This is the actual conversation between my two sons this morning as I was making breakfast.

Joey: Henry, do you know who is Jesus?
Henry: Who?
J: Jesus is the biggestest superhero!
H: Really? Wow!
J: Yup. And we can call him God too.
So, if you need help, you can ask him. You ask him like this: Jesus, please help me know you
more.
H: Jesus, me love you!
J: No, no, not like that! Like this: Jesus, please help me know you more. But I think you can
say I love you to him too.
H: ok…please help me know you more Jesus.
J: Do you know who sin is?
H: Sin?
J: Sin is a bad guy that Jesus beats.
H: Oh! heheehe.
J: So sin is, like, in the ground, but sometimes it comes up and gets us!
H: Oh!
J: But don’t be afraid, cuz Jesus can help you against Sin.
H: Yeah! What if me ‘fraid??
J: And, Jesus angels are here too, helping you. So, Jesus can beat sin up!
H: Yeah!
J: In fact I think Jesus already won against sin. I heard my teacher say that once. Hmm, I think
Sin is the same as Satan. But he can’t get you if you have Jesus.
(pause)
J: We can’t really see Jesus but we can talk to him anytime!
H: Wow! Jesus so BIG!
J: Yeah. Remember, I told you already! Jesus is God! WE have him with us so we are A ok.
Right mom?

Look at these Awsome Kids!!!

One thing I am grateful for in my life is the chance to value family. We live with and love my family and we pray for and remember the Liew Clan in M'sia too. Here are pictures of my kids and my brothers kids. They are growing up together, practically at each other's houses all the time! They really all have such distinct personalities!

Keepin' Healthy-a few tips

Ten general tips for preventing the spread of infection

(From APIC Handbook of Infection Control, Farrin Manian, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P., Editor. Permission to use this material granted to Marsha Koopman, Infection Control Nurse, from Farrin Manian and the APIC)Some diseases have become immune to the antibiotics we use. As a result, controlling diseases and preventing infections from spreading are more crucial than ever, and doing so begins with measures every individual can take. Here are 10 tips to remember:

Wash your hands frequently - especially before preparing food, before eating, and after using the restroom. Insist that your health-care providers wash their hands and use gloves, especially before any invasive treatment or procedure.

Don't insist that your physician give you antibiotics if you don't need them. Antibiotics have no effect on illnesses caused by viruses.

Take prescribed antibiotics exactly as instructed; do not stop taking them without checking with your physician, even if the medicine makes you feel better - or worse.

Keep your immunizations - and those of your children - up to date.

Don't send your child to a day-care enter or to school with symptoms of an infection - such as vomiting, diarrhea and/or fever.

Follow safe sexual practices.

Do not use IV drugs; if you do, do not share needles.

Don't share personal items - such as razor blades, toothbrushes, combs, and hairbrushes - and don't eat or drink from others' plates, glasses, or silverware.

Keep kitchen surfaces clean, especially when preparing meat, chicken, and fish; disinfect kitchen surfaces.

Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, especially when the will be left out for a long time.

Noteworthy Column about Selflessness

This is from the online newsletter from the organization that manages the nursing home I work at.

WAHSA Recognizes Patti Staude

As we move ahead with this and upcoming issues of e-News, WAHSA will be introducing you to the remaining 9 individuals nominated for association awards. We look forward to sharing with you their heartwarming stories. Here is one of them.
Nominee for Employee of the Year – Patti Staude, Meadowview Household within Shorehaven Health and Rehabilitation Center, Oconomowoc
Patti Staude has been an energized homemaker for 10 years at the Meadowview Household within the Shorehaven Health and Rehabilitation Center in Oconomowoc. She starts out her day with a hug for everyone in her Shorehaven Household. The tireless Meadowview Homemaker is an innovative force creating unity, humor, and hope for those fortunate enough to live there. “Patti is so open to new ideas, she encourages all of us to be open, and so much of what we do here starts with Patti,” said coordinator Jan Braun. Describing Patti as a “faithful person, not just with words, but with actions,” Jan named countless activities launched by Patti. Originator of ideas as in the Household’s famous Italian and Greek dinners; the Meadowview Melt-Away and Holiday Cards sales; the annual Meadowview Thanksgiving Day Parade and Chili Dump; the Sweetheart Party and couples’ vow renewal; driving residents to Brewer games on her days off, taking photographs of all events for posting and recollection, and creating the Family Photo Wall, reminding residents, staff, and family members they serve crucial roles daily in this intimate setting. “Patti reminds us often, ‘it’s not about you, it’s about what we can do for our residents,’ ” said Braun.

“I’ve learned more about love from Patti than from any other person in my life.”

Isn't that inspiring!!

School's On

Kids started school again! It was, um, harder on Momma than on the kids! They were all so excited they didn't sleep very good. Ellie started back Tuesday, Joey on Wed., Henry on Thursday. Henry was so excited, first day of school ever, and he just waved goodbye and walked right in. Are we PROUD of him or what??? Yes we are.

