golovachfamily.com

I got this idea from Bryan. I was amazed that I’m only missing 8 of the 50 states. Most of them are really cold!!

J
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bold the states you’ve been to, underline the states you’ve lived in and italicize the state you’re in now…

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C. /

Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.

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A couple of nights ago, #1 son and I worked on a project that was supposed to be done over spring break. Unfortunately, the airplane making business ruined that, so we got the opportunity to hit it after dinner on Monday. The project???? - learning to tie shoes. We had worked on it a while back, but we didn’t have much success. Now, armed with the “training shoe” that he brought home from pre-school, success was destined to be ours.

I still remember my sister Donna teaching me how to tie my shoes 30 years ago. We had a book that had a patent leather “training shoe” in it. I don’t have a lot of vivid details about the event, I just remember being there with the book and Donna trying to teach me a valuable life skill. Thanks Donna. Anyway, it took us a little while to get through the first step of the knot. He wanted to rush through it, but this is a very important step!!! If you make the first part of the knot the wrong way, you’ll end up with shoe lace bows that go up and down instead of side-to-side. Again, I can’t emphasize the importance of this step enough!!!

After mastering this step, he quickly went to work making the first loop. Then he had the dog chase the rabbit around the tree. Evidently, they worked on this at school. He did a pretty good job with this, but getting the dog to chase the rabbit through the hole was a little tough. It involved the delicate switching of the first loop to the other hand and then pulling the second loop through. It was touch-and-go for a little while, but he finally did it!!! Of course to my dismay, I realized I had taught him the first step wrong!! The bow went up and down!! I had to retrain him to do it the other way, but he figured it out pretty quick. After this small victory, we practiced on my shoe with success. There was much rejoicing! I know we’ll have to work at it more, but it should be just like learing to ride a bike, right? Now, if I could just teach him how to cook eggs and sausage….

J

We went out to dinner tonight. Near the end of the meal, wifey is trying to get #2 son to finish eating his food. This is not always an easy task. When you tell him to eat something he doesn’t like, he gets some kind of mental block and gags on the food. So, he takes a bite while everyone else is minding their own business. Wifey looks over and tells me he’s starting to G-A-G (she spelled it out to me). Any of you with kids either currently talk by spelling or remember doing it at some point. We’ve gotten pretty good at it now, to the point where some of our adult friends can’t keep up. Of course, #1 son’s been in preschool learning how to read and says, “G, Ga, Ga, Ga, GAG! GAG!” We should have known…this is the same restaurant where he read his first word 2-3 months ago. He read the word “Hot” off the bottle of hot sauce sitting on the table.

Later on, we start talking about what I’m going to take the boys to do while wifey hosts a baby shower at the house. She suggests we go to G-O-L-F. #1 son quickly goes to work on that one, and with a little encouragement from mom and dad, he figures out it’s “golf.” So, we’ve officially reached the end of an era…talking in “code” by spelling out words. I’m a little sad that it’s over, but hey, it was a good ride.

~J

The boys are at the age where they want things, but they don’t get an allowance or have a job. So, they’re pretty much at the mercy of mom, dad, or grandma to get stuff. Yesterday, wifey and I were out cleaning up the backyard - it appears that we have a sweet gum tree which produces spiny, ping-pong-sized balls. Henceforth known at our house as “gumballs.” They are very hard and hurt to step on. After filling two trash bags with these things, I come up with a self-proclaimed brilliant idea: the boys can pick these things up in their sand pails and throw them away. They will receive $.25 for every full bucket.

The chance to make cash is an overwhelming thought and the boys get right to work! Before I know it, they’ve each filled about 4 buckets. I’m thinking that I’m going to be out about $40 before the end of the day. They worked diligently, imagining all the stuff they wanted to buy with their soon-to-be fortunes. After about 10 buckets, #1 son lost interest and went about playing. However, #2 son kept at it and had 14-15 buckets before it was time to head inside. When I got home from the gym today, I found #2 son out picking “gumballs” again. I’m not sure how long before they cash in, but we’ve already started explaining tithing. I explained all that we have is God’s and we are to give Him back a portion of what is already His. They don’t quite get that yet, but when we fork over the cash, we’ll have a thorough discussion. I only hope that the boys will learn something from all of this and not just be an opportunity for us to kick back while the kids clean up the yard.

In an effort to help out around the house, I found this self-help video for wifey, courtesy of another blog. She hates folding T-shirts, but this video is magical. I’m not sure what this lady is saying, but it’s pure genius!! Bonus points to whoever can tell me what the caption says at the end of the video. If you don’t have a RealMedia Player, you can download it here for free.

Below are the word to son #2’s favorite song. Everytime it comes on the radio he asks me to turn it up or asks others to be quiet. I find him singing the chorus (italicized) while playing around the house. It’s great that he knows the words but how do I ensure that the meaning is ingrained in his heart? How can I be sure that he truly internalizes these thoughts & applies them to his daily life (once he’s old enough to truly understand)? Prayer, I guess…daily begging God to reveal to my children the truth of His word. Read these words - pretty good stuff to live your day by.

Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
- - -
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s ‘all as it should be’
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious nameBlessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

~S