I'm choosing for him to stay two.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Watercolor Ponies
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My baby is 3 today.
We're thinking that birthday plans might need to be changed, depending on the weather, so Micah brought him a cake today. We got it out, realized we didn't have candles, then I found tealights and put them on there. We sang and Landon blew out the candles. LOL We lit them again so I could get a pic of Brendan trying to blow them out. Finally the candles were done and I took them off of the cake and got ready to cut it. I was walking from the table to the kitchen with the candles. Guess how many I had put on the cake.
TWO! Is that denial or what? I didn't even realize it when they were on the cake. Silly mommy.
Walk down Memory Lane with me ...
My sweet little newborn:
Brendan at a year old:
Don't blink. They grow up way too fast.
And look for a similar post next week, when my oldest turns 10. Yikes.
We're thinking that birthday plans might need to be changed, depending on the weather, so Micah brought him a cake today. We got it out, realized we didn't have candles, then I found tealights and put them on there. We sang and Landon blew out the candles. LOL We lit them again so I could get a pic of Brendan trying to blow them out. Finally the candles were done and I took them off of the cake and got ready to cut it. I was walking from the table to the kitchen with the candles. Guess how many I had put on the cake.
TWO! Is that denial or what? I didn't even realize it when they were on the cake. Silly mommy.
Walk down Memory Lane with me ...
My sweet little newborn:
Brendan at a year old:
At two:
And today ... three ...
Don't blink. They grow up way too fast.
And look for a similar post next week, when my oldest turns 10. Yikes.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Last day of 2 and first day of school
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We finally started school today. Here's the newest 2nd grader hard at work:
And then the 5th grader. Wow, 5th grade!
And then ... 3 tomorrow?? How did THAT happen? Wasn't it just yesterday that he was a tiny little bundle coming home from the hospital? (And yes, after a 9 lb then a 9 lb 11 oz, 7 lb 6 oz qualifies as a tiny bundle. He looked like half a baby to me!)
And then the 5th grader. Wow, 5th grade!
And then ... 3 tomorrow?? How did THAT happen? Wasn't it just yesterday that he was a tiny little bundle coming home from the hospital? (And yes, after a 9 lb then a 9 lb 11 oz, 7 lb 6 oz qualifies as a tiny bundle. He looked like half a baby to me!)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
An absolutely fabulous post
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I have a bunch of blogs that I read regularly. Where lots of people read or watch the morning news, I get up and hit the blogs. A new one I've been reading is this one: http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com. Check it out, it's fabulous. I'm new to this blog, but in the time I spent looking it over yesterday, I laughed, I cried; it's just fabulous.
Then I read it today. Oh. My. This just screamed out to me. I love it.
http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/2008/08/why-i-believe.html
And when you finish that one, read this one too.
http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/2008/08/a-letter-to-mys.html
I graduated from high school in 1987, so this one had me laughing and crying too.
I love blogs.
Then I read it today. Oh. My. This just screamed out to me. I love it.
http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/2008/08/why-i-believe.html
And when you finish that one, read this one too.
http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/2008/08/a-letter-to-mys.html
I graduated from high school in 1987, so this one had me laughing and crying too.
I love blogs.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Well, my toes are smashed!
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Ever had one of those days? Getting up, rushing through the morning routine, dragging the kids out of bed, bribing them with doughnuts if they will JUST stop fighting and get dressed, rushing to church, and being certain that your heart isn't in it is written all over your face? Not being prepared for worship whatsoever, instead thinking of the relief it will be to drop the kids off, and how nice it will be to visit with friends, and thinking about what to do for lunch in the back of your mind?
Then, TRUTH steps in. Or, more likely, steps all over your toes.
This describes my morning. Why is it that I rush through my day, going from one task to the next, mechanically doing what needs to be done, and totally missing out on an encounter with the Living God? And how is it that when I do have an encounter with God, that I can walk away unchanged? Let's take it even further - why is it that I struggle with the same sins over and over, and feel like I'm leading a life of defeat rather than a life of victory? Why do I feel like I'm just missing the point, or at least missing something big from the point?
