Because my blog is so "depressing" (hee-hee!)

I feel like I deserve a lot. I wake up with the kids early in the morning. I make their breakfast, build Isaac's Thomas tracks, hold the clingy Theo, wipe their noses, let them cry themselves down for their naps, take them out on some "fun" adventure, worry about their health, and put dinner together all while I try and do some part-time work out of the house that allows us some financial flexibility. I deserve a day off. I deserve a night out with my husband without the kids. I deserve etc, etc, etc. I deserve squat. I deserve eternal existence without my Creator. Truly.

I disparately need to dethrone this idol of pleasure that I am so hotly pursuing!! I don't deserve to have fun every day! I am not owed anything! I'm not giving my 50% waiting for Matt to match with his 50% (ha, his own sermon illustration.) How clear this idol of pleasure has been made to me this past week. Do you know how it works itself into surfacy sin? I get angry at my kids for not taking naps at the same time... so that I can have time to my self. I'm frustrated with my Isaac right now because it's 9:05pm and he STILL is not asleep. I am INCONVENIENCED. Oh Lord, that you would change my heart... that Your grace would permeate and change my heart.

On a different note, this evening after our dinner & during our family's devotions we said the Lord's prayer with Isaac repeating... "Hallowed be MY name..." he says so reverently... isn't that really what our hearts yearn for far more than what the Lord taught us to pray? Bah - another thing I need to work on!!

I continue to be addicted to craigslist.com -- I look at least 2-3 times a day. The things that I "need" to make my home complete (besides 10 more children as wonderful as the two I've got): an armoire (we have no closets in this teeny weeny home), new living room furniture (we're living with the set my parents had when I was growing up) and a bed.

Matt and I found this set of couches that we like - available only at Boscov's - while I really like them, I wonder if they are too trendy rather than "timeless," you know? We do have a fairly small living room and they are crazy narrow yet comfortable couches... so this would maximize space although my mother-in-law would not enjoy sleeping on this couch, I am sure. We'd go with the dark brown leather... comments welcomed. I hate making decisions!

Patty Griffin plays at Byham April 16th. I have yet to hear her new album (I know Tammy!!! Isn't that horrid?)

Rather random and meaningless post... just haven't posted in a while other than the videos and felt like I'd like to add meaningless content to all of my own vanity concerning my children!

My latest workout routine...



Isn't he the best! We are certainly over our fuss spell... shew!

I have to do it! Matt took a couple of videos of this little one going crazy to momma's ticklin'... but it does end in Isaac not particularly enjoying what's going on. I suppose he was a bit concerned. Of course, my beautiful sister is holding Theo!

So -- My crafty friend, Aaron, has figured out how to post these videos -- and has shared his information. Wah hoo for all of you!

My Theo has been better. It must be his teeth and a growth spurt together? I think I have been too cautious feeding him because of all of our pukey episodes last week. Poor kid just ate about a half a box of his brother's favorite lunch, Dinosaur Mac 'n Cheese. We make noises the dinosaurs bite the dust and then continue to refer to them in the bellies throughout the day.

On the down side, we still are not sleeping well at nights. I'll tell you what... this beautiful happy little child becomes a monster at night and I have to admit, I believe I created him! I was so cautious to not have him cry long so that he would wake his brother, that I have created a terrible sleeping child! So, we've decided we are going to seperate them, until we have trained poor little Theo how to sleep well. I'm thinking this is going to be a terrible week. Last night (while in the same room as his brother) he cried out LOUD for an entire hour before I finally went in to nurse. NOW, remember... this child IS 11 months, had just nursed 2.5 hours beforehand AND had only taken ONE nap that whole day! I think this child craves more of a schedule than my Isaac did.

Alright, Grace and PEACE to you all.

I'm looking forward to two beautiful friends sharing their baby news! MKL and RannieCakes!

Hmmm...I love those eyes. Too bad they have only been CRYING these past couple of days. Wow, I'm struggling.

Sweet Isaac.

I'm addicted to coffee. I have the stomach virus and I woke up this morning and besides water, it is the only other thing I have consumed.

Both boys are sick! Isaac was throwing up all last night and Theo all Valentine's Day. Poor kiddos... they really did handle it well. I'm impressed.

