Life's Lessons- Willingly or Unwillingly

My blog has been strangely silent the last few months, but trust me- I have VERY good reasons.  Our life went from cruising along at a somewhat moderate pace (as moderately as you can get with three kids) to a neck-breaking fast pace.  I won't try to catalogue everything that has happened since May as the post would be too long and too dull and boring for any of you to read.  Instead I'll share some things that I have learned over the past few months (willingly or unwillingly!)

About Weddings:

1. Planning a wedding is harder and takes more time than you think.
2. If you plan a wedding, you must be very flexible-because anything can change at the last moment: for instance an out-door wedding can suddenly become an in-door wedding, leaving you with 2 hr. to get everything ready for rehearsal!
3. I will never plan another wedding. No.  Not even under Chinese torture!

About Lightning:

1. Children should not play outside in the rain.
2. If you have to go out in the rain, try not to go into an open, unprotected field, walk around in water and hold up an umbrella like a lightning rod.
3. God is more powerful than lightning!
(If at this point you have no idea what I'm talking about, google "four children struck by lightning" and you'll soon see what I'm talking about.  If you go to Youtube you will probably find a video with Leland in it...his day in the sun) :)

About Flying:

1. If you wish to prevent your children from crying and making a scene, don't forget the gum! (I am validated as my kids were not the only ones crying)
2. Flying is boring for children, or so I was told many times!
3. Flying is not for pregnant women.
4. If a pregnant woman has to fly, she should NOT sit in the very last row where she feels every sway, bump and air turbulent!

About Camps:

1. Song Evangelism is hard work!!
2. After 40 services in a row your kids will hate church, as I overheard one emphatic little girl put it.
3. Nausea, vomiting, migraine headaches and dehydration are a bad combination-especially if you're the song evangelist.
4. Collapsing on the platform is undignified, unladylike and ungraceful and should be avoided if possible.
5. I will never give my kids pedialite.  Leland made me drink the stuff.  *sigh* Yes, I complied.   WELL! He's bigger than I am!!
6. If you notice scratches and lacerations on your child's stomach, it might be because they jumped out  a tabernacle window.
7. Camp food can actually be good, especially if you're in the state of Washington where they serve you thick, fresh salmon steaks!
8. "There's no place like home, Auntie Em."

About God:

1. God is not hindered by or worried about my weaknesses.
2. God is bigger than I think he is and is able to do more for me than I think. 

Lastly:

One grin and hug from a 15 month old who had to stay with Grandma and Grandpa is worth a fortune!!

Ok. Enough already!  (His Mommy really missed him.)