Well, that would be because I am. Oh - I love the Bible. I love the parts that say "prosper and not harm" and "rejoice" and "His grace is sufficient" and "present your requests." We all love those parts.
Then there are the less popular parts, which for me, can be summed up in one word. The ugly word that if I were writing the Bible, I'd probably just leave out. Of course I would, I usually manage to leave it out of my life. It's a little word, couldn't possibly be that important. Of course, a person cannot live a victorious Christian life without it. It is absolutely imperative to seeing God move in our lives. The word?
submit
1 Peter 2:13-23 - Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
You can continue reading in 2 Peter for more along the same theme, all the way to the end of the book.
How often do you insist on your rights? "I have a right to be happy!" "I'm not going to stand for this treatment!" "I'm well within my rights!" "You've got to stand up for yourself - show some backbone!" One or two of these statements slips out of my mouth, or at the very least goes through my mind, on a daily basis. This is how we're brought up, and the very idea of submitting to a boss, or a husband, or anyone really, is totally foreign to us.
How would God have us live? Could it be that the reason my life is defeated more than it is victorious is my unwillingness to submit? To give up my will totally? To entrust myself to the One who judges justly? Because not only does He judge me justly, He judges everyone else justly too. I love the verse that says "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) but I never noticed that just before this are the verses about humbling ourselves, and submitting. Could it be that He knows that submitting and humbling ourselves will actually cause anxiety for us? Of course it will. For me, to do this will mean making major changes in my life, and I am actually anxious about it. I have a choice though - I can learn to submit - to God, to my husband, to everyone - I can learn to have a gentle and quiet spirit, and I can see God move in my life, and be taken to a deeper knowledge of Him (His Word says His glory revealed in us!!) or, I can continue in my usual stubborn pride and wonder what it is that I'm missing, why my life feels defeated and powerless.
Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened. -Winston Churchill.
I stumbled over truth today. What comes next?
Then, TRUTH steps in. Or, more likely, steps all over your toes.
This describes my morning. Why is it that I rush through my day, going from one task to the next, mechanically doing what needs to be done, and totally missing out on an encounter with the Living God? And how is it that when I do have an encounter with God, that I can walk away unchanged? Let's take it even further - why is it that I struggle with the same sins over and over, and feel like I'm leading a life of defeat rather than a life of victory? Why do I feel like I'm just missing the point, or at least missing something big from the point?
Well, that would be because I am. Oh - I love the Bible. I love the parts that say "prosper and not harm" and "rejoice" and "His grace is sufficient" and "present your requests." We all love those parts.
Then there are the less popular parts, which for me, can be summed up in one word. The ugly word that if I were writing the Bible, I'd probably just leave out. Of course I would, I usually manage to leave it out of my life. It's a little word, couldn't possibly be that important. Of course, a person cannot live a victorious Christian life without it. It is absolutely imperative to seeing God move in our lives. The word?
submit
1 Peter 2:13-23 - Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
You can continue reading in 2 Peter for more along the same theme, all the way to the end of the book.
How often do you insist on your rights? "I have a right to be happy!" "I'm not going to stand for this treatment!" "I'm well within my rights!" "You've got to stand up for yourself - show some backbone!" One or two of these statements slips out of my mouth, or at the very least goes through my mind, on a daily basis. This is how we're brought up, and the very idea of submitting to a boss, or a husband, or anyone really, is totally foreign to us.
How would God have us live? Could it be that the reason my life is defeated more than it is victorious is my unwillingness to submit? To give up my will totally? To entrust myself to the One who judges justly? Because not only does He judge me justly, He judges everyone else justly too. I love the verse that says "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) but I never noticed that just before this are the verses about humbling ourselves, and submitting. Could it be that He knows that submitting and humbling ourselves will actually cause anxiety for us? Of course it will. For me, to do this will mean making major changes in my life, and I am actually anxious about it. I have a choice though - I can learn to submit - to God, to my husband, to everyone - I can learn to have a gentle and quiet spirit, and I can see God move in my life, and be taken to a deeper knowledge of Him (His Word says His glory revealed in us!!) or, I can continue in my usual stubborn pride and wonder what it is that I'm missing, why my life feels defeated and powerless.
Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened. -Winston Churchill.
I stumbled over truth today. What comes next?
Thursday, August 7, 2008
To Build or Not to Build
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That is the question.
Or is it?
Sitting in a church business meeting last night, this was essentially the question at hand. Somehow this became a battle. It seemed that most everyone agreed that building should be done, but of the 101 people in the room, there seemed to be about 112 opinions of how this should be done. This was not a pleasant hour and a half of my life, especially after the unpleasant hour and a half of my life I spent listening to the exact same back and forth last week. Some of the responses were heartfelt and emotional, some were "just the facts", and some were downright mean.
It seems that a big hindrance for a lot of people is the debt that will be required for the church to build this building. I get that. Totally get that. The thing is though, Romans 13:8 says "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law." From what I heard, the same people that are not happy about the idea of going into debt to build this building were the people whose comments came across as less than nice, and even hostile in a couple of instances. I don't get that. To me, going into debt to build a building is not nearly on the same plane as loving your fellow man.
During this meeting, the topic was "tabled" which basically means that it stops until it's brought up again in a business meeting. I'm not terribly familiar with Robert's Rule of Order, so one of y'all correct me if I'm wrong. I think this was an awful decision. 51 voted to table it, 50 to not table it. (As an aside, I didn't let my kids vote. I had two kids there; both are church members and eligible to vote. hm) To me, this decision means that we really did waste these business meetings and will have to go through it all again. Opinions aren't likely to change, but all of the numbers are. I think I would rather have seen a NO vote on the building rather than a tabled discussion.
I asked my husband in the car on the way home, through tears, "now what?" I don't know. We need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to work in all of us. Priority one will have to be forgiveness. I know there are people I need to forgive, and attitudes in me that need forgiveness. Prayerfully, this will happen to us all.
Lord, bring us unity. Bring us forgiveness, bring us peace, bring us unity.
I am committing myself to praying fervently for this, and praying for my pastor. I'm praying for his encouragement for the rest of this week, and for restored relationships. I'll be praying that for our whole church. If we can't love one another, the whole "to build or not to build" doesn't even matter.
Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.
Or is it?
Sitting in a church business meeting last night, this was essentially the question at hand. Somehow this became a battle. It seemed that most everyone agreed that building should be done, but of the 101 people in the room, there seemed to be about 112 opinions of how this should be done. This was not a pleasant hour and a half of my life, especially after the unpleasant hour and a half of my life I spent listening to the exact same back and forth last week. Some of the responses were heartfelt and emotional, some were "just the facts", and some were downright mean.
It seems that a big hindrance for a lot of people is the debt that will be required for the church to build this building. I get that. Totally get that. The thing is though, Romans 13:8 says "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law." From what I heard, the same people that are not happy about the idea of going into debt to build this building were the people whose comments came across as less than nice, and even hostile in a couple of instances. I don't get that. To me, going into debt to build a building is not nearly on the same plane as loving your fellow man.
During this meeting, the topic was "tabled" which basically means that it stops until it's brought up again in a business meeting. I'm not terribly familiar with Robert's Rule of Order, so one of y'all correct me if I'm wrong. I think this was an awful decision. 51 voted to table it, 50 to not table it. (As an aside, I didn't let my kids vote. I had two kids there; both are church members and eligible to vote. hm) To me, this decision means that we really did waste these business meetings and will have to go through it all again. Opinions aren't likely to change, but all of the numbers are. I think I would rather have seen a NO vote on the building rather than a tabled discussion.
I asked my husband in the car on the way home, through tears, "now what?" I don't know. We need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to work in all of us. Priority one will have to be forgiveness. I know there are people I need to forgive, and attitudes in me that need forgiveness. Prayerfully, this will happen to us all.
Lord, bring us unity. Bring us forgiveness, bring us peace, bring us unity.
I am committing myself to praying fervently for this, and praying for my pastor. I'm praying for his encouragement for the rest of this week, and for restored relationships. I'll be praying that for our whole church. If we can't love one another, the whole "to build or not to build" doesn't even matter.
Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Happy birthday to me!
