Heath's sick.....

Our little Heath is sick today. He woke up crying, and complained of a sore throat. He stayed home from pre-school and watched cartoons! As you can see in the picture I tried to push the fluids (hot chocolate and water), but he wasn't super interested. He felt a little better after some medicine, but after 4 hours was feeling sick again. He is sleeping now, and we're hoping he will make a full recovery before the big weekend.

Not much else is new here. Cool fall weather has set in here.

The women who cuts my hair, who is also a friend and neighbor left some treats on our doorstep last night and rang the doorbell, but our doorbell doesn't work , she emailed me this morning, so I knew they were there. Yum! I'm glad they weren't stolen, like our pumpkins were Saturday night! Isn't that sad? Hopefully the thief is enjoying our lovely pumpkins...

I won't write again this week probably as we will be getting ready for our trip up north for the big wedding! Jack told me yesterday that he thought about the wedding all day yesterday! He's so excited! (wait until he realizes what a wedding entails..he'll be sorely disappointed) He is excited about the dinners and the dance though and that's fun. Jack does a little jive, where he kid of shrugs his shoulders while he dances...it's super cute! Ask him to "jive" for you the next time you see him.

Love you all!

Happy 33rd Birthday Craig!

October 11th, 2008...Happy Birthday, Craig! The weather today was beautiful, 75 and sunny! Craig went to a Relient K concert last night with Mark Carey (who passed his boards and is officially a PT now...yea, Mark!) His brother Chris came down last night for the concert as well, and then stayed today. Chris and I woke up and entertained the boys while the birthday boy slept in a little. Then we just hung around the house and had lunch. Then it was off to the YMCA to swim. Then birthday pie (dutch apple...yum!) Then off to a playground (which I guess is exactly what Craig wanted to do on his birthday ; ) ) Then the boys had hot dogs and we're ordering out...maybe Chinese...maybe pizza...who knows! Here are some pix from the day. Love you all! Stephanie

Klackles Apple Orchard...

Today Jack, Heath and I went to Klackles, which is north of Grand Rapids, about 45 minutes for a field trip in Jack's class. Ah, 19 1st graders at an apple orchard...organized chaos is a fine description of our day. We've been there before, actually before Heath was even born...it is really nice and there is lots to do: pick apples, ride in large pumpkins, or flatbeds behind tractors, there are trikes that look like tractors, really too much to mention. And if you go with a group you pay one flat rate for it all, plus you get a bag of apples(that you pick), a pumpkin (that you pick) and cider and doughnuts. YUMMY! They sell lots of "fall stuff"...which I dig. The boys had so much fun, and were very well behaved, which is more than I can say for 80% of Jack's classmates.....ok, that comment wasn't necessary, but I thought it shed light and color to my story. Here are some pictures from the day...

It was a beautiful day and I look forward to going back again, maybe even this year. (but not on a Saturday...crazy busy!) Today there weren't very many people there which made it nice.

The alphabet song

I just want to say that it is so hard to walk that very thin line between mother bear and daughter of Christ....I will give you a quick example. Last week Jack happenstansly mentioned that two younger girls ran by him on the playground and said "dummy, dummy" in a sing-song way. Of course Jack has never heard that word before, but understood their tone, and his feelings were hurt. He was exposed, humiliated...for the first time maybe. As a mom, that one is tough. I of course listened and hugged him, saying that I was sorry that happened and that I would talk to his teacher to make her aware of the situation, so that other boys and girls would not have their feelings hurt. But inside, I was plotting a dark mission of hatred toward these girls and was surprised by how quickly I came up with a list of hurtful and torturous things I could do to them as retribution. I quickly asked forgiveness from my Father and moved on. Today in the grocery store, Heath said he was reciting his alphabet song in class and Benjamin said "that's not how it goes"! (if you've ever heard Heath recite the ABC song, you'll find that to be a true statement...) His little head drooped and I could tell tears were coming to his eyes...at that moment, I bent over to comfort him and I felt hot tears spring to my eyes as well. So innocent, so pliable, that the critique of a classmate, age 4, could have such an effect on him. And that's when it occurred to me...that's us. We're all 4. Not only are we Heath, trying hard, failing and having it pointed out to us, but we are also Benjamin, quick to judge and point out the faults of those around us, in order to make ourselves look better. Even to our loved ones, children, parents, coworkers, friends....some of us may even do it in a passive aggressive way (you know, "I'm just joking"), so that it comes off better....some of may even do it in our hearts and minds, so no one will know (even though our Father in heaven knows what we do in secret...). I saw a man standing at the bus stop today wearing goggles on his head and talking to himself, as the rain fell, and I thought, that could be my Jack someday... if he doesn't pull completely out of the autism...and people will drive by and think "freak" to themselves....



