

And so I leave you with this… A sampling of the many faces of my girl. May it bring a smile to your face too:

26May2013

Her Favorite Sunday

Posted in grace, my girl by thepriestmans

There are many reasons why I love our church. If I could even put it into words just how much I love it, I would have lots to write. Because seriously. L-O-V-E.

This week, Annalise unknowingly illustrated a few of the reasons why our church is so wonderful…

Last Sunday, she and several other little people from her Kids’ Bible Class recited the scripture passage they’ve been memorizing (Isaiah 40:25-31).

*Sidenote. That sentence alone demonstrates THREE of the many reasons why we love Sunrise. 1) Emphasis – for ALL ages – on memorizing God’s Word. Because how can we really live it if we don’t really know it? 2) Kids’ Bible Class. An amazing class for little people taught by a precious woman of God, who does an incredible job of making God’s Story come alive for them. Seriously, every church needs this class… And Renee. Except we’re not willing to give her up. 3) Little people getting the opportunity to share God’s Word with others? I like the priorities.

So they recited their passage as I sat there in the front row, beaming. And crying. Obviously.

A few days later while we were on a walk, Annalise said to me, “Mommy, Sunday was my FAVORITE church day EVER. Because I got to say God’s Word to the WHOLE CHURCH… And Auntie Nee was there… Aaaaannnnd I could see Mrs. Enright smiling at me… Aaaaaannnd Pastor Phil was smiling at me, too… And Mommy? YOU were crying happy tears. And Daddy was videoing me, because he was so proud.”

Yep, love my church. Love Kids’ Bible Class. And even though I know they weren’t looking just at her, love Auntie Nee, Mrs. Enright, and Pastor Phil. And all the people here that help us grow.

And really love that my girl’s favorite church day ever is the one where she gets to share God’s Word.

We are blessed.

Isaiah 40:25-31

²⁵“To whom will you compare me?
    Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
²⁶Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.

²⁷Why do you say, oh Jacob?
    And complain, oh Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?
²⁸Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not faint.

Watch them here:

Amen!

Eyes to the Hills

Lifting my eyes. Finding my joy. Sharing it with others.

Author Archives: thepriestmans