Lessen

Overall Austyn is doing better (now a week from the event). He started walking Tuesday night. He walks with a limp and he still crawls from time to time. He still complains of the pain and so we give him some ibuprofen when he does, which ends up being about 2 times a day. His foot is very tender, or at lease he treats it so. And whenever he bumps it or it gets jolted somehow he ends up in tears. This sprain will take a while to heal, I guess. So continue to pray that all the ligaments and muscles go back into place and are healed.

Penelope who was having some problems with school. Mostly circulating around not liking school, not wanting to practice letters, numbers, words, math, and wanting to just have fun with her friends. In which my mother said, "I can understand that". Of which I responded "Well I don't! She needs to love school. Its a great thing to be able to learn. She should enjoy it." God help me for pairing this daughter with this mother. Anyways she started a kind of tutoring for after school, which they call 'intervention' where she gets one on one attention to go over writing and phonics. The morning of she was fighting with us about getting ready as usual and telling us how much she "hates" school. At dinner that evening she proclaimed, "I love school! I love intervention." Russell and I sat there shocked for a moment before we both cheered. It isn't a complete 180 degree turn around but she is doing better which is a relief. It was getting to the point that I didn't know what else to do. How do you teach a little girl who refuses to be taught? It's not like I was trying to teach her to be nice to her friend or share her toys. I'm trying to get her to do repetitive tasks to learn her sight words or addition and subtraction. She is defiantly my free spirited child.

I recently finished reading a book a friend let me borrow titled 'Rebekah: Women of Genesis' by Orson Scott Card.  It is a fictional novel based on the biblical character Rebekah, the wife of Isaac.  It was so good.  Quite a page turner.  I had only read one fiction novel based on a biblical character and that was about Prophet Jeremiah titled 'He who Wept' by Thom Lemmons.  It was way too much in his head all the time that it was hard for me to read. But I really like this one and related to the main character, Rebekah, very easily.

It did get me thinking about a certain topic.  There is that moment in Rebekah's life (as a the character in the novel) that she is young and adventurous and ready to do great things for the Kingdom.  It brought me back to my own moment.  You know that moment....That moment where you are in your teens, or young adult.  You have your whole life ahead of you.  And think how you want to make a difference somehow.  But it is only by the pass of time that this idea flutters away.  Real life happens and the goings of everyday only make for normal and not world changing.

I remember this desire early on.  I didn't quite know what I wanted to do but I wanted to do something big. After I completed nursing school, I got married, and I felt my life can begin.  I could go out and be.  I loved my job.  Loved that I worked at one of the best hospitals in the United States.  And then I got pregnant.  My job didn't make exceptions for my growing baby.  Didn't seem to like the set backs that I was no longer wanting to do heavy lifting.  When returning back to work after having my daughter, people got upset at me for pumping privately at work during my breaks.  It went all the way up to management and they sided that I may be requesting too much to get that opportunity to feed my baby.  I knew what they were pressuring me was against California law.  I knew I could fight it.  Have this be my big moment of what I stood for.  But I didn't want to be known for forcing breastfeeding.  Either that or ended up just being a coward after all.  I switched jobs to closer to home, a local community hospital that had a more family friendly atmosphere.  More women and moms who know what it was like to have other commitments besides work.  And I gave up the idea of being a world changer.  I loved that job, but I didn't love the stress that it started giving me and it wasn't worth it.  Shortly after that was when my desire to stay home came.  No maybe not.  I remember going back to work in the first place after having my daughter and not wanting to leave her.  I never cried, but I worried constantly.  Would call my mother-in-law during every break to see if she was still okay.  Only with my son did my anxieties lessen.

But Rebekah stirred in me the desire to do some life changing thing.  Only I'm not holding onto the dead sea scrolls.  I can't birth another Jesus to save all mankind.  I just continue in my ordinary.  I am okay with my ordinary.  In fact I love the life Russell and I have chosen to live so far.  I am happy for the choices we have made.  But part of me, in the deepest part, still wants to do something big.  Maybe someday. 

 

God bless the grumpy old lady

I have been neglecting my blog, which is of course obvious. One of the biggest reasons is I wasn't quite sure what to blog about. Social networking has exploded, and the avenue that I use the most is Facebook. So my thoughts, my pictures, my stories have gone to Facebook. However, my sister-in-law, Nicky, has recently re-inspired her blog by taking questions from a blog journal. Although it is interesting and I have been reading them. I don't want to copy it. Previous to my Facebook craze and purchase of a smart phone I use to feel like I entertained my blog followers through pictures. However I post most of them on Facebook. So I have decided, despite myself, that I am going to tell stories of our family or describe thoughts in my life. Things that are just too long to post in the limited character status update. So I am starting with a story that I have told a couple of people. One I hope you find as entertaining as I have been replaying it.

