Cooper "The Tank" Durbin

Cooper Joseph Durbin

My little superman...ah, I better say spider man (his favorite super hero besides Jesus) or he might beat me up! He is my baby. He is my heart. He is my greatest sense of accomplishment and my greatest joy. He is also destined to play sports. Which one you ask? If it has a ball and you can throw, kick or hit it -- he will play it. And he will be good(and that isn't just a mommy's bias)! A few of his favorites: Baseball, Football and hockey. Not sure how we will swing the hockey now that we are in Indy-- just know he still wants to play it! I think they give a "I love Hockey" shot when the kids are born in Canadian hospitals! Just last Friday at a Halloween carnival, he threw a kid sized football into the center of a hoop -- not only one time, not only the first time....but all five times he picked up the ball -- then he got an audience and got a little stage shy, missing two. He cared not about the candy prizes for the games...just give him the ball! Today, throwing the baseball (soft one) back and forth from about 10 feet apart, I needed to go get a glove! THE BOY IS ONLY 3~! I guess, since his dad broke a lot of the sports records not only here on the state record in several sports, and had ONU's home run record for several years -- he kind of gets it naturally ---and he looks just like his daddy too! But who is bragging?? He looks small - but he is solid -- and weighs almost as much as his sister! Thus the "tank" nickname! They no longer wrestle due to the fact that Cooper can now whip Mackenzie's bum! She hates to loose. (She gets that naturally too!) Pray for him, Indiana allergies are not doing him any good this week. Despite the Zyrtec everyday, he has had a runny nose, sore throat and has gotten tired more easily. His tonsils are the size of baseballs, so he will need those out after he turns 5, and that doesn't help the allergy symptoms. But, he is blessed and we are blessed to have him. He loves to sing...and my favorite thing about him, is that he loves to worship! He will sing worship songs anywhere -- AND we always know when he is in the bathroom going "poo" for he will be singing VERY LOUDLY, "I am a friend of God" -- He calls it his "poo poo song"! :) Tonight as he was playing his play keyboard, he was trying to match the pitch with his voice. Someone once told me that they thought the Lord had a special plan for him in "ministry" -- I pray that it is a ministry that pays more than mine does!! -- But more than that, I pray that his talents and gifts of leading people to the throne of Grace will never be hidden! Below are some recent pics of my baby -- who could not love this boy???

(The older girl pictured with Cooper, besides his 5 year old sister Mackenzie, is his cousin Holly)

Enjoy!

"Myth-Busters"

In the secret life of Amanda Durbin -- there is perception and then there is reality. I am here to expose some myths believed about her - and give you a glimpse of her reality. If you are interested....you may read on.

1. Amanda is as organized in her home life as she is in the project she does for other people. If you believe this, then I have a bridge in Egypt to sell to you. I try to be organized, but with two preschoolers who in just entering a room can destroy all aspects of order and a husband who doesn't understand why we put our socks in the clothes basket rather than the crack of the sofa - and now a puppy who drags it's chew toys out of his "bed" all over the house following the kids -- some days I just give up after 4pm! Everything has a place, but not everything is ever in it -- tonight as I write this, sofa cushions are almost on the floor hanging off the sofa, Eric is itching and smothering himself with itch cream with his "stuff (he tends to nest everywhere he goes)" around him -- and the kids dumped out two plastic drawers of play kitchen stuffs out all over the foyer floor looking for a spatula (last night) and I haven't had time or energy to make them pick it up. This drives me insane...I thank God for Julie's Monday mornings every day!

2. Amanda is "all put together" - NOT! I fall apart every day just looking for a pair of pants that fit my ever growing hips! I am tired, emotional and irritated most of the time -- I just pray and ask the Lord to help me love -- without Him and his strength and grace -- I would be a mess!

3. Amanda is independent, self-motivated and self-reliant. hmmmmn. Co-dependent on my husband, procrastinator and proud to be more exact. All get in the way of making true and lasting friendships. My fear of failure keeps me from believing in myself without pep talks from my husband, keep me from starting projects in advance and then have learned to do my best work in a hurry -- and too proud to ask for help when I need it even from my Jesus! Ouch...how honest is that! Praise God that He already knows this and steps in when ever I need Him! (Now no one will ever ask for my help again eh?!)

OK.... that was hard enough. Don't ask for much more honesty than that tonight! See....FAR from Normal! Normal people are organized, put together, independent, self motivated and self reliant! right??

What a great message I heard this morning in Service. The Lord is good -- He is in control and knows what He is doing -- even when we don't. This week, I am praying that Christ Followers vote with a conviction and a call from our Lord. And pray, that no matter the outcome, that the Lord shows favor on this country we call the land of the free and home of the brave.