Michelle Wegner

If You’d Like To Leave A Message…

 

I’m not here, because I am busy chasing two sweet munchkins around our house.

We get to play with Ashlee for 3 days while her Mommy and Daddy are in California enjoying the warm sunshine.  I think Belle has met her match.  Ashlee may just have as much energy as her.  We shall see who wears out first.  (if you see me out in public, notice the dark circles under my eyes, and be kind.)

Be back in a few days…

If you’d like to leave a message, please do so after the beep and I will get back with you soon…

 

beep…

Bringing the Fun Inside

 

When summer is but a memory, and it’s too cold to go outside and play, we bring the fun inside.  Belle is a highly creative, energetic 6 year old that literally bounces off the walls if I don’t give her something to do to help get her energy out, or mind focused on something creative.

Here are some of the things we’ve been doing:

a) bringing snow inside to play with.  b)riding bikes inside on the hard wood floors c) mattress surfing.

What fun stuff do you do inside when it’s too cold to go out to play? 

For those living in warm states, you can send your sympathies and compassion in Disney Dollars and ocean side condo points.  Thanks.

Prima Ballerina

   

Isabelle had her first real ballet recital last weekend.  It was the first time the big girls were in the audience, and Belle was the one to get all fancy and show off her serious dancing skills.   

She asked me if she was the prettiest girl in the room, and I told her, “Yes, of course.”  Humility lessons come later in life I guess. 

Lydia Update

A few weeks ago, I told you about our friends John and Angela Keim, whose baby Lydia made her very early appearance at 30 weeks. Our family decided to hang the sweet little pink shoes we bought for her from our lights in our kitchen as a reminder to pray for her.  I saw Luanna, Lydia’s Grandma last night, and she showed me these amazing pictures of Lydia:

She’s up to a little over 4lbs, and obviously getting stronger…notice how she is holding her own bottle in the second photo. 

The other day when Belle and I were cleaning out her drawers, we came across a baby dress that she wore at about 6 months old.  “I’ll be right back”, she charged out of the room, and returned a few minutes later.  I didn’t give it a second thought until I came downstairs awhile later, and found this:

The dress definitely adds emphasis to the shoe-prayer reminder.  I think Lydia is getting lots of extra prayers because of Belle’s concern for her. Belle emphasized that the dress should be Lydia’s now, once she gets big enough to fit into it.  Keep growing strong Lydia!  Lots of people are praying and cheering you on.

Dolphins

 

We’re in Florida and get to go see some dolphins tomorrow at Sea World.  I loved Isabelle’s impression of them so much that I thought I’d share it with you.  I love how our little 6 year old views the world.  While she was drawing this today, she asked me so sweetly, “Mom, do dolphins have feet?”  I guess we’ll find out tomorrow! 

Good Mom or Bad Mom?

I’ll let you decide.

Pencils and Pinky Fingers

Some people are good at counting.  Some people are good at writing.  Others dare to dream big dreams and color outside of the lines.  Isabelle paints our world with color and our hearts with joy.  She is energetic, clever, so, so funny…and I can’t go more than 45 minutes without pinching her cute little nose, or getting a kiss from her sweet little lips.

Belle is not the most brilliant of 6 year old scholars in the academic sense, but I would never wish that upon her(and I repeat…NEVER).  I said to her the other day while holding up my 10 fingers, “Isabelle, we are all good at so many things.  Numbers and letters are like my little pinky finger.  You are so amazing and good at these other 9 fingers, the little one doesn’t matter so much, does it?”  I asked her what the world would look like if there was no one like her who liked to draw and paint and make people smile, but everyone was only good at numbers and letters.  Her answer? “It would look gray, like a pencil.”  She’s so right.  It made me stop and thank God that we are all not brilliant scholars.  I shudder at the thought of a  pencil  gray world.

I am glad Belle and I had this conversation, since I am constantly focusing on my own itty-bitty-pinky finger full of weakness.

What are your 9 fingers strong at?  Do you focus on the itty-bitty pinky finger that represents your weakness, or the 9 other fingers that make your weakness look like a strength?

Isabelle Joy

  Isabelle Joy, our baby girl  is 6 today.  She is alive with more joy than any person I have ever known.  She wakes up ready to fill anyone’s day with sunshine, and goes to bed the same way.  Joy  is literally her middle name.

She loves Jesus, animals, Littlest Pet Shops, her American Girl dolls, (but loves her sisters American Girl dollies more), Mrs. C.-her teacher, her family, Barbie's, and all of her friends.  Her heart is full of free love for anyone she encounters…unless they are mean to her, then she is completely devastated because she has no idea why anyone would want to be mean to anyone (just like her Mama). 

Belle is an artist, sees tiny details in things that she can draw and replicate like no one else can.  She has a mind that remembers details about people and places that everyone else forgets or never notices.  She remembers how to get places we have only been once.  She could guide someone from our driveway in Indiana to her Grandma’s driveway in Chicago without any help.

Isabelle makes us all laugh every single day.  She is a rare treasure, and Rob and I are so blessed to get to be her parents. 