 Emily, my neice, came up to visit us over the winter break. While she was up we decided to go up to Shaver Lake and see the snow. We were a little worried the day of because there was a "30% chance of percepitation" (meaning snow) and we have a minivan. We do not own chains. And we are from southern California.  So to say we have a limited experience driving in the snow would put it mildly. Hey, where we are from they say that we don't even know how to drive in the rain. Of course not us directly. :-) Anyways, it was agreed that we would go to the snow but if it started "snowing" or if it got unsafe we would come home. We got there no problem. Went to a snow bank by the lake and played until the kids complained about the coldness and their tummies were grumbling. We decided to then go back into town and eat at one of the local diners. We stopped at the first one we saw and Russ parked into an available parking spot. The available parking had snow at the end and was on a decline. Russ came to a stop just as we heard the snow crunch beneath the front tires.  We both looked at each other and then looked in front.  And then just around the corner but visual from our new parking spot was a clean parking spot.  One that didn't have snow.  We decided right away to move the car into the obviously better spot.  Russ put the car into reverse, stepped on the gas, and then nothing....The engine revved, the wheels turned but we were not moving.  Yep, we got stuck despite our best intentions. 

We sat there for a second.  Russ trying again to see if doing the same actions might perhaps provide a different result.  However despite Russ' best endeavors just putting the car in and out of drive wasn't getting us anywhere.  We both got out of the car to take a better look at the situation.  Lo and behold we were in a frozen pickle.   First we tried kicking out the snow that had built up around the tire.  Free the tire.  Now try again, step on the gas.  Nothing.  Okay, let me try again.  Free the tire.  Surely that will be enough.  Now try again, honey.  Step on it.  Nope, that didn't work.

Well maybe we should just go eat.  I'm sure the diner could help us out too.  They would know what to do.  Just then Russ spotted a Cal Trans truck with a snow plow parked across the street.  Russ told me, "run over there and recruite his help".  The guy went to the back of his truck to get something that would help us.  As I started running back to the car.  A little frail old lady started yelling for my attention close to where we were parked.  I ran quickly over to the lady.  The lady couldn't have been more then 100 lbs soaking wet.  She had a nasal cannula hooked up to an oxygen tank she used as a cane.  She then put me in my place.  You see there were 3 stores in the parking lot.  A diner, a chimney sweeper, and her antique shop.  And I  was parked in front of the chimney sweeper.  I needed to move that car immediately. 

"We are actually trying right now, but we got stuck"
"I don't care, you need to move that car"
"Ya we are trying to move it.  Do you have anything maybe that could help us?"
"Do I look like I can help you!?"
"Well, I thought maybe you had a piece of wood or something."
"You need to move that car"

And on and on she went.  Bent on the idea that despite us actually working on moving the car because I haven't left her side she must repeat herself.  And so I went running from the Cal Trans guy, to our car, to the grumpy old lady who kept yelling for my attention.  Just for me to walk over there to have her tell me to move my car.  Can't you see I'm working on it.  It got to the point that she was so rude that it was almost comical.  It really wasn't hard to just polite say "yes ma'am, I'll get to it." because she was so irrational with her constant request.  We are literally doing everything we can.

The whole time the Cal Trans guy is walking back and forth from our cars with shovels of dirt for us to spread under the tires.  Then he had to help show Russ how to turn the wheel back and forth to get some friction.  All the time constant interruptions from the lady standing outside the antique shop.  Finally I got tired of walking over to her.  When she told me something that I couldn't quite hear from a distance I responded with my normal answer.   I  must have not responded in a way that made sense to her because I then heard her exclaim, "They must be from Fresno."  I just kept busy trying to unstuck our car.  But in my head I wanted to tell her, "Lady I can beat that, I'm from Los Angeles."  Eventually we unstuck the car and probably made that grumpy all lady very happy.  But of course by that time we got out of that parking spot the other parking spot was taken.  As we sat in the parking lot waiting for someone to pull out of a spot.  I turned to Russ and we decided that I should check to see if there was any room at the diner.  After all, it did look like a small diner.  Sure enough there was only 2 spots left at the bar and there was 5 of us.  So off we went to another diner. 

A saying my Grandpa had when referring to bad drivers was "dirty dog".  His wife would correct him with a smile saying "God bless the dirty dog".  And so it goes with this old lady.  "God bless the grumpy old lady". 


 

Baby Jesus and Santa

Okay, I'm gonna start at the beginning....

Russell was raised in a loving Christian home. His parents decided early on no Santa, no Easter bunny, nothing. I was raised in a loving home but not in the church. My parents told us the whole Santa thing, until we found out on our own. They would have gifts from "Santa" (interestingly enough in my mother's hand writing).  Russell's brother and his family decided to continue the tradition, no Santa.  I remember learning about this when Russell and I were dating.  It didn't go over well with me the first time.  Hey, my favorite movie is "Miracle on 34th St".  Anyways, Russell and I did talk about it before we got married and we both agreed that we were ok with Santa.  Also because it would help include my family more.  In addition, as I saw Russell's brothers children grew up each one of the kids while entering public school struggled a lot with Santa.  At moments they would believe, because it was pushed so much at school.  But the struggle at home where it was reinforced that it's not real.  The look on the mom's face.  The look on the kids face.