I have Heidi to thank for this pics. She's been great! I will get a school pic of Joey up too.

Yes I know I am obsessed with my kids but what else is there in life when you are a single mother of three. :) Oh yeah. Work. But the kids are so much more exciting.

Here is a recent, well, almost up to the minute photo of me and the kids. This was taken about half an hour before I loaded it on to my blog.

Greetings from Ruth and the Liew Crew

Good Morning Everyone! I am finally putting another update! Sorry I haven't posted any stories recently. Working on that!

Hi All! Ok that computer deal didn't work out. Still working with the dinosaur. Maybe later this fall I will get a computer. We'll see. ANYWAY... My sis in law recently asked for pics of myself. She said she has seen pics of the kids but not me. Ok, ok, so here is one. I kinda like this picture. Ellie took this when we had first moved into the trailer (so it isn't a new picture. But I look the same! Except my hair is lighter now.) Here is a little more recent photo: (Does this really look like me? My kids don't like this one much. My nose looks like a huge schnazzle!)

What other news.... school will be starting soon. OR it feels like soon. I guess it is one more month yet. Summer has gone by really quick because I have spent quite alot of it at work. I have another pic to share. Here are the kids with their cousins at my brother's place. Heidi took the pic:

Guess Ellie thought she might slip off the hood. Or maybe she was just being goofy. They spent the day together because Heidi watched the kids while I was at work that day.

In new news, it looks like Henry and Caleb might get to go to tadika (preschool) together after all this fall. I wasn't sure I could do it and also work. Between family members we have a tentative plan worked out.

(I wish I could find a better picture of the two of them!)

I hope that the next post will be a story or a joke list. Until then, have a wonderful week and God Bless! Love, Ruth and the Crew

Another Dis Jointed Update!

Hi Everyone! I have had time to update all of you, but have a serious hardware problem with the computer! Though the internet is hooked up it rarely works. So I don't usually have the patience to work with it. But it is saturday night, I am completely worn out after working hard all day on the farm, so here I sit!

First and foremost, Ellie had a birthday! Happy birthday sweethart; 7 years old already. She is learning and growing every day. We had a birthday party with kids at daycare earlier in the day and then in the evening with family. Ellie loves her daycare lady. This is the evening party and the cake was made by my mother. Ellie got books for her birthday this year. She is so excited about it because they are "chapter books" or bigger, more in depth reading than beginning books.

It is truly summer around here. Days are hot. On this day, we filled the pool with water and let the kids loose in it. I think the cows were envious (look in the background).

****

Ok, I am already having computer problems. I have to stop there. I had about 6 more photos I wanted to get up! Well, this won't last forever. But I have to make this computer do until my sis can get here and pass her old laptop my way. Until then, posts will be sporadic....but I will try to get those pics on soon!

In place of the pictures, here are a few lines:

-my housebuilding project is slowly coming together. I have nailed every nail (ok, Dad did a few. I did most!) I have subfloor, three walls and windows and doorspaces in. Next will be roof, then floor, then heater, then final wall. When I get that far, I can think about how the interior should be finished.

-Summer is fun, kids are brown as biscuits and happy as larks. We have lots of space to roam and run about. No closed in/space problems here, no lack of activity. We hardly remember how to turn the tv on anymore.

-Summer is when extended family come for visiting. This summer we will see Lee & Carmen (fishing buddies, cousins), Joyce and Paul, Duane and Caroline (all Mom's family), and also Glen (on Dad's side). Unfortunately they are in town to bid goodbye to a cousin who passed away from leukemia. At least we know John is at eternal rest with Jesus, no more crying, no more pain there.

-Grandma seems to be feeling much much better recently. More energy is coming back to her after cancer treatments and everything. It takes a long time to feel ok again. Chemo is not for wimps.

-Granny is also doing better. After the last hospitalization, she went to a nursing home. She gained strength enough that she is back to her own space. Wonderful news for her! It was hard work, so we are proud of her.

--Our garden is growing! Lots of cabbage, onions, broccoli, tomatoes, marigolds, zinnia, beets, radish, turnips, pumpkin, squash, and even a watermelon vine. I spent yesterday in the garden with a hoe. You might think it is tiring (well, ok, it is) but mostly I enjoy it.

-I did alot today. I moved 189 2x6's, 15 sheets of 3/4" plywood, mowed the grass in and out of the fences and then mowed some more. I took a break from real work, and cleaned toilets and a spare bedroom (my sister is coming home soon!) then spiffied up mom's living room and cleaned up after the kids (will they EVER learn to clean up?) Somewhere in there I made lunch and supper and played swimming pool with the kids and mentally solved several problems (but didn't make alot of real headway on them). I am a little tired, so I think will sign off here!

God Bless and keep busy! --Ruth