Confessions

I find freedom in confession and I think that others will find freedom in some of my confessions because you probably do the exact same things. Some of these are rather silly and I know that I need to work on being better and that's the reason for the post. I do not confess these things to be judged (bad mom/good mom) - I just simply want freedom from a stereotype. I am a work in progress and none of these issues are for my salvation - they are petty, everyday, hum drum occurances that I tend to overlook because they hold little importance to me overall. Without further ado - here they are:


I let my children eat off of the floor - the 10 second rule stands strong in our home (besides some germs need to enter the body in order for the body to build up it's ammunities) - Biology 101


I ignore the vacuum more than I should. Sometimes it can be a full two to three weeks between vacuuming. YIKES! - sorry mom!


Sometimes I will put clothes in the washing machine and they will get washed multiple times because I will forget about them and I detest the smell of musty clothes.


My pantry has food in it from 2001 - I'm sure of it I just haven't found it yet!


My children eat snow - and I let them


My children will be attending public school - and I believe that they will turn out great!! (This matter IS of huge importance to me but I still believe that the public school system turns out great kids - I've seen it happen - - - - - recently!)


My children sometimes jump on the bed and on the couch - and I let them.


Addison likes to jump in puddles and I do it with her, I'm sure Rhett will join in soon!


Sometimes my dishes pile up and I'd rather curl up on the couch with a good book - and I do!

I detest scouring the bathtub and so I don't do it as often as I should.

I often fail at my attempts to complete something. If I'm not being held accountable for it - then it probably won't get done.

My kids will dig in the dirt, eat dirt and play with worms until they are covered from head to toe and instead of getting upset I will get the camera

If were were to visit my house by chance one day it would probably not be clean. There would be toys and books on the floor, maybe some clothes, on the kitchen counter you may find piles of papers and some dishes. Some beds may be unmade and the bathroom may have bandaide wrappers, hairbands, curling irons, hair dryers, toothbrushes and toothpastes littering the countertop. A dirty house or a house well lived in? I say it's a house well-lived in.

I have one plant and I wait until the leaves are withering to water it.

I sometimes wait two weeks before feeding my beta fish. I do feed my dog though - every day (I think) :)

Now I'm off to get ready for the day - yes, it's already 8:45 a.m. We are running errands and I am going to enjoy it! We may splash in a few puddles or sing our way through Costco - perhaps!

Valentines!

I had a lot of fun this month for Valentine's day. We didn't have a lot of funds to go out and buy a bunch of things but I got a lot of cute ideas from a few websites that I regularly visit and was able to make stuff with things that we already had. It was fun to give them as gifts to grandma's, grandpa's and aunts and uncles.

Here are a few of our projects:

 valentine cupcakes

hanging paper hearts

small heart pillows

valentine photo book - cover

valentine photo book - inside

valentine "love" photo hanging

valentine's gift for aunt tee-tee

Fun Crafties!!

Here are some fun crafty things that I am going to put on my list of things "to do" someday soon. I have enjoyed doing crafty things with Addison for Valentine's day and am looking forward to more of those activities.

Addison's new hobby

So - this past weekend Addison asked if she could take a few pictures with our camera. I usually don't let her because I am always nervous about her breaking it. However, I was sick with the cruddy cold and if taking pictures was going to occupy her for a little while than I was all for it. So I agreed!! I think we know what we need to get her for Christmas next year. She LOVED it! She took pictures of EVERYTHING - and I'm not exaggerating. Along with countless pictures of Solomon, Rhett, myself and herself were pictures of the couch, the phone, the wall, the refrigerator, her toys, her clothes, the electrical cords behind the tv, and the list goes on and on and on and on and on. Needless to say it kept her occupied for quite some time and because she enjoyed herself so much has asked to take pictures every day since. I'm going to show you the ones that she took of herself because those were the ones that I got a kick out of. So cute! Maybe she'll grow up to be a photographer! Who knows!

