The Life and Times of the Watters Family

20 days to go!

We are counting down the days now til’ we leave for Disneyland!

Mickey Mouse is literally all over our house right now!

We are all getting really excited!

Art = serious stuff for Caleb and Sean

Great teamwork boys!

emergency dental visits

We just had our second visit this month! The first trip was for Sean, who broke off about 1/3 of a lower permanent tooth when he collided with Caleb during a game of catch in the back yard.

Today we went in for Caleb, who smashed his face on the monkey bars at the school. No broken teeth this time just lots of blood– we’ll have to wait for better x-rays in a couple weeks to see the full extent of the damage done. He did have to have some stitches to pull the skin back over the exposed bone (YUCK!) between his two front teeth. Caleb’s front teeth are a little displaced and we’ll have to wait and see how they want to treat it when we go back in two weeks.

Okay, so I know that this all goes with the territory of having two boys– but can I just say this part really sucks! It sucks for them for obvious reasons (injury, pain, etc.) and it sucks for us as parents because I don’t think there’s anything worse than seeing your child in pain. Personally, I have a very high tolerance for pain but I am such a wimp when it comes to seeing other people hurt! I am so glad that Cam was with us because I am almost useless when it comes to seeing my child bleed (almost passed out and threw up- told you I’m a wimp).

So, we spent our family time today at Dr. Bisese’s Pediatric dental office– which is a really nice office but not our ideal place to hang out on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Poor Caleb!

Blood:Water Mission– how can I help?

So, this might be a wordy post but I figure it’s a good place to write out my thoughts on the issue.

We have been watching American Idol this season pretty regularly (kind of ashamed to admit it) but anyway, the other night they did a pretty good thing. They raised over 60 million dollars (still going up) for children in Africa and the U.S. who live in extreme, poverty stricken conditions. While I watched the show I sobbed as they told the stories of so many children who have been orphaned by AIDS or who die of Malaria in Africa. The big question I am always left with is, “How can I make a difference?” I want to be aware of what’s happening in our world and become a part (as small as it may be) of the solution.

I heard the song Light Gives Heat today after dropping off the boys at school and it reminded me that Jars of Clay set up Blood:Water Mission a couple years ago as a way to respond to the crisis in Africa. While I can’t be sure how the donations given on the AI show will be distributed, I am confident that resources given to Blood:Water Mission will be “committed to clean blood and clean water to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic, to build clean wells in Africa, to support medical facilities caring for the sick, to make a lasting impact in the fight against poverty, injustice and oppression in Africa through the linking of needs, talents and continents, of people and resources”. If you would like to join our family in doing what we can to live out James 1:27, we’d love your participation. To make donating to this organization simple– I set up a “Charity Badge” (look right) and it will track all of the donations we raise together.

“Clean water is a powerful way to begin a large scale conversation about AIDS. The 1000 Wells Project is a simple campaign that has very little controversy surrounding it. It is difficult to argue whether or not a person should have clean water. It is also difficult to deny the equation: $1= clean water for 1 person for 1 year. And it is vital that the church begin to build relationships with African communities. When a well is built, a conversation is started, a relationship between the church and the community benefiting from the project begins. This is the seed of a worldview shift. This is what excites us about this project.”

-Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay

One of the main things I appreciate about the approach that Blood:Water Mission takes is that the goal is NOT to go to Africa like we are the “Heroes from the West, We don’t know you, we know best”. The idea is to offer our help and treat each one with the dignity and respect they deserve. Going to be the Light.

Light Gives Heat

Catch the rain empty hands
Save the children from their lands
Wash the darkness from their skin
Heroes from the west
We don’t know you, we know best
This is not a test

You treat me like I’m blind
Setting fires around houses on the hill
But light gives heat
You segregate my mind
Burning crosses from your fears
The light gives heat

It’s not the way to light their way
Boys in holes in empty fields
Oh, how good it feels
Lower-class, and understate
Empty promise, empty plate

You treat me like I’m blind
Setting fires around houses on the hill
Light gives heat
You segregate my mind
Burning crosses from your fears, your fears
But light gives heat, gives heat

You treat me like I’m blind
Setting fires around houses on the hill
Light gives heat
You segregate my mind
Burning crosses from your fears
But light gives heat

Will you teach us how to love?
To see the things you see
Walk the road you walked
Feel the pain that you feel
At your feet I kneel,
I want to see you shine
See your light not mine
‘Cause light gives heat
Your light gives heat

Words and music by Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark

recent photos

Seany playing catcher in his baseball game last Monday.

Caleb and I entertaining ourselves at Sean’s game by taking self-portraits.

Cam and I on our date night last Saturday. I really like Cam’s new glasses.

encouragement

Commission:
Count it a joy, Dear One
When life gets hard.
God is doing something huge!
He is also proving
That you are NOT a fake.
Be brave, Mighty Warrior.
Your God is with you!
When waves are crashing,
Stand to your feet,
Throw your head back
And feel the wind of the Spirit!
God is painting a masterpiece
With multi-colored trials.
Go forth and display
Divine special effects
To the great glory of God.
YOU CAN DO IT!