So that brings me to how we did our kids.  I was okay with my kids knowing about Santa.  Like I said it was a way of tying in my family with the holiday.  But I always wanted Santa to be the runner-up.  I wanted Jesus to be the reason for the season.  I wanted Jesus to be more real to them than Santa is.  So we have decided to do some things and not to do others.  To have lots of talks.  To answer questions slightly differently.  But we still have fun with Santa.  But that brings us to now.  My daughter entered Kindergarten.  Wow, there is a lot of Santa push.  You would think some over zealous, doesn't have enough to do person (almost said lawyer, but I'll play nice) would claim separation of church and state.  After all, Santa is still celebrating Christmas.

Also, one of our normal family functions, "Back to Bethlehem":  Where a whole church changes their land into the city of Bethlehem.  There are people dressed the part walking around.  Everyone is in uniform.  Roman soldiers will yell at you if you look at them wrong.  Jewish teachers are in the corner teaching from the Torah.   And there is Joseph, Mary, and a real life baby in a barn that you can go see.  I loved taking the kids there, however; I am having a hard time finding one around.  There is one where we live but it is happening when we are going to be out of town.  When we go visit family they already ended.  Unless anyone knows of one?  Please.  That was my way of making Jesus more real.  Seeing Jesus' birth,  walking through Bethlehem. 

It's harder for Russell too.  He is having a hard time answering Penelope's questions about Santa.  I like to answer things like,  "Well, honey, he is as real as you want him to be."  Or something like that.  And at the end I always ask her, "What are we really celebrating?" and Penelope knows to answer "Jesus' birthday". 

Plus now that she is getting older there are some things that she can do now....write a letter to santa, sit on Santa's lap (we did these for the first time this year).  I was thinking about doing 'The Elf on the Shelf'.  For people who don't know.  It's a book and a toy elf.  You read the book, which has something to say about this elf that is really real and is going to sit up on a shelf and watches to make sure the kid is good or bad to tell Santa.  The parent without the kids knowing moves the elf occasionally so the kid really thinks that maybe it is real.  I told a friend about it.  Said I was thinking about it because I wanted the extra assistance/ leverage in having proper behavior.  She said it reminder her a lot about idols in foreign lands.  An inanimate object that is "real" and can pass "judgment" on you.  My response was, "Say no more.  Not gonna do that.  Don't want to miss with that".  I'm not condemning you for doing it.  I just couldn't after making that connection.  (That friend also does no Santa with her kids). 

We don't do presents from Santa.  We haven't yet done cookies and milk for Santa.  Never left a carrot for the reindeer.  Presents use to sit under the Christmas tree as I bought and wrapped them until the kids started getting into them.  Now they only come out right before hand.  I like the cartoon character of Santa.  I like the make-believe-ness.  Encouraging him being real, as much as Mickey Mouse is while you are at Disneyland (Hey, we are really big Disney fans.)  And somehow it has slipped away from that.  Is it a phase that I cannot completely control?  Is there a different direction I should be going in?  I'm not about to tell my daughter, "Sorry honey.  But really, Santa isn't real.  It's just a fake story."

FYI I'm not looking forward to Christmas with the older cousins who know very well there is no Santa and my daughter enthralled with him right now. 

.

Back in the saddle again

We got bikes for Christmas. We got them for the whole family (don't spill it to the kids yet). But we also got them for ourselves. No, we didn't put a bow on them and set them aside only to be used on Christmas. The day we bought them, after we got the kids to bed, we went out for a bike ride. Yes, we had an adult at the house, we didn't leave the kids unattended. But riding on a bike brought back so many childhood memories. Russell and I haven't had a bike since childhood. I don't remember what happened to mine. Russell remembers his being stolen right out of his garage when left open for only a little bit unattended.

Just like riding a bike you never forget, or ya, riding a bike. I remember going on the many camping trips my parents would take us on.  We (my sister, brother, and I) would go through bike rides through the camp ground, sometimes down to the lake.  It was a beautiful camp ground.  If only someone remembered where it was that we went those times.  We would all sing at the top of our longs "Ba, ba, ba, ba.....bad to the bone.....ba, ba, ba, ba....bad to the bone".  Not that we were bad or pretended to be so.  It was just a fun song.  It was a time full of laughter and fun.  Everyone was always in a good mood.  The sky was always shining and the weather was never too hot.  At least in my head.  Hopefully someday I can impart memories like that to my kids. 

