My Three Girls!

Thought that since we haven't shared many photos that it was time to upload a bunch and provide your tired eyes with a collage of sorts of the Marshall family. Enjoy!

Here is photo of the girls after Jena's first day. Doesn't she look tired? Paige was so excited to see her big sister! Jena sitting at her desk on the first day of school. She made a few new friends right away. Casey sits next to her, his twin brother is also in their class. Jena's favorite thing in school is playing at recess and doing class work. Of course she loves to play with her friends and especially she likes to go home at the end of the day! Several times Paige helps me out in the kitchen after our walk home from school. On this day we are making jello shots, I mean, umm, she is mixing the jello and then I pour the jello into ice cube trays. She loves to help me out in the kitchen. If you cannot tell by her belly, the girl doesn't miss a snack! I would say her favorite thing about the day is snack time! Maybe that is why she likes helping out in the kitchen so much! Another one who doesn't like to miss a meal is little Annie. Aside from eagerly awaiting her next meal she is a very happy baby! You can tell by all the smiles she so freely gives to anyone! She certainly is the most contented baby of the bunch! Of course we cannot forget the girls' daddy... isn't he a lucky man to be surrounded by all these beautiful girls.

I don't like to eat seals!

Maria's blog

This morning I awoke early enough to prepare some breakfast for my family. I decided to make pancakes and instead of syrup I thought that I would use Duane's "secret" recipe of yogurt and berries, not so secret anymore! In order to make the berry mixture, I needed to use the blender. I threw everything in and pressed "MIX." Our blender hasn't been working very well lately and it sounded like it was working hard to chop up the frozen berries. "Oh well" I thought and continued preparing breakfast.

I called everyone to the table and we began to fix the girls' plates. I turned to feed Annie her cereal and Duane said, "Oh, Maria, the seal was chopped up!" What? I looked at his plate as he pulls from his berry mixture part of the plastic seal to the blender! Oh, so that was what the blender was chewing up! Hmm, silicone doesn't usually go so well with pancakes.

I continued to pull out pieces of the seal, the entire time I am thinking, "Good one Maria, now your family is ingesting bits of silicone!" I looked up at Paige as she says, "Mommy, can I have some more pancakes? But this time I don't want seals in mine!" Paige was so confused she started talking about seals that swim in the water. She couldn't figure out why we would blend some of those up with the berry mixture!

Alas, another flop to add to the list!

The Old Settler's Race

Maria's blog

We entered our first official race thanks to the Hansens!

The race was at 7:00am in Mulvane, KS. We were up at 5:30am getting ourselves and the girls ready. The kids were confused but excited to go.

We met the Berryman family at the Hansens' house and then drove the 20 minutes to Mulvane. We were greeted with our packets and spent some time "stretching" our legs and our mouths. I think that we all talked more than we actually did any of our stretches! :)

Anyhow, the race began and we all took off. Lacy stayed behind to watch all 6 kids. She had entered the 4 mile race while the rest of us sorry saps entered the 1 mile race. Lacy is such a show up! I love you girl! By the way she did a great job at the 4 mile race!

As we started running everyone ran ahead and I lagged behind. The only one behind me was an old man pushing a jogging stroller and the little boy belched really loud right after we started. I just laughed. I left my oldest sobbing that she couldn't race with me.

I should say that this was the first time I have run in over a year. I didn't even get a chance to run before the race. So it really was my first run. Duane did a great job, he finished at 8 minutes and 20 seconds. He was there at the end yelling for me when I crossed the finish line at 10 minutes and 22 seconds. I wanted to beat the older man pushing the jogging stroller and I did!

I wore my bright red Nike split-toed running shoes and I think that I was the only one with red shoes. It was in honor of Dorothy, that and I couldn't find my other running shoes! It might be time to invest in some other shoes soon.

All in all I think that I really enjoyed this race. Probably because it encourages me that I can do it and it helps to have some friends that are encouraging along the way too.