Happy Birthday Belle!  We love you so very much…and so does Ellie.

Here Comes The Sun

We have had two very sad Christmas’ in our family the past two years.  Two years ago our dear friend Maribeth lost her only son, Jason just a few days before Christmas (You can read that story here).

Last year our friends Gene and Mary lost their daughter Rachel in a car accident on Christmas Eve (That story here) .  The worst two things Rob and I have ever have to do as a married couple are to tell Michael at 7 years old that his dad was not just sick, he was in Heaven with Jesus and not coming home; And last year we had to tell Maddie on Christmas morning that her good friend Rachel had died in a car accident the night before.

Two years ago, right after Jason died, we filmed this video for a weekend service at church.  Right around this time both years since, the girls start humming “Here Comes The Sun”, the song from the video we filmed at our house.  It’s sort of a magical song for us.  It reminds me that there is joy in the middle of pain….always.  The timelessness and contagious joy of the kids in the video gets me every time.  I am so blessed to be surrounded by joy every day, even in the midst of tragedy.

Enjoy.

Here Comes the Sun Music Video from Albert Martin on Vimeo.

Working With (my own) Child Actors

Working with my own children on stage at GCC for A Christmas Carol has been interesting indeed.  I sort of expected that the girls would enjoy pretending with me, like a real life game of playing house. Turns out they have creative minds of their own!  It’s Fine with me, but there are parameters, and we are learning to act within them.

We’ve been having fun, but, I have to admit I was up all night after nightmares about Belle dashing off the stage saying things like "I am NOT in this scene, I have more important things to do!" and coming back declaring herself an orphan, not a rich girl, donning her pink flashing boots and red hat….which is exactly what happened last night.

The big girls don’t want to hold my hand on stage, and won’t listen to me when I tell them where to stand or how to get from here to there.  But, thankfully, there is  Kristin Baker, who is the most phenomenal director I have ever worked with (ever in my life…really).  Kristin can tell them to hold my hand and they will.  She will tell them to smile, and they will. Kristin can kindly ask Belle to please remove her princess laser light flashing pink boots, and she will.  It’s sort of job sharing--works for me!

We have had long practices late at night, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world.  Last count 13,500 tickets have been given out.  I am in shock and awe, and excited beyond words that I get to be a part of reaching out to our community in this way.

If you are attending the Christmas Eve service, and happen to see Belle run off the stage, just pretend it’s all part of the play.  She is just being dramatic after all.

Not About Us

Just today Isabelle and I were driving down the road and the road workers were tearing up the road.  “What a mess!”  I said to her.  Without skipping a beat Belle said to me, “I think God told them to do that so they can make our world more beautiful.”

Dumbfounded by her wisdom, I replied, “You are right Belle.  We are so fortunate to live in a place that has clean streets.  Some of the streets in India weren’t so clean, were they?

B:  Nope.  But some were.  What if we had cows here like they do in India?

Me: That would sure be funny, wouldn’t it?  Remember how the cows walked around in the roads in India?

B: That was very funny.  Why did the people let the cows do that?

Me: Because they respect the cows very much, and some people even think they are God.

B: Does Prema think cows are God?

Me: Nope.  She and Raj tell all the people that Jesus is God, and the cows aren’t.  That’s why we went to India, because so many people don’t know about Jesus yet.

B: Yep.  When we went to India it wasn’t our vacation.  We were doing an important job.  It wasn’t a vacation, was it Mom?

Me:  Nope

B:  It wasn’t peace and quiet.  We go to Florida when our family needs peace and quiet.  We went to India to help the people.  It wasn’t for us.

Me:  Yep.

I love that Belle caught on to this perspective at age 5.  I hope she remembers that “It’s not about us” for a long time to come

.

Wordless Wednesday

A Turtle's Life?

There is this song on Christian radio that goes, "Life is Good, Eternal Life is Better..." Isabelle caught on quickly except her version goes, "Life is Good, A Turtle's Life is Better..."  Enjoy your own private concert.

Even Today.

  

There are days that are filled with laughter, and wonder that captures each smile. 

There are days that are golden, laced with joy and squeals of delight.

There are days when we are all in syncopation, our hearts beating as one,

ready to take on anything together.

 And then there are days like today.

Where anger captures our thoughts.

Where our smiles are ground down

by teeth chomping away at each other with selfish arguments.

Where clouds hang low and lightning strikes with rage.

These are not my favorite days.

But, I still love you. 

You are still the golden sunshine that laces my day. 

You are always the happy thought that makes me fly. 

You are the seasoning in my life. 

You give me strength to do things I never thought I could or would.

I’m glad I’m your Mommy. 

 Even today.

A Picture Worth 1000 Words

Miss Isabelle has been fighting a very bad ear infection.  India is not a fun place to be so sick.  Please continue to pray for our girl.

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

Today was the first time we have hiked without a stroller or baby back pack in about 10 years.  Sure, we’ve taken little strolls around parks by our house, but this was the first “real” trail we’ve hit since we’re done with all the baby stuff.  When we were at breakfast this morning, a woman and Belle struck up a conversation.  Belle told her about her big sisters, and the lady said, “Well, are you the baby?”  She looked offended, and deeply insulted, and firmly stated that “No, I am not the baby!”