Ear infections. Amoxicillin or no?

Matthew has a slow week. We are excited. I look forward to time with the love of my life.

My house is a mess. It was so clean yesterday! I think the definition of housework should be: futile.

We have found a new venue and disparately need it. Church was so packed this past Sunday I don't know that we could have fit one more person. Not one. We move to a new place that will easily fit 250. It was a crazy process but worth it and perfectly timed.

I got new strings for my guitar. I miss playing... my fingertips miss the frequency. (I hurt typing!) I sat down today with a song that I played a lot about 8-10 years ago... I had the words and the chords right there and couldn't remember the melody. I knew in my head how it was... but just couldn't sing it. I played the chorus at least 10 times (the part I did know) in hopes that it would jar my memory. (I'm talking about a song that I actually even performed in front of people!) Man, I wish having children didn't kill brain cells. What will I forget after our next child (which isn't any time soon... sorry)? Will I forget Amazing Grace? I'm heading down that road... too quickly.

We are having a women's tea this upcoming Saturday and I'm playing ... my setlist: Shine - Jan Krist and Gently Lay your Head - Jill Phillips. I wish my fingers could endure more.

I'm going to try and find the camera for a couple of shots that were taken recently.

Blessings dear friends.
ck

It already is the end of the week! How quickly it went.

We spent all day Tuesday at a sweet little cottage in Keystone State Park (surrounded by two nights of staying there...) I did nothing! Well, 'cept nurse Theo and play with Isaac. Matt packed everything, made all the meals and wrestled the rest of the time with Isaac. Isaac's new favorite thing, he declared from the back of the car yesterday was "wrestlin' w/ Daddy." I have to learn to store those memories well in my heart....

I decided last night that I don't so much like being a pastor's wife. My dear sweet husband is so invested in his work... he loves it... but his schedule stinks. Even when he's "here" he's not really here... his mind is working and mulling. I sometimes wish he had that 9-5 job that allowed him to really leave his work. HA! Oh, how I love him. We'll figure it all out. It's still so new. We learn more and more how to make this family work in the midst of his work every day.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my work? Thanks Howie, Kevin and Tom. I can't believe ya'll still want me to stick around.

Linso - did you have that baby yet?!?!!?!?

if you don't have picasa - you NEED it.
you need nothing else that they are trying to get you to download from the internet.
just PICASA.

Ya'll are so nice to me.

Look at what I recieved in my yahoo inbox : You have been selected as winner of the Piers Facinni prize pack courtesy of Everloving Records including Piers' newest CD, Tearing Sky , the Streets of London EP, and a pair of tickets to the 2/8: Club Cafe, Pittsburgh show. Someone from Everloving Records will be in contact shortly to provide you with details on how to pick up your tickets.

tammyo - you heard of this dude? wanna come up for a free show? it's a Thursday night ....

I think I was the only person to enter the contest in Pittsburgh ;)

Happy 55th Birthday Dad.

Another comment about Pandora. THERE does exist a difference between Matthew's station and my own. MK's plays purely male vocalists (his new favorites, Richard Shindell & Richard Julian) and CK's plays purely female. It's really funny!

Christmas came and went with NEW music for CK! Wa hoo! Here's what I got and what I think...

1) A year long subscription to PASTE - my favorite magazine. I have to say, I love most of all the mix that comes with it, but do enjoy reading the articles too ;)

2) Be Good Tanyas - Hello Love - I loved their debut album so much that I don't they had a chance ;) I need to listen to it more - it's good.

3) Damien Rice - 9 - I asked for it and giggled lots when my brother bought it for me and announced to my entire family that it has parental cautions on it! "9 crimes" makes me weep. That song is the very reason why I wanted the rest of the album, but I'm not so sure about the rest of it. I need to keep listening to it.

4) Over the Rhine - Drunkard's Prayer - It is all that I wanted it to be. That's all that needs to be said. Here's a good read if you want more.

That's it on the music front. We took some good shots of the boys last night.















No, Isaac is not crying... just trying to make his mean Stillers face. He has a hard time doing it 'cause he's always laughing!















Theo gets cuter and cuter every day!















My new favorite ... he loves broccoli and rice.