Pledge anyone?

Maria's blog

Today I have been encouraged to watch my life. I started thinking about the realm of influence in my life and I did not realize the capacity I have to encourage others and speak into their lives. I don't know why I have not thought about it before but this morning in my quiet time I felt the Lord cautioning me about the way I live my life.

Just a brief confession, I felt that the Lord has challenged me in the ways I speak to others or even about others. Am I leaving a good taste in that person's mouth or a bad taste? The kind of conversation that we have can fuel a fire or douse the flames. James 3:5 says, "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark."

But the tongue can also do great things. Living our lives by example and speaking truth into others' lives can speak Jesus to someone who doesn't know Him.

We are all given gifts by the Lord and He challenges us to put them to use. With those gifts, especially in my case comes seasons of doubt and misuse. "Did the Lord really give me this gift? But I have no idea how to lead others Lord! I don't think that I am the person You think that I am, God." I can think of a number of other excuses that I have used.

But the Lord showed me this passage:

I Timothy 4:11-14 in The Message version of the Bible says:

11-14Get the word out. Teach all these things. And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—keep that dusted off and in use.

Wow! Our gifts are supposed to be in use so much that they don't get dusty! I am afraid that I need to get out the Pledge and get to work dusting off "that special gift of ministry."

The Boo-Hoo Breakfast

So, it is official, we are the very proud parents of a kindergartener! Wow, I didn't realize that this makes us even more responsible now!

We decided to walk to school. Duane took some time off this morning to go with us. He walked with Jena and Paige and I pulled up the rear with Annie and Sophia, (what a new addition? No, I am watching her while her mother is teaching! :) ) So anyway, it was really hard to watch her in her new clothes and backpack, carrying her Barbie lunch box. As we got closer to the school I overheard Duane praying for her and I started to cry. Earlier, at breakfast, she and Paige and I prayed together for her and we all cried a little. Man, I miss her. But I am so proud of her!

We got to school a little early and mingled amongst the other children. It was easy to pick out the other parents that were surrendering their children to complete strangers too. They were the ones holding tightly to their child's hand toting a plastic bag with all kinds of school supplies. Duane took the opportunity to teach Jena how to introduce herself to someone else and make a friend. He was the perfect parent to do this. I probably wouldn't have made it passed, "Hello, my name..." Then the tears would have choked me to death!

So Jena made a new friend and then we met her teacher, Mrs. Bales. She has been teaching for a long time, in fact a friend of mine said that she was there when she did her student teaching more than 15 years ago. Her teaching focuses on the child developmentally, rather than academically, which I think will be good for Jena.

As you can tell Paige was all about the muffins and juice in the library. The PTO hosts a "Boo-Hoo Breakfast" for the parents to come and mingle and cry over the first day of school. We overheard a teacher saying she wished that they would do that for the teachers to mourn the end of summer.


Here I am holding Sophia and boo-hooing in the library. We left soon afterwards but not before I signed up to volunteer at the school. Proud daddy mans the camera with Annie on his lap. We both seem to fair quite well. This milestone is monumental for us, raising a child and knowing that she qualifies for schooling is huge. She has survived our less than perfect parenting for the past 5 1/2 years and now we have to trust that she will continue to do so just not so close as before.

The Cosmos

Maria's blog
Yesterday was Sunday and after church we traveled with the Berryman family to The Comosphere.

We began our descent into the space museum and learned that we had just a few minutes before our first show. So we headed off to Dr. Goodman's lab. This show explained how this gentleman made a rocket and his attempts to make it take off. Annie was due to eat in the midst of this performance. So I headed out to feed her. I found what I thought was a quiet corner to nurse her. Several times a janitor walked past me and I tried to finish quickly. After she was done, I got up and walked over to a bench to wait for the show to stop. After I sat down I looked over to where I was orginally sitting and noticed a camera mounted in the corner facing the exact spot that we had been in before! Great, so now I understand why the janitor kept walking by!