On a side note,  I've been feeling a little under the weather lately.  I've had a pounding headache.  I thought maybe I was having migraines.  Since I couldn't shake it and no medicine I found over the counter was touching it.  I went to the urgent care.  The doctor said it was a sinus headache, "since migraines are more chronic".  Meaning I should have had more then one in my whole life.  Well, I guess I understand that idea.  Either way he got me some stronger pain medication and I was again able to be part of civilization again.  I have a prescription for antibiotics if the headache doesn't go away in a couple of days.   Don't worry my pain prescription isn't needing a triplicate or anything.  But I am okay with taking it.  Because I was either rolled in a ball holding my head trying not to move in pain.  Or able to do the fun things with my kids before Christmas, with a little medicinal aid. 






 

hilarious!

I know I am done with the month blogging. But I had to post this: it is too cute! Penelope has show and tell at Preschool tomorrow. So tonight we started talking to her about it. And having her pick something and practice. This is what she did. It's hilarious!



Today was one of those days. The days that are a polar opposite of the days that I feel like I am walking right in step with the LORD like on day 24. It started with bible study this morning. We are doing Esther by Beth Moore. Today she talked about where Mordecai comes to Esther about coming before the King to plead for her people and the grip of fear that could overtake you. The thought of what we fear most in our life made me think of our recent life changes. I start worrying about Russ' school, not having a family up here, where the kids are going to go if Russ needs to be in class and I need to be in work, what happens in summer break, what happens when.... The idea that we aren't where God wants us to be crosses my mind, but that isn't the biggest deal. I know that if we weren't where God wants us to be He would tell us. And as Russ pointed out we had so many confirmations before we moved here. It's the details of the problems that I haven't even happened yet that I'm worried about. I know God will handle it. And I know that is what the study is all about, but it still consumed me today.

Overall, it was a nice day. I was off work and was able to take them to Bible study and to a park with a friend. I cooked dinner. The kids both ate fish, not the frozen fish stick kind, real fish! And I went for a run after bedtime. A good day, just keep me and my thought process in prayer. When listening to some of Penelope's kid worship in the car a song came on that quotes Jeremiah 29:11. I'm going to have it be my memory verse for the Siesta Scripture Memory verse, not necessarily because I need to memorize it but because I need to quote it to myself for the next 2 weeks.

Day 9

Today I called in sick. I woke up with no voice and shortly after the phone call went back to bed and slept half the day. It's so awesome that my husband is home and lets me do that. Thank you hubby! I am feeling better so will be returning to life as normal tomorrow.

In good news my camera DID come today! It is a bit more technical then my last one, so I'll have to read the instruction manual. The kids of course didn't hold still for me to take a good picture. But I got one. I haven't figured out where the stabilization mode is. My other camera was made by the same company so I know they will have that function it's just a matter of figuring out where. With the picture below I had it on some setting, accidentally, where you take multiple pictures and it sets it up in a landscape for you. Ya, I got to read the instruction manual. LOL.

the kids before bedtime. Austyn is still brushing his teeth. He likes his tooth brush. : )

Day 8

Well today went well. I just got home a little bit ago from being with my mom. She is doing well and all the small things I was worried about happening never came to pass. She is resting well at home. I feel a little better at the end of the day with my sickness. The good thing about waiting around for my mom to have her procedure is that I had to sit around. I also have been feeling who ever is praying for me to get better soon. I know my husband is but maybe some of you out there too. It really does make a difference and I want you guys to know that.

My camera did not come today. I was wrong, it is going to be delivered tomorrow. Too bad tomorrow doesn't come quick enough. I tracked it on UPS and it is still is San Pablo, CA. Which at first I thought was San Pedro until I looked closer. And then I had to google it to find out that where in the world San Pablo is? For your information San Pablo is in the Bay Area of San Francisco.

Penelope did fantastic at her orientation. The teachers said she was really well behaved in class like she had all done it before. We were only there for an hour, so she wasn't really ready to go when it was time to go. She cried pretty bad when we had to leave. At least I know she will have a good time. Monday is when she officially starts I hope it comes quickly for her sake.

I almost finished the book "One in a million: Journey to your promised land" by Priscilla Shirer. It is so good. Each page has been a talk between God and I. It is a perfect read for this stage in my life. But I really want to quote you some part of it. I just have a hard time picking which one that gets the full affect of the whole book. There isn't anything I can take, but here is a good part I read recently.

"What situation are you in right now that's going to require a 'turning' if you're ever able to embrace the will of God for your life? What kind of changes is He asking for? And what do you expect will happen if you continue resisting this new direction for whatever the reason--inconvenience, fear of the unknown, distaste for the whole situation?

Paul speaks of how we are to 'run in such a way' not merely to survive the race but to run with purpose and persistence--to run 'that you may win' (I Cor 9:24). And the writer of Hebrews gives us specific instructions on how to do it (Heb. 12: 1-2):

* Turn--'let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us...'
* Set--'fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith...'
* Go--'let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.'

God was moving Isreal from one place to the next, preparing to put them into position where their hoped for destiny would be clearly within reach. But in order to go where God was leading them, they were being told to take dynamic action, to do things differently then they had before. They were being expected to believe that what He had called them to conquer next was worth every challenge. They were being instructed to march boldly out of safety into a new phase of following Him. Breaking barriers depended on it.