-Beth Moore

This commission was on Beth’s blog the other day, following a conference she had last weekend. It was encouraging to me today so I thought I’d share it.

this morning

They are hilarious– this morning they decided to dress the same (I used to make them dress the same all the time when they were little). Caleb, in particular, was in a silly mood before school (imagine that!). He was speaking in “Spanish” much to the irritation of his big brother. I thought it was pretty darn funny. Caleb’s “Spanish” consisted of counting to ten over and over, saying “Por Favor” after everything and adding “alito” to the other things he said (i.e. Seanalito, Momalito, Dadalito).

Eventually the conversation moved on to a confession (accidental) from Caleb about participating in some kind of chasing game at recess. Sean looks at me with this look that says, “Did you hear that?” (Sean wants to make sure that Caleb gets busted for playing chasing games because Sean has been in BIG trouble a few times for it). Caleb tries to defend himself with “Well it hasn’t become unhandy yet”. At this point Sean is about to burst into laughter– he looks at me, rolls his eyes (in a sweet way) and says to Caleb, “By the way Caleb, you mean out of hand”. Well, maybe you had to be there to truly appreciate the exchange.

One minute they are fighting, the next laughing, and then they are hugging. Through it all they deeply and sincerely love each other and that is why it’s a good cycle– it’s great training for marriage or any good relationship for that matter.

Sean’s Baseball Schedule

Friday, April 20th @6:45 pm

Monday, April 23rd @6:45 pm

Friday, April 27th @5:30 pm

Thursday, May 3rd @6:45 pm

Friday, May 4th @6:45 pm

Friday, May 11th @5:30 pm

Saturday, May 12th @10:30 am– (Caleb also has a 10:20 soccer game)

Monday, May 14th @5:30 pm

Saturday, May 19th @9:00 am

Saturday, June 2nd @12:00 pm

Most games are played at Northwest Fields except Saturday games which will be played at Meridian Middle School.

Cowboy Caleb

Cowboy Caleb was up at 6:49 this morning dressed from head to toe in Cowboy garb. Completely in character. I said, “Good morning Caleb!” He said, “That’s Cowboy Caleb to you missy!” Thank you Grandpa Michael!

So right this moment as I am posting these pictures Caleb and Sean are arguing about what time Caleb woke Sean up and Caleb says to Sean (in his best southern accent), “You woke your own self up you HILLBILLY!”

Today

I liked this picture that Cam took Monday at Pike Place Market.

I started the Daniel study– wow– that’s all I can say. I know it’s gonna be another great adventure. I am really excited for what God is going to teach me during these next months through this study.

Sean & Caleb hung out with Grandpa Mike all day and had a BLAST! Caleb came home with cowboy boots and a cowboy hat– he was delighted. It was fun for them and a nice little break for me.

Sara and I shopped for baby decor. It was so fun! There are so many adorable little girl things. It’s gonna be so hard to wait for 20 more weeks to meet that little girl!

I am getting used to new hair– I had “low-lights” added to my hair color yesterday and it made my hair much darker (and a little burgundy). I think it will just take a little while to get used to it.

I read this great blog post by Beth Moore about being a Mom and the importance of having friends- it made me think of my friends and how we have done so much life together with our little kids–how much I love them and their families. The post also made me think of 2 other mommies-to-be I know and how much they have to look forward to in raising their babies together. What an amazing gift is an encouraging, supportive and loving friend who loves your kids almost as much as you do.

Today was a good day.

it’s a girl!!!!

Sara and Scott are having a baby girl!! Having a baby girl around will be such a novelty for us all. It will be the first granddaughter for both sides of their families. Cam, Sean, Caleb and couldn’t resist picking out something at Baby Gap today in Seattle. Caleb’s response to finding out it was a girl– “I don’t care if it is a boy or a girl, I will adore it no matter what”. Sean said, “I want to teach her how to do the hula–just kidding”. We’re all really excited! Congratulations Scott & Sara!

this weekend we’re …..

(found this pic on 2peas) 

Am I crazy?

I am considering home education for the boys, again. I re-read much of A Well Trained Mind this week and it really resonates with me. The Classical Education approach that this book recommends makes so much sense. It breaks down the different stages of learning (Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric) to teach what their brains are truly capable understanding at each given stage. For the boys to get the kind of education we want for them (well rounded academically with individual thought and artistic expression), we will have to teach them ourselves. We don’t feel like they are challenged enough and they certainly don’t get the kind of one on one attention that we could provide at home. In addition, Sean and Caleb have so many activities they would like to participate but we just can’t have them running around like crazy in the afternoons and evenings after being at school for 5 1/2 hours a day. The good news is, I already have most of the resources I would need for this next school year (2nd and 3rd grades) and I know exactly what else I would use that I don’t currently have. The more research I do, the more I am leaning toward this decision. Now I just have to stop and pray. If I am not crazy now, I could very well be after a few weeks of having the boys with me 24/7.

New Banner Image

I also thought I’d send out mad props (she’ll hate that I used that phrase) to Betsy for the cool new banner image she made for the site. I loved it and thought I’d bring it to everyone’s attention.

Feel free to compliment her handiwork similarly! ;-P

Sean’s Baptism Video

Here’s the video that Betsy promised. It was a great honor for me to be able to share in the experience w/ Sean and I’m so grateful that he asked me to participate.

Sean’s Baptism

This was so incredibly cool. We are very proud of this little “Mr. Watters”. Thanks Grandmas and Grandpas, Uncle Cory, Uncle Scott and Auntie Sara for being there to support Sean! We have a little video clip that we’ll post as soon as we can rotate it.