And she proved it today.

This little girl marched and marched up a hill, over rocks and roots, through streams getting her feet wet…all without a single complaint.  She was determined. 

For anyone who knows Belle’s story, you know that this is a huge accomplishment.  A few years ago her legs and muscles weren’t working so well.  It appears she is determined to overcome just about anything that gets in her way.

“I was very brave today Mom”  She said to me on the way down. 

Yep.  She sure was!

Best Buds

Miracle Magic Markers

 

Belle: Mom, my new markers are Miracle Markers. I saw dat on T.V. They are magic and they are a miracle

Me: Ahem…

Belle: Mom, what’s a miracle?

Me: It’s something amazing that happens that only God could have done.

Belle: Only God could have made these amazing and magical markers.

Me silence

What makes a miracle? A true miracle? Have you ever seen one? I’ve seen a few and heard about a lot.

Unfortunately for my little Belle, I don’t think her magic markers were a miracle, but I didn’t tell her that.

But, there was a time when she was little and she wasn’t walking or growing or doing the things that a normal toddler should be doing. Her legs simply didn’t work. We worried, we prayed, we tested. We did all the things normal parents would have done.

Then one day a simple man filled with faith said he wanted to come to pray for Belle when she was sleeping. We agreed. He prayed.

Our 8 year old neighbor girl who adored Belle lit a candle for her at her church and prayed for her that same week.

By the next week, she was putting weight on her little legs. Two weeks later she was taking steps. Four weeks later she was walking and never looked back.

A miracle? Yep, I think so. Something only God could have done.

Someday when Belle is a little older, we get to tell her that God loved her so much that he moved Heaven and Earth to make her legs strong and help her walk.

Now that’s love.

And you know what? I think God would move Heaven and Earth for you too. I think He is. Look and Listen. His voice is on the wind and it’s in the air. What is He saying to you today?

Mommy Interview

Here is a quiz I found on Facebook.  The idea is to ask your child each question and write down the first thing they say-no cheating.

I interviewed each girl and recorded their individual responses.  Try it with your kids!  You might be amazed at what they think of you.

   

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Belle: yes

Whitney :Do your work

Maddie:Hop in to Bed

2. What makes mom happy?

B:when I don’t spill

W:tanning, relaxing

M: Breakfast in Bed

3. What makes mom sad?

B:When I say that she’s the worst Mommy ever

W: When we get mad at her

M: When her children don’t obey

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

B:nothing

W:that’s a brain teaser

M: When she does somehting really funny

5. What was your mom like as a child?

B:she was a nice kid

W: she had really blonde hair

M:Like Me

6. How old is your mom?

B: 18

W:35

M:35

7. How tall is your mom?

B:this many

W:5ft.8

M: 5ft.10

(for real I'm 5ft.4)

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

B:email

W: tan

M:Scrapbook, write

9. What does your mom do when you're not around

B:email

W:writes on her blog or reads

M:bills

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

B:that you are loving

W: writing

M:Writing

11. What is your mom really good at?

B:loving

W: calming people down

M:Writing

12. What is your mom not very good at?

B:yelling

W:making us laugh

M:Push ups

13. What does your mom do for her job?

B:typing

W:writes

M:stay at home mom

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

B:coffee

W: coffee

M:Hashbrowns

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

B:she’s loving

W: that she is an author

M: She is awesome

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

B: Polly Purebred from Underdog

W: Truffles in Chowder

M: Minne Mouse

17. What do you and your mom do together?

B:Everything

W: Watch TV

M:Scrapbook

18. How are you and your mom the same

B: We love eachother

W:We both like to have quiet time

M:We look alike, we have similar likes and dislikes sometimes

19. How are you and your mom different?

B:I’m small, she’s big. We have different bodies.

W: When I grow up I want to be a dancer. I have strawberry blonde hair, she has blonde

M:I don’t like broccoli

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

B: God made her love me

W: Whenever I’m sad, she always comforts me and she is really kind

M: She says I love you

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

I:Shoe Place

W: Tanning

M:Panera

What Not to Wear: Barbie Edition

I have spent a lot of time this week on the couch.  I hurt my knee, and walking hasn't really been an option.  These are the days that Isabelle LOVES.  She knows I can't get up, so I am cornered on the couch as she paces back and forth wringing her little hands discussing all the things we can do together while I am stuck there.

Yesterday she had a brilliant idea.  I have mentioned before that the girls love the show What Not To Wear.  So, our one male Barbie was transformed into Clinton, and we dressed up a dark haired Barbie in the Best Barbie clothes and She was Stacy.  The ugly and naked girls were the ones getting makeovers.  We had to dress up the hair designer as well as the make-up designer ( I forget their names, and the hair designer is really a guy, so we had to improvise.)

This went on for a while.  A long while. 

Stacy And Clinton

The Cast

The "Made-Over" Girl