...Moments like these--times when God prepares us to go to the next leg in our journey--remind us why Sinai is so important. The intimacy God invites us to experience with HIm in our darkest, driest, dustiest seasons is not some isolated occurrence. It's not as though we're supposed to walk ahead merely remembering what it was like to be there when God met us in our pain and brokenness and reestablished our relationship. Like the Hebrews emerging from Sinai, we're not simply to march onward but to march onward with God. We're not to leave His presence behind us at the mountain. We will find ourselves lost and gasping for breath before we know it if we think we can move ahead without maintaining our continued connection with Him. The fellowship and faith garnered at the Mountain of God are designed to keep us from rocking off balance when the new possibilities (as well as the new obstacles) of entering our destiny begin to appear."

There is so much. For me to continue writing it in. I would have to write in everything. I hope what I have extracted out of the book has spoken to you and stirred you to grab a copy for yourself to dig through.

Day 7

Day 7: Nothing exciting. Today, I finally got the cold bug that had been hitting our family. As the rest of our family is on the mend I am completely exhausted and under the weather. Ugh. I hope I get over this one quick. I have all those extra vitamins I am taking, right?

Exciting stuff that happened today? Um....I don't know if I got much for you. But tomorrow will hopefully be a interesting day. My camera should be coming in the mail! yay! We will be going to Penelope's Preschool orientation tomorrow. And I'm going to take my mom to a hospital procedure. So maybe something more exciting. For right now, I'm going to bed.

Super Bowl

Today was a beautiful day! The high I saw on the car was 68 degrees, with the sun shinning great. So happy the gloom has been gone for a while. I could never live in Seattle. I need the sun. One month of gloom isn't too bad when you know the end is in site.

Unless you were on another planet today you would know that Super Bowl was today. Whether or not you watch it is another story. "We" watch it in some form, well, Russ really does the watching. I on the other hand watch when the comercials come on and really spend most of the time eating. We had a great time over at some new friends house. They invited us over and, man, did we eat! One of the things I made for the Super Bowl is my Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies (The recipe was developed with thanks from Jen Graham). Below is the recipe.

Ingredients
1 package of your favorite brownie mix (with ingredients called for in the mix)
1 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 large semi-chocolate candy bar

1. Mix brownie mix and preheat oven as described by your favorite directions, then set aside.
2. mix peanut butter and powdered sugar. If too sticky add more powdered sugar. Spread evenly on top of chocolate bar.
3. place half of brownie mix in prepared pan. Place the peanut butter/chocolate bar on top and cover with other half of brownie mix. Cook as directed.

** if you like it gooey eat it right away. But eating it after it has cooled is yummy too when you have a thick piece of chocolate in the middle.

Tomorrow back to "eating right life-style change". LOL.

house hunting

Today we ended up looking at open houses after a lazy morning. We went out to look at 4 houses. The first one needed A LOT of work inside and had a swimming pool (which we are trying to buy without). The second was Russell's favorite. And I do have to admit it was quite nice and if it was $30,000 less I would really like it too. LOL. It had new paint and new carpet throughout. It was built in 2004 and was on a large lot. The only thing it had going wrong with it is since it is a foreclosure a couple of random things were missing. One of the things that were missing is the dishwasher. When the previous owners took it out they broke several tiles in the process. And there was a little bit of mildew damage behind the dishwasher from probably a leak from the dishwasher, no sign of it coming from anywhere else. The third house we looked at was pretty nice but it had a very small backyard. The fourth house ended up not having an open house after all. Which was a bummer--I was really looking forward to that one.

Not a whole lot of interesting things going on today. We drove around a little and stopped by the store, made it home in time for me to cook dinner and give the kids a bath and send them to bed. Russ and I are sitting around a little exhausted. He's watching his recorded Jeopardy shows. LOL. We are not too exciting today.

I need to come up with something better to talk about on here. I don't know if our daily lives are that exciting. LOL.

Day 4

This family has gotten hit by a small "cold bug". Penelope woke up with a little cough, Austyn has had a runny nose for a while, Russ says he feels a little under the weather, and my throat is scratchy. It's a very mild cold in this household so far. But I'm hoping and praying that we all get better soon. Did I tell you my vitamins came in the mail today? I'm super excited about that! I also got some vitamins for the kids so maybe they will get over their sicknesses before Superbowl. Superbowl is a great time when it involves socialization in this family. LOL. Meaning this family is full of people who love to just be around other people.--Somehow just being around each other isn't enough. ;) Anyways, because Penelope was coughing a lot this morning we canceled orientation at the Preschool. We rescheduled it for Tuesday. Doubtfully I'm going to most likely miss Women's Bible study, always a bummer when it involves Beth Moore.