I guess what I'm saying is, I need to start over. I need to leave that 4 year-old preschooler mentality behind and BE KIND! I hope these short stories touched you and help to remind you picture your son, nephew, or grandson when you go to judge or be cruel to another. Have a blessed day.

October already?

Happy October, everyone! Can you believe it? Where did September go? Where did the summer go? And, according to Costco and the area malls, it's almost Christmas. Is it just me or is Christmas getting earlier and earlier every year? It drives me crazy! There should be some sort of law....can I hear an amen?

So I told you I would update my pictures, so here they are. This is me and Renee and Tracy at the baby shower for Hayden.

And here is me and Grandma Balyo from my trip to see her last weekend for her birthday. I wish there was a picture of me in the sun by the pool, but alas, there was no sun while I was there...we played "spite and malice" every afternoon and "aggravation" at night. I've never watched so much "Hallmark" channel before, but the visit was enjoyable. Happy 81 st birthday, Grandma!

This month, we have some things that are news worthy...Craig's birthday is the 11th.....he is going to a Relient K concert Friday night and he and I are going out to eat on Wed. Also, Renee and Chris are getting hitched October 18th! Hurray! I will post pictures of all the upcoming events, plus Jack's field trip to Klackles Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard this Thursday. Fun! I am a chaperone!

Tune in for more interesting news on the Tamlyn boys (young and old)

The Shack

I just finished reading "The Shack" by W.M. Paul Young. THE BEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ! I read it in less than 48 hours, which for me is something. If you've read it, then you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't read it, you need to get on your library's waiting list or by it off Amazon...right now! It will change your life. If it doesn't change your life, you need to read it again. I'm praying that everyone who reads this book is significantly changed, in ways that only God can help with. It's time to step out of the darkness and into the Light...for good! For always!

There are some of course, that will discredit the book and author. Don't let that deter you. IT's WONDERFUL!

I pray you're all well. Scott and Erika, I was so sad to hear of your pastor's passing. What a burden for your church body to bear. I will pray for you and them, that God's goodness will be revealed within the hurt and sorrow of this great loss.

Busy month....

As if our summer was not busy enough, the fall is proving to be much of the same! So far, the boys are enjoying school very much! Jack's anxiety seems much improved compared to years past, where after school he is wound tight as a top! (Thanks Paxil)

Yesterday, Heath said, "Well, I guess I have to go back to school tomorrow...pbbbrr..." ( Chris and Renee you can probably picture this better than anyone, since he learned it from you) Almost in mock frustration. Since he loves school. It was super cute, of course! The other day his teacher said he and a classmate, Jacob, were becoming quite chummy and saying "Grandpa Bobo"...over and over, which I got to experience in the car all the way home! (thanks, Dad!)



Jack also has some nice stories from school. Of course Craig and I are on super-psycho alert for anyone picking on him or misunderstanding him...looking at him wrong (haha)! But he is enjoying it, which we hoped he would.



This last weekend I went home for Tracy Tamlyn's (my sister-in-law) baby shower; she is due around Thanksgiving. We are super excited to welcome another boy. Hayden James is his name! I will submit pictues from the shower soon! Also, while I was home, I was able to spend some one-on-one time with my Grandma Clarke, which is rare these days. It was so nice! We drank wine and played cribbage (our favorite card game) and made dinner and talked. We both enjoyed it! Happy Birthday, Gram!



This weekend, I'm visiting my Grandma Balyo for her birthday! We are both looking forward to it. I will tell you about it when I get back, with pictures as well.



That's all for now. I'll keep you posted on all the goings on of the Tamlyns.