On to our next show, the Planetarium. The seats recline in this room and the lights go out as the stars light up. One of the first photos they talk about is Jupiter. As soon as the photo comes up Jena exclaims loudly, "Oh, I LOVE that one." Of course I start to laugh. Then Annie begins in with her fussing, she doesn't understand why it is so dark in there and is confused as to why it looks like bedtime but it isn't. Jamie takes her from me. Just then Paige wants to be held, so she settles in on my lap and we enjoy the show. Jamie asks me if I hear someone snoring but I didn't. Then Paige begins to choke. Of course we are in a very dark room and I can't see if she is breathing. I had forgotten that she had a piece of gum in her mouth and it got stuck and finally she swallowed it. Ahh, so much drama already! After we walked out, Paul admitted that he had fallen asleep during the presentation!

I might have failed to mention that we are all getting really strange looks as we are walking around the cosmos too. Here are 5 little girls, 2 women, and 1 man. Hmm, it doesn't all add up to a stranger. "Were they representing a mormon family?" It made perfect sense to us. :)

This is all within the first hour too. How much longer do we have? Oh yeah, 2 more hours!

Girls' Date Night

Maria's blog

The girls and I had a special date night last night. No date can start without a trip to Target. The choicest of stores in my book. Of course this trip just consisted of buying diapers and baby cereal but nonetheless we had a good time.

As we walked out the front doors I looked to the north and was shocked by the color of the sky. A lot of black and a bit of green met my eyes. Hmm...are we in for some storms I wonder? What about our date?

We moved on to Pizza Hut. The girls had joined the public library's summer reading program and received free personal pan pizza coupons as part of their reward. So we ordered their pizzas and I picked up a salad.

Then we headed home for dinner and a movie in the living room. We camped out and watched "Sarah Plain and Tall." What a girl movie. I cannot imagine Duane wanting to watch this so it was perfect for the girls. The movie wasn't complete without popcorn too.

I stayed up late trying to make myself exhausted before I went to bed. Double checking the locks and praying for fear to leave my mind I fell asleep. Annie woke me several times but the night passed quickly.

Duane called this morning and made me miss him all the more. He is enjoying all the hookups he made yesterday among the companies. The company suprised them with free tickets to see G Love and Special Sauce. Duane had a great time.

Enough about the long day. I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of the weekend brings.

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

Maria's blog
Ok I know, what a silly title. But there is a story behind it and hopefully a return flight!

I junior high school my choir teacher sang this song ALL the time. I don't know why but it sticks in my head and I see his goofy face as he sings it at the top of his voice! Do you know the song? If not, well that dates me!

"Well, I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again," the singer croons. I don't know the singer's name or the rest of the lyrics but just that line! Anyway, on to my story...

Duane left this morning for Salt Lake City, Utah. The annual Outdoor Retailers' Show is hosted in Salt Lake. This is the third year that Duane has had the chance to attend. It sounds like a great time. He "walks the floor" with other designers from Coleman. They get a chance to meet people from other companies that specialize in outdoor gear. If you know anything about Duane, especially the past few months, he definately has become quite the "gear head" when it comes to camping and climbing gear. This is paradise for my husband!

Before he departed this morning, he took time to pray for me and as he was praying, through my tears I smiled because of his prayer. He prayed, "Lord give her the strength of 3 people to care for the children and the patience to be with them while I am gone." The part that struck me as funny was from a scene from Napoleon Dynamite.

The scene is of a commercial with Rex from Rex Kwondo's Class. He says that if a person signs up for his class they will learn to have the "strength of a grizzly bear and the wisdom of a man..." So I am cracking up thinking of Rex strangling this woman. Ok maybe not so reverent but funny none the less. I have to have an outlet for my sadness and feelings of ineptness, is that a word? Check spell check.