I ended up hanging out with the kids before going into work. AND! I ended up getting off work early today! AWESOME! I went in at 11 and got off at 6! My kids were so happy to have me home. I miss being home with them. Since we had the evening to spare we ran over to Guitar Center, one of Russell's favorite places in the world, and browsed a little. We needed new strings for his guitars and a tuner (since we got rid of the piano). Since I have the tuner I also tuned the violin. I need new strings for the violin too but they don't sell them at guitar center. It's been a long time since I picked up the violin. I'm going to need a lot of practice before I can play in front of anyone besides my most forgiving husband. I'll have to work on the calluses on my fingers too; they need to toughen up some.

We are tossing up what we should do tomorrow. I really wanted to go to the snow. But we still have to buy snow boots for the whole family and a jacket for Russ. That would defiantly set us back some. I think it is suppose to be a beautiful day tomorrow (a high of 65 and mostly sunny). Trying out some of the trails with the hubby and the kids in a jogging stroller sounds nice. Maybe there are some open houses we can stop by at? We still haven't taken Penelope to see Tangled. Is that still in theaters? Or maybe in the 3-dollar theaters?

I do have to say Russ is really getting the hang of being home. He's doing well with the kids and taking them out, working around getting things done and their nap schedule. He is doing fairly well with keeping the house clean. I'm really proud of how well he's handled switching roles with me. And I respect him for that.

Journey

I am recently reading a book called "One in a Million: Journey to your promised land" by Priscilla Shirer. At least reading several pages a week when I am have a moment of careless activity where I can just put my nose in a book with nothing else I can accomplish at the moment. However every time I pick it up it resonates within me. In one of the passages she elaborated about how God had promised a land of milk and honey. She thanked God of course for the milk. One of the choice "drinks" that could sustain infants and toddlers. Something that has so much nutritional value in one tall glass. However she was glad that God didn't stop there. That He didn't leave the promise land to simply a description of "milk". Because there are a lot of joyous things that honey bring. Honey, though it does carry some nutritional value isn't taken for its supplement to the diet. But merely for the outlook of flavor or enjoyment. He promised both a sustainability and a enjoyment. Bounds. Overflowing milk and honey.

With that said, as I enter into this new phase of my life. New town. New job. New people. New church. I follow God's leading to a place that He has for me. That from this vantage point seems as if the land I am to enter is flowing with milk and honey. The idea of all it has to offer I am holding onto with both fists. But when it comes to the 12 spies that went into the promise land. I would like to think that I am like Joshua or Caleb, firmly planted and sure of that providence. No wave in my faith. However, I fear I am not that firm. I don't think I am cowering away like the other 10 (which, sadly, for the most part are known as the other 10 spies). But somewhere in the middle. Somewhere in the middle, moving forward but all the time scared of the unknown and then scared of losing the unknown. So here I come LORD. The wavering one of little faith. The one who seems too scared sometimes to move forward but too scared to move back. Let me have faith like Joshua and Caleb. Let me be sure. Make me remember that one more assurance you already gave me. The so many answered prayers. The clear lighted path I am still scared to trot upon. Let me move forward, without being scared of the unknown or scared of losing it. Not in the middle, but standing firm like the two did that got the promise land for all it was, flowing with milk and honey.

Hilarious

Thought these were too funny to pass up.

Hint: turn the music off before you hit play (lower down the page to the right). : )

Mommy Rhapsody from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

getting disciplined

Well after working Friday and Sunday then having a family fun packed day on Saturday the house is in a less then par condition. (Even though Russell was able to fold laundry and do the dishes Sunday before I got off). In any case, my morning has been full of putting the crayons away that were in the bathroom and such. How did those get in there anyways? But today, the start of a week for me, has got me thinking about disciplines as I try to slowly get the house back in order.

Some of you might know that I have been struggling with my milk supply. I have been doing fine at home but at work it has been coming up short. After talking to a dear friend, who happens to be a lactation consultant, that I swear was heaven sent. I went off my diet and started taking herbs and doing all I can to get it going again. Yesterday was my first day that I felt I got a little bit of a handle. Even though my supply in the freezer is pretty much gone I'm at least getting the amount that I should be making while at work. I'm not saying we are out of the hole yet, so keep on praying. But while doing all that, I think I gained 5 lbs this last week because of all the extras I allowed myself. I kept thinking in my head that I'm not going to get this later so I might as well enjoy those french fries, chocolates, pizza, whatever. Geeze, did I enjoy it, a little too much. I'm hoping that the weight will come off easy. Maybe it's water weight from all the extra sodium in that food. That would be pleasing to get it all off in one week that it took to get it on. So either way I'm back to working on my diet. (At the same time monitoring my milk supply).

Also for a while now I have been shy to admit that my daughter watches too much television. So I'm going back to the APA recommendation of only 1 hour a day max. So far so good. My biggest problem is a habit I did when I lived alone so many years. I would turn on the television even when no one was watching it, so I don't feel alone in the house. Even though I made sure the background noise was news or something so it wouldn't be for Nelly it still added. If I get the yearning for it, I'm just going to have to put music on or something.

