The Zoo @ Twilight.

So much fun @ a members only event at the zoo!

Animal Tattoos.... Free Train Rides.... Animal Masks... Face Painting... Inflatable Slides... Animal Crafts... Kid Bands... Disney Character Theater... and so much more!

the looks...

I think as a mom, I just have to get used to the moments in life where I get "the looks." Today was one of those days at Zoey's check-up at the doctors. It started the moment we walked into the waiting room... crying, temper-tantrums, throwing her body about, emptying my purse in anger, etc. There were only a couple of other ladies there, but they were ALL giving me "the looks." I was very aware of how incredibly awful my daughter was acting, but at that point there really wasn't much I could do. She was worked up because....
- we just dropped her brother off at Grandy's and she couldn't stay
- she knew exactly where she was and didn't want to be there
- mommy can't hold her on her lap very well anymore and that's where she wanted to be
- it was pretty much naptime
The doctor was much more understanding. I apologized for my daughter being such a pistol, to which she responded, "I am sticking my fingers in her mouth against her will, she is allowed to not enjoy it." Thank you so much to my doctor who made me feel so much better. Anyways, her check-up went great. She is super tiny and light for her age (2oth percentile), but is very healthy and full of spunk!

kitchens, babies and much, much more!

I don't know whether it is because I'm not super girly, or because she has an older brother, but usually Zoey is very satisfied just playing with Isaac's boy toys. It's superheroes, trucks and footballs, most of the time, but lately I have been SO EXCITED to watch her get excited about all things GIRL. Today she made dinner for her baby in her kitchen, swept the floor when she was done, changed her baby's diaper and put her down for a nap. (She also needed time to find her purse, which I loved). Yay for girls!!!

That Father/Son Bond!

Isaac: When we were working at the church tonight, daddy gave me 2 cans of pop.

Me: WHAT??? I am going to have to have a talk with him.
Isaac: You can't, mom.
Me: Why not?
Isaac: Because you told me that daddy is in charge of this family and we have to do anything he says.
Me: Ugh.

"A Look At The Proverbs" by Chris Bunk

My husband spends his nights at CFL camp in a cabin with all the youth guys. I always hear crazy stories about how they jump him and he has to "defend" himself, but am never quite sure how it really goes down. When one of the guys explained to me that a "headlock" was the same as a "man-hug", I knew I was in trouble. Well, when I went up to visit the 2nd week, Chris was sharing with me about some scriptures he was quoting to the guys each day. I was so happy he was able to share with the teens all the wonderful things God was showing him, until he started to quote the scriptures to me....

Proverbs 18:6
"By talking, a fool gets into an argument, and his mouth invites a beating."

Proverbs 19:29
"Punishments are set for mockers and beatings for the backs of fools."

Proverbs 19:25
"Strike a mocker, and a gullible person may learn a lesson. Warn an understanding person and he will gain more knowledge."

Proverbs 20:30
"Brutal beatings cleanse away wickedness. Such beatings cleanse the innermost being."

Thank you honey for "mentoring" our guys through these powerful scriptures. I know they are learning some valuable life lessons.

Bedtime Photo Shoot

Tonight Isaac and I were the only ones up and we had such a great time together. Right before we started our "bedtime photo shoot" (he shot pics of me too, but we will NOT be posting those) we had such a great conversation.
Isaac: Mom, I'm sad that I can't give Jesus a hug because He is invisible.
Me: Well, you might not be able to give Him a hug like you give me a hug, but let's think of some ways we can give Jesus a hug without seeing Him.
Isaac: I know, I can hug myself, because He is in my heart, or I can raise my hands when I worship.

Bucket Head

Untitled from lori bunk on Vimeo.

MudSlide

MudSlide from lori bunk on Vimeo.

shop til they drop

I'm not the kind of mom that takes her kids shopping very often. I'm not sure if it is because of my personality or theirs, but it stresses me out and is not fun for any of us. I know moms that can take their kids to the mall for hours and have an enjoyable time, but my kids are way more well-behaved when they are running in a field or being sprayed by water. Anyways, I decided to bite the bullet and take them on a shopping spree. I have been trying to get Zoey to enjoy her sippy cups more than her dreaded bottle, and thought maybe that would happen if she was the one to pick out her cup. We headed to Target and each kid got to pick out their fall lunchbox, sippy cups and a water bottle. They loved it, and the kicker, I did too!! If only they would act this great when I am shopping for myself! Now for family nap-time....

Be Strong

quick testimony...