You scored as Reformed Evangelical. You are a Reformed Evangelical. You take the Bible very seriously because it is God's Word. You most likely hold to TULIP and are sceptical about the possibilities of universal atonement or resistible grace. The most important thing the Church can do is make sure people hear how they can go to heaven when they die. Reformed Evangelical 79% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 71% Fundamentalist 64% Neo orthodox 54% Emergent/Postmodern 54% Classical Liberal 43% Charismatic/Pentecostal 36% Roman Catholic 36% Modern Liberal 4% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

I was hook line and sinkered in... heehee. After seeing someone's post on xanga, I was so stinkin' curious as to how I'd turn out. I have to say, I didn't like the language of most of the questions. Isn't it curious that I am more Roman Catholic than Modern Liberal? Must be my roots ;)

What a ridiculous waste of time. FYI - 63 questions!

I hope all are well. I was just thinking this morning that I needed to blog more, but why? I know I love reading what is going on with those that I love. My stars. What an odd thing this blog world is. I find out that I "know" some people more through the blog world now than I did when I "lived" in community with them. Is that right?!

within the next room there plays two boys. it is quiet ... so this might be a real REAL short post.

here are a couple of things. (i feel slightly reprimanded aaron - i hope you don't check my blog often ;) )

our new thing in the koerber home: PANDORA. we constantly switch between ck's folk station and mk's folk station. there, in reality, exists likely NO difference. hmmm... i think we are just sinful and selfish. want us to email our stations/preferences? let me know!

boys moved to this room. AND i just got handed the precious "doggie." her name is jo jo. or his? i just asked. "a grill," was my beautiful boy's reply.

i just returned from company meetings. man, i found that i probably talked TOO much about my boys. i LOVE them. i mean, really REALLY love them. LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE them. is this normal? anyway, the company meetings. three days before Christmas. tough timing... but a treat to see the people that i work with. we did have a good time together. theo was there for his second round. he did so well! i don't know that he did cry once during the meetings.

alright. christmas time! i'm ready... can you believe it? even cards were sent this year! (eeks - holler if you didn't get one and want one.)

much love. merry christmas dear friends.

ck

-Isaac-















-Theodore-
















-Isaac-
















-Theodore-

am I going to have to label my pictures OR WHAT!? these children are so similar!

It has been a while. Life is busy.

Theo is "crawling" - you know, that early crawl - where you don't really get anywhere at all but you've got the motion down. I love that he is not as dependent upon me helping him around... he seems far more happy now that he can navigate a room. He is also sleeping better at night, which has been a real blessing.

Isaac is wearing big boy pants right now. Elmo and a basketball on his hiney. It's funny how much he cares about what is on his bum. He doing well going on the potty without anything on his bottom... it's time to get him going on the potty with his big boy pants. (he still goes in them...) I don't feel like we'll get anywhere with it unless he has accidents.

Matthew is hunting! I talked to him last night... out of everyone in the family that is up there (30!) not a single person even SAW a buck. It was a pretty disappointing day for them all... Matt, my dad, and my brothers ended up staying an extra night... we'll see if this morning brings anything new. I'd love to see them get one! I'd particularly like to see my husband get one - we'd have to buy a freezer for the basement.
















Isaac is enthralled with video games. Diana didn't seem to mind him so much... he sat like that for at least 10 minutes watching her play. 10 minutes for a little boy - especially mine - is something!

This is by far one of my new favorite pictures of Theo. He and Isaac are really starting to look different. (I might get away with NOT labeling my pcitures now!)
















I am so sad... I thought I had saved on my computer a picture of Isaac doing the same thing during a bath with the SAME toy. Rats. I just can't find it. I'll have to scan it in someday.















Of course, my post will have to include a picture of my first born ...

I didn't take the time to get rid of demon eye.

Theo's sitting up now and actually seems very close to crawling. A mobile Theo... I don't know if I am ready for that. These two are interacting more and more every day. While getting breakfast this morning, I heard Isaac giggling hysterically... he and Theo were playing "catch"... which really was Isaac throwing the ball at Theo and Theo reaching quickly to grab where-ever it fell to get it before his brother took it away.

I love being a mommy!