from I.

As we were doing school today I happened to notice some pencil marks on the table where I. sits. I asked him if he wrote on the table.
I.: no
Me: are you sure?
I.: yes
Me: [sternly] are you positive?
I.: encouraging KLove! [followed by peals of laughter]

We had a good laugh and obviously we listen to KLove in the van a lot!

newsflash--from "her cuteness"

According to G. ....I have whiskers.

We took a nap this afternoon and all the kiddos eventually ended up on the bed with us. So we lay there talking and laughing. G. was in a particularly chatty mood, and we were having quite a bit of fun with her. The boys thought it was hilarious.
Following are some of the funny tidbits...
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G: quack quack

Me: are you a duck?

G: yeah! NO a monkey! [laughs]

Me: a monkey that quacks?!

G: [giggling] yeah! [then makes the Oooo-aaaaa of a monkey]
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G: Daddy born Caa-forn-ya......you born Hi-oh

Me: were was G. born?

G: Gah-mah-luh! [giggles] (that's Guatemala for those of you who don't know us well)
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G: I a fwog [hopping on my belly]

Me: you're a frog?!

G: no........I a Labbit!!! (rabbit)
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Lately she has been into the "Row, row, row your boat" song, especially the "Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily" line.
G: you merrily mommy! [giggles] (not exactly sure what that meant, but was cute anyhow!)
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G: [lifting my shirt, states matter of factly] you have a button! [then she proceeded to locate hers]
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And the best one of all....

Me: does Daddy have whiskers?

G: yeah

Me: does Mommy have whiskers?

G: yeah

Me: I do?! Where?!

G: Right HERE! [touching my leg]

It was like she had already thought about it before!!! Hmm, guess I need to break out the razor more often huh?!
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Hope this was able to bring you some laughter :0)
Let's remember to look for the joy in the little things this week!

out of the mouths.....

...interesting how a mundane task such as transferring clothes from the washer to the dryer can suddenly 'stop you in your tracks'. Out of the blue, R. came into the laundry room, and giving me a hug said, "I'm sorry for all the things I've ever done in my life to make you mad."--YOW! WHAT is a mother supposed to reply to that one?! I was both in awe and heart warmed and yet ashamed at the same time.... My response was first, "I forgive you" because his sins were obviously the thing weighing most heavily on his heart. Then I immediately followed with an, "I'm sorry for sometimes letting myself get angry when I should not" to which he replied, "I forgive you". The laundry was quickly put aside and we continued the conversation on the kitchen floor with a few of his questions. He first acknowledged that he hadn't yet made the decision whether to serve God or satan, then asked why people always sin and why God still would love satan.

We've had many such conversations, some in the past have begun with a 'Mommy (or Daddy), there's something I wonder....'.Though he can be frustrating at time, he really is very tenderhearted. I want to cultivate it in a good way, a way that would ultimately glorify his Creator. I long for the day when he will make 'his choice' and I know in my heart that it will be the right one!

While, I loved the talk we had--it ultimately ended up with I. and G. joining us who both had very cute things to say about Jesus--the part that weighs most heavily on my heart right now is this.... I've struggled in the past, and still do, with letting my anger get the better of me when the kiddos place me in frustrating situations. I have not been the model of a patient, loving mother (the one I really want to be) at all times. The truth hurts! There have been countless times that God has reminded me--sometimes gently; most times not so gently--that I have not given up my 'self'. But nothing hurts so much as when the reminders come through my very own children.

I'll tend to do well for awhile, then the pressures and stresses of life close in and before long I find myself lashing out in a way that is hurtful. Nothing says it quite so well as Romans 7:18-20 "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me."

And the words of a new song by downhere called 'Something Heavenly'

All the angels, see all the angles
With a view from both sides of the line
Well if I had not such a blind spot
Would I have a less difficult time
Surrendering my ways
I would hang on every word You say

I'm so far from what I wanna be
Oh I really am my own worst enemy
Please don't let me get the better of me
Take this earthly thing and make it finally
Something heavenly, I wanna be heavenly

Air is cleaner, grass is always greener
For the crowd of hosts up where they are
If I could visit, I'd just contaminate it
Why so big a place for me in Your heart?
To leave your glory home
Just to make a broken man your own

If I try to soar, I will fall for sure
So let Your grace break through, and lift me up upon it to be with You

I'm so far from what I wanna be
Oh I really am my own worst enemy
Please don't let me get the better of me
Take this earthly thing and make it finally

Cuz I'm so far, stay close to me
I'm so far, stay close to me
Making me something heavenly
Gonna be heavenly


How well I remember this year's Women of Faith Conference....and the MANY convicting talks, especially Nicole's drama on the tongue being a fire that can so easily 'burn' the ones we love if we're not careful.