Quick Testimony...
I've recently realized that sometimes I forget to share the answers God gives me to the prayers that I have petitioned Him for, so here is a quick testimony. I have had gestational diabetes for both of my previous pregnancies. Only 3% to 7% of pregnant women get it... and I got it. With that diagnoses comes glucometers, insulin shots, needles, non-stress tests, weekly ultrasounds, etc, etc, etc. I could go on and on about how inconvenient it is, but let's just say that it's just one more thing I had to tolerate for 9 months, and I REALLY didn't want to deal with it up at CFL camp. Once I started going to the doctor for this 3rd pregnancy, it was pretty much a given that I would have diabetes again and we were all pretty much just waiting for the test results. I had quite a few people praying and it definitely worked. I just had my 3rd glucose test and it came back NEGATIVE! It's almost unheard of to NOT get gestational diabetes once you've had it twice, but the tests don't lie and God is faithful! I have one more sugar test in 2 weeks that I am believing it will also be negative, but right now I want to give God glory for what he has already done! Thank you Jesus!

a day at camp...

She was so excited to see all the kittens. They were SO small!Why are both my kids so obsessed with animals?Saying goodbye...Just chillin' by the lakemy favorite spot to do devos...Starting the mudwalkIsaac could climb ANYTHING!So proudGetting clean... kind-ofPosing...Trying to splash mamaMan-timeSee ya next year

*THIS YEAR*

*LAST YEAR*It's a little weird thinking about how we will have another addition to the picture next year! Also, at some point, all 3 kids have been to a week of camp inside my belly!

Champions For Life

It always takes me awhile to post about my week at Champions For Life Kids' Camp. Where do I start? Where do I end? How many details? Here's the deal: Out of all the ministry I am a part of, big or small, this is the one I feel is the closest to God's heart. It brings over 27 churches together, of all denominations, to minister to those who have been abused, abandoned and neglected. There are stories, upon stories... but let me just say that God was at work. He worked through me and in me and I am changed again. It's so heart-breaking to spend a week away from my kids, and being 30 weeks pregnant gave me some extra difficulties, but it was SO worth it!
Exodus 22:23
"If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry."
Psalms 68:5
"A father of the fatherless... is God in his holy habitation."

For more details on VisionHope and Champions For Life Kids' Camp, please click here. (Unfortunately because of working with wards of the court we were not able to take many pictures)

Special thanks to Chris' parents for loving and taking care of our kids this week so we could love and take care of others! You are a blessing!
Post from CFL 2009
Post from CFL 2008

Our Chalk People

Chalk People from lori bunk on Vimeo.

"... that I may know Him."

. . . that I may know Him . . . —Philippians 3:10

A saint is not to take the initiative toward self-realization, but toward knowing Jesus Christ. A spiritually vigorous saint never believes that his circumstances simply happen at random, nor does he ever think of his life as being divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in which he finds himself as the means of obtaining a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and total surrender about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we will have the realization of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives, and He will bring us back to the same point over and over again until we do. Self-realization only leads to the glorification of good works, whereas a saint of God glorifies Jesus Christ through his good works. Whatever we may be doing— even eating, drinking, or washing disciples’ feet— we have to take the initiative of realizing and recognizing Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father even in the most menial task. “Jesus, knowing . . . that He had come from God and was going to God, . . . took a towel . . . and began to wash the disciples’ feet . . .” ( John 13:3-5 ).

The aim of a spiritually vigorous saint is “that I may know Him . . .” Do I know Him where I am today? If not, I am failing Him. I am not here for self-realization, but to know Jesus Christ. In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of realizing that there is work to be done and that we must do it. Yet that is never the attitude of a spiritually vigorous saint. His aim is to achieve the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances.

-Excerpt from today's MY UTMOST by Oswald Chambers-

RePurposeful

I love finding sites that show you how to take one item intended for a particular use, and use it for something completely unexpected. Here are a couple of my favorites...

Did you know you can use chalk to repel ants from your house? Just draw a chalk-line in front of your doorways and the ants won't cross it.... not sure why, but they say so here in an article that gives unusual uses for chalk.

There are a million uses for WD-40, but did you know it can loosen sticky zippers, lifts splattered grease on stoves and removes lipstick stains from clothes? Check it out here.

What home remedies can you use for sunburn? Baking soda, vinegar or whole milk yogurt. Read about it here.

How about table salt? You can make special yellow-flame pine-cones for your campfires, make clean up for a cracked egg much easier or make a natural pesticide. Just read about it from TipNut here.

Ok, so I could go on and on, but you can find out more for yourself on these sites. Enjoy!

TipNut
RePurposeful
DIY Life
Parent Hacks

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day!
My son peeking through our skylight. Daddy always takes him on the roof on the 4th of July to watch the fireworks.... One of his many daddy/son traditions. (Don't worry, Papa, they were very safe.)