Realizing that Monday will come soon, the next 5 days I will fill so that I am too busy to realize that I am missing him so much. It is amazing how empty the house feels without him. So as a tribute to Duane I dedicate this entry to him. I love you Duane! Godspeed my love!

Unprogrammable?

Maria's blog

This morning I was to meet our good friends the Hansens at a movie theater for a free showing of Robots. The girls were very excited and probably more concerned with why we weren't buying candy and popcorn at 9:45am.

We climbed to the balcony and reserved the top row. Why waiting for the Hansens the girls did really well enjoying the E! Hollywood previews. One involved a well known artist, Jena recognized the song he was singing as a song Daddy sings quite often. So she sang along.

How the next part occured I am still a bit foggy on. Jena had been whinning, "Man, everyone else is eating popcorn and we are not!" I can handle a few comments like that but about the 6th time my blood pressure began to rise. I said, "Jena, we've already discussed this and I said, 'No popcorn.'" (Just a brief glance at the past few weeks shows that an attitude is growing with her, so this battle has been going on for quite some time.)

She gave me a look that almost sent me to my grave and I quietly told her that her attitude needed to change. I then said,"If it doesn't we will be leaving the theater and you will not see this movie." As I am saying this I am realizing that this "threat" was going to punish the rest of us too. But I felt I needed to "stick to my guns" and follow through if needed. Boy, was it needed!

Just then she said something else and continued with her looks and I said, "Grab your things, we are leaving." I knew what was coming and I was trying to brace for it...the MELTDOWN! Of course! I had to drag her out of the aisle, all along balancing Annie the diaper bag and encouraging Paige to walk quickly. I didn't meet anyone's stare, I was way too embarrassed.

We walked out into the lobby and was promptly met by more wandering eyes and wide mouthed faces. What can you do? I will tell you what I was wishing I could do, ok maybe I shouldn't. Back to the lobby...Jena ran away from me while I am trying to push everyone through the double doors, she is sobbing and hiding in a corner. I am still calmly talking to her through clenched teeth, "Jena you need to come with me NOW!!!!!" So finally we get out into the parking lot just as the Hansens are walking up to us. "Are you ok?" Lacy asks. There must have been a look of desperation on my face.

Jena ran away again, this time into the parking lot, she better be a track runner when she gets older. Paige screams after her, "Jena come here!" I am fumbling for my keys and trying to corral this family into the car so I can escape this nightmare.

I wish I could know what my blood pressure is at this moment, I probably would have burst the cuff. Finally everyone is in the car and I caution myself against screaming back at her so I don't freak the younger two. But I didn't restrain myself, anger can do amazing things if you give into it. I admit I was really weak at that moment and I yelled at her.

I should mention too that as I was yelling at her I was driving away from the theater and passed another car. The woman driving the car gave me a really strange look too. Anger and driving should never mix. I am wildly trying to decide what to do with her. I considered driving to Duane's office so he could help calm me down. But I am glad that I came to my senses before that.

I found myself at a nearby park. As I pulled into the parking spot and put the car in park, I turned around to see a look of fear like I have never seen on my daughter's face. I immediatley felt the Lord's peace come over me.

I told her that she needed to apologize to Paige for ruining any chances she had at seeing the movie. She also needed to apologize to me for the way she was acting and showing disrespect.

Two nights ago Jena had a dream. She told me that Jesus came to her and told her that she needed to put good things in her heart and good things would come out of her mouth. We had talked about the verse when Jesus speaks: "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34

I reminded her of her dream and how important it is to ask the Lord to help you when you are angry...here I was talking to myself as well. I needed to hear it too.
We took some time to pray together and she prayed too.

Now I know that she isn't unprogrammable. Maybe I'm not too. Sometimes I wonder how the Lord keeps from bitting His tongue off or from breaking His teeth when He sees us in our sin. He restrains Himself when it is necessary to let His children suffer consequences and sometimes lets us experience His mercy too.