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My sweet children made me a cake! Yummy!
and OH MY ... I'm 39 now. I'm just now used to thinking about being in my 30's and I'm almost not anymore!
and OH MY ... I'm 39 now. I'm just now used to thinking about being in my 30's and I'm almost not anymore!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Stressing and having the blahs!
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What is my problem? I'm sitting here today, just got home from church and seem to be incapable of making a decision regarding supper. Are we going to eat at church tonight? Am I going to make the first meal I had planned for tonight? (Which is a NO because the chicken is still frozen ... oops!) Am I going to make the backup meal I thought of when I realized plan A wasn't going to work?
There's a mountain of laundry and I don't want to do it. I need to get last year's school stuff organized and put away so we can pull out this year's school stuff, and I don't want to do it. I'm having a Pampered Chef party in a couple of weeks (and um ... if you're reading this and you're local, you'll be receiving an invitation in the next couple of days .. winky ... ) and I have a bunch of cleaning to do for that. Okay, truth be told, I'm excited about that. Not only about the party, but also about the motivation for cleaning my house that it will bring. Pathetic, huh?
I desperately do not want to start off our school year stressed out about it though! Homesat already made my low stress difficult, if not impossible, by cancelling their product that I love, and causing me to restructure some classes and schedules, so I'm TRYING to overcome that.
Sigh ... as MamaJ says, He obviously still has work to do in me. Praying that I'll be still, relax, and get done what needs to be done ... and not stress about it.
I'm also praying that someone else in this house will make a decision regarding supper. Otherwise everyone will still be sitting here tomorrow, starving, while I sit, still incapable of making a decision.
Just to let y'all know ... the family did get fed last night. The church fed them. LOL I decided to just give up on my decision making process. I sent them to church and told them to either eat there or grab something on the way home. Thankfully, since there was a storm, they just ate there.
Now ... what's for supper tonight? hehe
There's a mountain of laundry and I don't want to do it. I need to get last year's school stuff organized and put away so we can pull out this year's school stuff, and I don't want to do it. I'm having a Pampered Chef party in a couple of weeks (and um ... if you're reading this and you're local, you'll be receiving an invitation in the next couple of days .. winky ... ) and I have a bunch of cleaning to do for that. Okay, truth be told, I'm excited about that. Not only about the party, but also about the motivation for cleaning my house that it will bring. Pathetic, huh?
I desperately do not want to start off our school year stressed out about it though! Homesat already made my low stress difficult, if not impossible, by cancelling their product that I love, and causing me to restructure some classes and schedules, so I'm TRYING to overcome that.
Sigh ... as MamaJ says, He obviously still has work to do in me. Praying that I'll be still, relax, and get done what needs to be done ... and not stress about it.
I'm also praying that someone else in this house will make a decision regarding supper. Otherwise everyone will still be sitting here tomorrow, starving, while I sit, still incapable of making a decision.
Just to let y'all know ... the family did get fed last night. The church fed them. LOL I decided to just give up on my decision making process. I sent them to church and told them to either eat there or grab something on the way home. Thankfully, since there was a storm, they just ate there.
Now ... what's for supper tonight? hehe
Friday, August 1, 2008
A complete family again!
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This is the very longest I've ever been away from my oldest child, and although I know she's having a great time and is being well taken care of, I'm starting to climb the walls a little without her here! The two little ones and I will be headed that way this afternoon and will be back tomorrow.
I can't wait!
It's only been a week. How on earth am I going to handle it when this child goes to college? I know we've got a little bit of time before I need to start worrying about that, but if the next eight years go as quickly as the last almost ten, I'm sure it will seem like not nearly long enough. (Yes, I'm the grammar police, and I'm aware that the previous sentence is wrong on many different levels.)
I think I'm just emotional thinking about a tenth birthday coming up in just over a month!
I can't wait!
It's only been a week. How on earth am I going to handle it when this child goes to college? I know we've got a little bit of time before I need to start worrying about that, but if the next eight years go as quickly as the last almost ten, I'm sure it will seem like not nearly long enough. (Yes, I'm the grammar police, and I'm aware that the previous sentence is wrong on many different levels.)
I think I'm just emotional thinking about a tenth birthday coming up in just over a month!
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