Sigh....so where do I go from here? After repenting and resolving to do better, pressing on in the strength of the only One who can keep me from falling. I've been reminded that I still have some work to do and really it's just surrendering to HIM in EVERYTHING. And not trying to hang on to little bits and pieces or take anything back.


Ever have those humbling moments?


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On a lighter note, I noticed during our conversation that R.'s finger and toe nails were in desperate need of trimming. When we were finished talking I told him to come in the bathroom so I could trim them. He got to looking at them and then said, "Mommy, my right pinky one is about a sixteenth of a centimeter long!!!" NO, I'm not kidding, that is exactly what he said! I had to laugh to myself and take some pictures to show you of the said offending nail...

wowzers, I don't think I've EVER seen one that long on my children. Bad mommy!


And just for reference it was more like 4mm long!


This one's just because they are so sweet.....


"Father, thank You for blessing us with these three special children. Give us the strength and wisdom to raise them in a way that would be pleasing to You. May their lives ultimately be a reflection of who You are. Forgive us for the many times we've failed them and You. All glory to You. Amen."

wordless wednesday

prayer call

Please, please, please! join me in praying for Abby.....she is not doing so well. Check the blog for more info.....

be.healed

So while trying to stretch out a tired back this evening, I ended up injuring it somehow. The pain was so excruciating that I could not stand or sit and could barely move while lying down. I have never felt such pain before, EVER. It was so bad I almost blacked out...you know the feeling, when you start to 'go', and felt instantly nauseated. My initial reaction was that I was freaked and 'we don't have money for an emergency room visit, surgery, or whatever I need, etc!'. My next thought was, 'duh, pray!'. So I did....HARD....and yet resigned my will to HIS. I prayed to be healed, and I prayed for the wisdom to know whether a hospital visit was necessary.

I laid there on the bed for awhile with a warm rice pack on my lower back. (Thanks to Eric as there was no way I could have gotten it myself!) When I finally got the guts to try moving a little again, I found that the pain had subsided to a dull ache. I was able to get up and move about and finish a few of the evenings tasks! Whether you believe it was a miracle or not, I'M choosing to believe it was! I am taking it easy, and will for a few days (not major exercising, bending, etc) but I am just so thankful.... Thank you LORD!

The lesson here, is that so many times we turn to the wrong things first instead of the Lord. I'm guilty. But each time I choose to put my faith and trust in HIM FIRST, I am so blessed!

This next week, as trials or pains (big or small) arise, join with me in taking it to the Lord first. I wonder just how different our lives could really be! 'Me' gets in the way far too much!

Are you ready for a wild ride?!

not me monday.round five

I did not decide I wanted to try a mostly raw food diet earlier this week only to down a large cafe mocha and 3 (yes, 3--over a period of several hours, in my defense) donuts from Tim Horton's on Sunday eve. That would be just totally horrible, of course I did not do THAT!!!

I was not anxiously awaiting all week for the new Madagascar movie to come out. That's just silly for an adult to LOVE hilarious, animated movies. Not me, I'm more mature than that.

I did not forget about the towels in the washer (again) and have to rewash them because they certainly did not smell of mildew.

I did not leave some pans and dishes on the counter from Tuesday eve until Saturday morning to actually wash them. That's disgusting to not wash up dishes right away. I always wash them right away. (Or not.) I wasn't exceedingly busy all week either.

I was not bloated all day Sunday and I certainly didn't have a problem with gas. Never me. My kids know nothing about their mother having 'gas', because I don't.

I did not make my poor son sleep on a pile of towels in the bathroom after he did not barf all over his bed, bedroom floor, hallway floor and bathroom floor, just because I did not not want to have to clean all that up off the carpet again in the middle of the night. That's purely selfish, right? A good mother would never make her poor, sick little boy sleep on the only linoleum floor in the house. Especially if it's the bathroom! He did not sleep there most of the next day either. And I most CERTAINLY did not make him sleep there the next night, 'just in case'. That would just be mean wouldn't it?!


So that's some of the things I did not do this week....what about you? And if you haven't already, head on over to MckMama's site to see what lots of other people did not do. (Click on the 'Not Me Monday' button above)