Happy Birthday

The 20th is Scott's birthday. It's hard to believe he'll be 37. He's on a fast track to 40! I met him when he was 21. He is so different than what he was then, in such a good way. He has studied himself into this amazing husband and father. I would say the Word is what has transformed him. There have been times that he has come to me to tell me that he found something in scripture and then apologize to me for not living up to it. There aren't many men willing to do that, or women, for that matter. We'll have a little celebration for him Saturday evening with our parents. Ben and Anna Kate have a special song for him (Happy Birthday in Spanish..something from school). Then in just a few short months we'll be celebrating his graduation and then our 14th anniversary.

Happy birthday honey!!!! We love you!

Birthday message from Anna Kate:

I love you because you are special because you know me and you know everybody and you take care of us when we get scared. You do everything we want you to do and I love you!

Birthday message from Ben:

I love you dearly. And, daddy, I love you because you're a wonderful daddy and you'll always be my daddy.

A Song

A couple of years ago, Scott went to a conference and brought me home a CD by the Getty's. Love them!!!! Anyway, shortly after that, we started going through some trying times and this song encouraged me. I had forgotten about it until I sat down to play the piano today (I don't have the kids) and I found it in a book. I've been singing it since I found it. I love this song!

Jesus, draw me ever nearer as I labor through the storm
You have called me to this passage and I'll follow though I'm worn

Jesus guide me through the tempest, keep my spirit staid and sure
When the midnight meets the morning, let me love You even more

Let the treasures of the trial form within me as I go
And at the end of this long passage, let me leave them at Your throne

May this journey bring a blessing, May I rise on wings of faith
And at the end of my heart's testing, with your likeness, let me wake.

I have some friends and family who are really going through it these days...the one step ahead four steps back kind of thing. Sometimes things SEEM (what we perceive) to come so easily for people. It seems like life falls into place for them and for those who have ever had major struggles, it may seem like their pit never ends. However, at the end of the testing, we will awaken with His likeness and we will have grown to love Him even more.

Losing a Tooth

Ben lost his first tooth. When we took him to the dentist in January, she found it. She said give it about a month and it would come out. Sure enough, it did! Sunday morning when he woke up, he said "Mommy, my tooth is even loose". This was kind of in a whine. While he was eating breakfast he was whining too and I thought, "This thing has got to come out soon". After breakfast he went into his room and hollered "Mommy, I pulled my tooth". I really couldn't believe it. Normally, stuff like that freaks him out.

He's really cute with his little tooth missing! He keeps coming up to me and smiling, just so I'll make over how cute he is. On Monday, one of the times he didn't quite get the response he wanted so he said "Mommy why didn't you say how cute I am like you usually do?" Good grief! So, I stopped what I was doing and hugged him and told him how cute his mommy thought he was (for the 25th time that day...okay, I may be exaggerating a little).

A New Baby

No, not us! A friend of mine had her third baby this morning. First of all, I have to say, he's a cutie! I went to see the babe and his mommy and daddy today. We were doing some other errands so Scott and kids went and just waited in the waiting room. After we were on our way again in the car, Anna Kate gave me some insight that I have never had before...

Anna Kate: Mommy, do you know how babies eat when they are in their mommy's bellies? Their mommies just eat, and whatever they eat, it goes down to their belly and the baby catches it in it's hand and puts the food in their "moufs".

Me: Anna Kate, I don't think that's how babies eat!

Anna Kate: Uh-huh!!! That's how Jayme told they "eated" when she had her baby in her belly.

When...

Colton gets a kid, he can't wear diapers. He'll have to wear underwear.

-Anna Kate

Profound Words

The reason I blog everything my kids say is not so everyone will think my kids are wonderful (although, I think they are)...I truly do use this as a way to keep memories! I've always written down the cute things my kids say, but it is much easier for me to type. Not quite so hard on the hands...

Ben: This homeschool is alot like a boarding school because I live here. If another kid came, it would be a boarding school for him and I would have another kid to play with.

Me: So, are you wanting to go to school somewhere else so you will have someone to play with all the time?

Ben: No, no, no. My public school days are over. You can't live back in the past.

Well spoken son...

Memory Loss

Well, I have a new one from Ben. I thought I might not put this on the blog but it's just so random...it must be Duncan kid trait. The Duncan grandkids come up with some of the funniest things, like when one nephew said his stomach hurt "like a submarine crashed on the bottom of the ocean...and people died".

Ben first of all, ran to me in the other room to be sure I knew he needed to "poo-poo". Being his mother, I realized that meant he wanted me to check on him. When I went to check on him here was the conversation...

Me: Ben, are you done?

Ben: Yes, I'm done. Shew that didn't feel so good!

Me: Well, sometimes that happens.

Ben: Yeah, it made me lose some of my memories.

I've never heard of that condition, but if a condition can be thought of, it will probably be thought of by one of the seven Duncan grandkids...

Good Boy!!!!

Well, Ben has been doing such a good job! His attitude has been great! I have now experienced him as just a typical kid. He has not been whine free or perfect, which is typical. Scott was praising him this morning because he actually got ready for church without kicking and screaming. He whined a bit, but caught himself rather than blowing it up into a terrible twos fit. I'm really not exaggerating.

Scott: "Are you growing up or are you just getting tired of getting in trouble?

Ben: "Dad, boys never get tired of getting in trouble. I guess I'm growing up."