House in order, diet intact, kids getting healthy entertainment, I'm hoping for a good flowing day tomorrow.

Insane?

Am I insane? probably. Why am I asking? Well,.... At this moment I have recently added to my family with our precious baby boy, potty training our sweet daughter, started becoming a big stickler about her eating more variety in foods, am in a Beth Moore bible study, doing daily reading with our church (which I can say are both awesome), creative activities leader at MOPS, and I'm sure a lot of other stuff that I can't remember. (That is part of my problem I don't remember the other stuff I got to do sometime, LOL.)

But in any case, I started another blog. This one is more where I write down some of the things that make me happy. So maybe it's a good outlet. Who knows. I titled it "These are a few of my favorite things". I'm posting some things I like to do like cooking (by trying new recipes), reading (mostly anything I can get my hands on), traveling (if I ever get a chance again with kiddos), crafts (the random stuff I do because I don't have enough to do), art (looking, doing, it's just soft on the eyes), music (oh, my favorite past time), and of course Jesus. Basically a little bit of everything. Hope you enjoy.

sometimes I need the bad examples

God has been working on perfection in my life. No not that He is trying to get me to move to perfection, just the opposite in fact. Is that odd? Actually perfect is not something I would call myself. But there is a part of myself that holds to a standard. And that standard I transfer to other people too. An expectation that I want myself and other people in my life to measure up to. And when I or others don't hold to the standard that I have set for them I'm horribly upset. How could they? I would never. But in fact I do and I am hypocritical for it.

I've been going through this study about the women in the bible. Let's take Eve (Genesis 2:18-3:24). God made her to fit Adam perfectly. She was his ideal wife crafted to be the first women made. Everyone knows where she feel short, in eating of the apple. But think of her as a mother. Think of the pressure she had knowing that the sin she caused, from eating the apple, brought sin to her children to the point where one of her children (Cain) killed another child (Abel) (Genesis 4:8-16). Or let's take Sarah, she not only laughed behind God's back while He was telling of the miraculous way He was going to bless her but she lied about it when confronted (Genesis 18:1-15). Or Rebekah, the special women who was chosen for Sarah and Abraham's son, Issac. Rebekah was going to continue the promises that God had called on their heritage. She was directed to their family through prayer and God pointed straight to her(Genesis 24:1-28, 58-67). But their marriage was not perfect. In fact there is proof that they lived very disconnected. As quoted:

"In the past, sorrow regarding their children had caused the parents to pray. Hadn't Rebekah's pregnancy been a result of Issac's intercession? And hadn't Rebekah sought God when she realized to her surprise that the two children were fighting with one another even during her pregnancy? It is interesting to note that in both cases of praying only one parent is mentioned. Is this because of the brevity of the Scripture story? Or were they already getting into the habit of not sharing their thoughts with one another? Had the spry, intelligent Rebekah ever really loved the weak Isaac, who was much older? Had Isaac ever taken the role to win her love? Was their intense love for their sons an escape to replace the disunity of their own hearts? Or were they driven apart because they had attributed different values to the Word of God? A marriage, which God compares with the bond between Christ and His Church, can only be happy if the partners function together (Her name is Woman, By: G. Karssen, pg.50-51."

All these women had horribly fallen short. Some of them in ways I pray that I will never fall short in. I pray that I will never see my children hate each other, be in great disunity with my husband, laugh at God as He promises to do a huge blessing in my life. But still Sarah is named in the great examples of faith in Hebrews (11:11). Rahab, a prostitue, that in a moment made a right decision at the right time, to stand with God's people, is named in the same great examples of faith (Joshua 2:1-21, 6:22-25, Hebrews 11:31).

But in fact, I can do all those things. And have probably come rather close to doing each one of those things in my heart. It's the humbleness that I have learned that draws us closer to God. And it is our faith in God that brings us to righteousness. Sometimes I would so much rather earn righteousness by doing right things. Can't I just be the best mom, wife, always have it together, always say the right things. You know, be all things to all men. No God says it is by faith, by our hope in things we can't see happening. "So you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)."

So this I thank God for. I thank God for the imperfect examples where I can see God still works through them, so He must be able to still work through me. I'm glad I don't have the standard to get everything right. But instead to keep looking to Christ. I don't think I have gotten that before this moment. Looking to Christ doesn't always mean striving to be righteous. That is something I will never be able to obtain until I get to heaven. But looking to Christ is realizing my imperfection. Realizing how much I need Him. Realizing that He could still use me. And being humble with myself and others. They are not going to be perfect either. They need Him as much as I do.

please step away from the edit button

I have been updating a couple of things on my blog. Well maybe a lot of things. I updated the book corner with the actual books I am reading. I changed the music, I changed the background, added on a couple of extras. But the biggest thing is the header. That thing is going to be the end of me. I have probably changed it 20 times in the last 2 days. Geeze, I could have gotten all sorts of other stuff done in that amount of time. Oh well, I like it well enough now so I'm going to leave it.