Safely Home - Randy Alcorn

Well, this book puts the reader on a deep, emotional journey opening your eyes to the persecuted Christian church in China. Even though this book is fiction it really shed some light on what Christians in China are put through and the encouraging fact that they still meet in underground churches despite the daily threat on their very lives, the confiscation of their homes or the brutal punishment by the government. What a faith huh?

As I sat there reading what one Christian "Li Quan" in particular went through for his faith it opened my eyes to how much America has made our lives so comfortable that we hardly recognize God in the everyday needs that we face. Food, water, shelter, medicine, amoung many others. In a way America is blind to God and his desire to meet our every need because American meets so much of them for us. In China the bible to Christians is their most prized posession - they hide it and yearn to read God's word and the treasures that lie within it's pages. They risk their lives and the lives of their families to worship God and serve him only in the underground churches which meet in the dead of night and Christians often have to travel hours to reach it.

In a way I envy them. They do not fear death or life in prison or brutal beatings due to their faith. They stand firm and know that God will take care of them and their families and has an eternal home for them if they will only be faithful.

At the end of this book I was convicted of how easy my life has been and if I were arrested and beaten for my faith if I would have the courage and strength to stand firm in my Savior. I believe that humanly it would be impossible but with God I could withstand the brutalist of punishments and with that kind of faith I can do anything for Him and will if he so calls me to it.

I especially liked the picture that he painted of heaven. It brought tears to my eyes to realize that no human words can even put into text how great heaven will be and Randy Alcorn did a pretty good job. It made me yearn for that place and long to fall into the arms of my heavenly father and for him to put his loving hands upon me and to hear him say "Well done, my good and faithful servant". It would be worth the years of pain and turmoil on this earth.

A great read!!

Rating: 9

Winter Fun

So - while Jeremy was up at men's retreat I spent the weekend with my mom. The kids and I had fun and on Saturday night it began to snow so Addison and I went out in it to take a few pictures. It was so beautiful and peaceful.

 The many faces of Addison Grace and the winter wonderland we faced:

The Magician's Elephant by Katie DiCamillo

Yes - I picked up a children's book to read. I guess I really just can't get away from them. I think some of my favorite books are kids' books. They make me laugh, they are light-hearted and fun, they're cute and innocent, they are clean and they never fail to have happy endings. So, after I've read a lot of adult fiction I have to pick up a children's book and all is right with the world.

I was excited to read this book because I love this author. She has authored some of my most favorite children's stories "The Tale of Desperaux" (the movie does NOT do it justice) and "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane". Both of those books make my heart melt every time I read them. Her newest book "The Magician's Elephant" was a pleasant surprise. Even though I would not rate it among my favorites it was a cute story full of magic, elephants, strange characters who seem to be a bit "mad" - which just adds to the cuteness, lost love and a fantastic description of the magical enchantment of snow. What a refreshing read after a some hardcore romantic and mysterious adult fiction.

Rating: 8

February!

This month I hope to -

laugh more
go on a date with my hubby
have a coffee date with friends
continue my Beth Moore bible study
play with my kids
do some valentine crafts
love people just a little bit more than I did last month
take my precious princess to see Sound of Music
pray and read the bible more
jump in a few puddles
get some awesome pictures taken of my kids
become a drill sergeant on the ABCs and their sounds - I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can
begin planning some wondrous things for my grandparents

busy, busy, busy!

Water for Elephants - by Sara Gruen

I'm not sure where I heard of this book and that it was good. It could be that I just saw it on the bookshelf in Target and was interested. Well, I checked it out from the library and was excited to read it - until I started to. It was full of cuss words!! I kept reading it for a little while to see if maybe it would change but nope - it didn't. So - my relationship with that book ended rather quickly. I know that some Christian people can read a book like this and it wouldn't bother them or affect them in any way. Me on the other hand would stay up at night thinking about the happenings in the book and soon would be saying those nasty words in my head if I heard them too often. That's just me - so to guard my mind and my mouth I'm stearing clear. If anyone else reads it I would be curious to see what their opinion is since it looked like the plot and story line were quite interesting.