Something I found out about myself in the process: I wouldn't be a good digital scrapbooker. There are just too many possibilities or I like to believe there are possibilities that don't really exist (digitally). With paper, I just accept what I have. It is so much easier.

(If you are reading this as a note and would like to see what all the hub bub is all about that I am causing see my blog at www.jennnys.blogspot.com )

good times forcasted

Welcome 2010! I am already loving 2010, so I am hoping that will mean it will be a good year. Not that I ever felt I had a "bad" year. I'm not one to do new years resolutions, mostly because I am afraid I won't accomplish them. But there are things I am trying to change or do in my life. Those things I keep to myself, all apart of being afraid I won't accomplish/ complete them. But so far things are looking great. I have a wonderful family. Am starting to get the hang of having two kids. At least I didn't wake up this morning and freak out that I was the only parental guardian. LOL. Russell and I have being doing our church's devotional together. It's been really nice! We haven't stuck to any consistent devotional together but were both pretty excited about this one. AND I am getting a chance to go to the woman's retreat, which I thought was totally not possible. So I'm totally excited about that too! I don't want to get into too much details about all the things because then you will be able to see what is on my mind for 2010. But in any case, good times are forcasted for 2010!


p.s. I finally updated my book corner. I always think it's updated then I look over and I'm 2 books behind. LOL.

favorites

As I've gotten older I have grown to have favorites. If you know me I don't have "favorites". I don't identify with a favorite color, food, ceral. And I've always explained that my husband makes it up for me. He has a favorite EVERYTHING. He has a favorite sugar ceral, favorite non-sugar ceral. You name it and he'll give you the category and where it lines up in his book. But as I have gotten older I have begun to like people. For instance,

If I would have lunch with anyone in the world and just pick their brain it would be Beth Moore, hands down. I love her. I love the bible studies. Her desire to have more and more of Jesus. To dive head first, no, maybe belly dive or cannon ball into the scripture.

If I could have anyone make me a meal it would be Paula Deen. Her food looks sooo good. And she just has one of those lovable personalities, I would love to sit and eat with her.

If I could meet a famous actress it would be Jennifer Aniston. And maybe some of her adorableness would rub off on me.

When I get to heaven and get to sit at Jesus feet I think I would ask to see a how He made the universe. Man, would that be a sight to see. Just play it back on a video. And I think I would be blown away.

If I got to meet anyone from the bible I think it would be Apostle Peter. I love that guy. I love every story about him in the bible and find him so relate-able to my own mistakes and pitfalls.

What about you? What are your favorites?

all what's new...

I'm adjusting to two kids better on some days then others. Personally I do a lot better when Russell doesn't have to work 12 hour days, but there isn't a whole lot either he nor I can do about that. We recently bought a new coffee machine (a Keurig personal brewer! YUM) to replace the old coffee machine we had that carafe broke and didn't have a replacement carafe anywhere. So I foretell it being a lot easier with my coffee so easy to get.

Aussie and Nelly are two different type of babies. Don't get me wrong they are/ were both very good babies. I consider myself very blessed. But I'm surprised about how different they were. Nelly was defiantly a pacifier baby. Man, did she need that. Aussie on the other hand, grimaces and gags on it if you try to put it in his mouth. Nelly we had to rock forever to make sure she was in a deep enough sleep to put her down. Aussie, well, when Russell went back to work I gave him 10 minutes. But he doesn't really seem to need that. Aussie sleeps so much more then Nelly ever did. Nelly dropped a feeding as a newborn, like in the hospital in the middle of the night she didn't wake up to nurse and I would get yelled at from the nurses for it. I didn't expect to take an alarm clock with me. But during the day she was awake a lot! She would nurse and then be awake for a while then only sleep for 30 minutes and then be awake to nurse again (3 hours later). Aussie only has about 2, sometimes 3, wake times during the day. Otherwise he is either sleeping or nursing. Nelly was a very lazy nurser and Aussie (a true Stade boy) nurses like a pro. Aussie loves laying down. In fact he sometimes gets fussy if you have been holding him too long. Where Nelly always wanted to be held. LOL. Such different babies.

Aussie has brown hair with possible blond highlights. His eyes look hazel right now (which my dad has hazel eyes, so maybe they'll stay). Sometimes they look more brown or blue but I believe they are hazel right now.

Here are some recent pictures of him:



Aussie in my Alma mater Letterman's jacket.


Aussie at thanksgiving


Nelly at thanksgiving


We went to visit Aunt Jodi and got to see Russ' cousin Justin and his wife, Norma, and their family including the new baby, Jake. Jake was born October 7th, about a month before Aussie. Here are a couple of pictures of the two of them together in their matching outfits, bought by Aunt Jodi. Look how cute!





We got some newborn and family portraits done but I only have some of them back. So I'm waiting until I get them all to post my favorites.

Here is the Christmas tree for this year.



And of course the kids in front. Ohh how cute!