Firsts

This post features some firsts from this week......

Krista's first pony-tail

Luke, Kayla & I and our first trip to the Library for storytime. Luke got his very own library card!

Luke and Kayla curled up together. Daddy's even getting the picture bug and captured this moment for me.

Family Fun Day

Saturday was another Family Fun Day! We have very few Saturdays with no plans and this was a rare occasion! This was a day of firsts! Daddy built an igloo! I was so impressed and video taped most of the build process. I've never seen anyone build and igloo before. It's amazing what perfect blocks a cooler, (an ice chest for you southerners), can make! Eric built the whole thing while the kids were napping. Luke was so excited when he woke up I could hardly get him to stand still to get his snow clothes on. It was a great fun day of building, playing, sledding and just plain enjoying being outside!

Today will be a sad day for Daddy. :-(

I just looked outside and with all the storms from last night, the igloo has been reduced to rubble. This weather is so strange.

GO HUBBY GO!

Here are some pictures of Eric. I couldn't resist! Yes, that is a t-shirt he's wearing. He started out in a fuzzy pullover. Our gracious neighbor Mr. Brown usually plows our driveway for us, but Eric got home from work before Mr. Brown and shoveled it by hand. GO HUBBY GO!

Oh! And by the way: if you haven't seen the commercials for the new deodorant, Degree Clinical Strength, here's proof that it's worth every penny of the $7.24 plus tax at Walmart. Two hours of shoveling and not a drop under the arms of the shirt. How is this possible??? I even accepted a hug from him when he came in. Too bad he forgot to put Degree on his back! :-)

A Brick Wall

Sharon Jaynes shared an analogy of a mother's mind being that of a brick wall. It takes many blocks to make a brick wall, not just few, but many. She refers to this analogy in disciplining your child.

I think it can be that way with our thoughts too. The Great Doubter can put just a single doubt of our ability into our head. Your thought of failing at something (doubt) becomes confirmed after you failed at that something. Brick number one. If you don't remove that brick, through prayer and scripture, it becomes a foundation for other bricks throughout the day. It seems that with parenting, the bricks can stack up quicker by the minute, so that by the end of the day you see the wall of Jericho. I've built many a wall many a day.

I'm trying to train myself, and it is a long process, to see failure for God's purposes. If I have tried and failed I need to turn to God and His word for promises, encouragement and strength.

A wonderful friend shared on her blog her struggles being a stay at home wife. Her words brought tears to my eyes because it is something that I struggle with as well. It is a daunting task being that of a stay at home wife and mother. Society now places a scale on marriage, I think, to see who adds up and who doesn't. Marriage is not a scale trying to strike a balance of 50/50. Marriage, and ultimately the family, is 100% both ways with no measurements or tally sheets. When I have the temptation to list off 'Who's more important' I sometimes give in to that temptation and make a tally sheet for Eric and I. Surprisingly I find that God reveals things to me that I could not see/chose not to see before and I come away much more humbled, but also encouraged that I have great purpose.

As mothers we are blessed with the opportunity, however challenging, of caring for GOD'S CHILDREN while they are here on earth. It is our job to prepare them for what He has called them to do. In the here and now, our sons will be leaders of their families and thus teaching their children the things we are teaching to them. Our daughters will become those that their children will look to for their preparation to one day meet our King. Just these few sentences, however poorly understated, are enough to build The Great Wall of doubt. Praise God and merciful is He to provide many things to accomplish these tasks and the grace in which to do it.

It is nearly 8am and I've been sitting here for over an hour and my mind is spent. Though I would like this blog to be written a little better, I will post it anyway because I'm sure I will not find the time to return today. We are attempting to make our first snow fort. I'll be sure to take the camera.

Our Honey Doll

I couldn't resist posting a couple pictures of my "Honey Doll"

God has blessed us with this patient, fun loving, laid back, just plain wonderful baby girl.

There just aren't words to describe her well enough.

Welcome to our home

So I thought I would share our home with you room by room. I decided to start with the girl's room since it's one of my favorites. I remember waiting for Krista to be born, still a very busy little baby in my belly. I could hardly wait for her arrival. I took such joy in fixing up the room with help from a gal from church, Katherine. Kayla was thrilled to have her room fixed up and painted. I think she was just as excited as I was.

I am particulary proud of this rocker. It was a gift from Eric when I had Luke and was covered with a blue jean material. I couldn't find the material I wanted so I covered it with a $7 fabric shower curtain. Notice the ties around the footstool, that's what you would use to attach it to the rod....it made a nice trim. :-)

These shelves were a $7 bargin from Hobby Lobby clearance that were a dark green color. It's amazing what a little paint will do.

You'd never believe it, but these five wire flowers are actually hot plate holders from the Dollar Store. I just wired them together and they fit perfectly above the closet.

Riddle Me This

(See previous post: "There's always room for improvement" for reference)

Who was a big stinker yesterday?

------ ME ------

Who had the bad attitude?

------ ME ------

Who had to learn a lesson about pride?

------ ME ------

Who got flowers yesterday?

------ ME ------

How does that make sense??????

They are beautiful aren't they...

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

even as God in Christ forgave you.

Eph. 4:32

Guess who learned another lesson?

------ ME ------

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Prov 27:17

How wonderful a thing to see the Lord work though my husband

to teach me so much.

I am so thankful to be Eric's friend.

Photography by Luke

So today was a special time for Luke. In addition to the rocket ship, I also let him take a couple of pictures. He's been asking for a while to use the camera and after a long, detailed conversation I let him take two pictures. I think he does better than I do!

Luke Time, Craft Time

I was so excited when Luke got this little rocket ship project for his birthday. We've been waiting for just the right day and today was that day. I let him stay up from his nap, which I'm sure I will later regret, but what a small price to pay for a memory.

I was so surprised at how well he painted the rocket and all by himself. The only thing I did was glue on the legs. WHAT A FUN DAY! Many thanks to the Olivetti Family!

There's always room for improvement

One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

Proverbs 29:23

Pride is such a silly thing, especially when it forms grand expectations. Yesterday I was brought down in a blazing glory of humility, but sadly, only after stewing in selfishness for a couple of minutes.

Let me paint a picture for you:

All five laundry baskets were overflowing with dirty clothes, one thing that is consistent around our home, so I decided Monday would be laundry day. There is a myth upon stay-at-home-moms that laundry CAN be done all in one day. It was just last month that I attempted to test this myth. I DID IT, almost to the point of doubting what I had just seen with my own eyes. It CAN be done. So, yesterday I gathered up all the baskets at 7am and formed "Mount Dirty Clothes", much to the kids delight---GROSS! Just 30 minutes later I had the first load spinning in soapy water. YIPPEE! I'm sure you can guess how the rest of the day went, but if you can't I'll explain. Laundry was the number one priority, in other words, nothing else got done. I did manage to scoot all the dirty dishes aside to squeeze in enough room to make dinner. Throughout the day as I was loading, drying, folding and putting away the laundry I started to give myself small pats on the back. My smile gradually grew into a full on grin as I anxiously awaited my hubby to return home to give me a big pat on the back, 'wowweee, good job wifey'. Silly pride! Well, there was no pat and began to form an attitude. Silly pride! There was a silent (no words) mention made of the state of the kitchen, though. As I huffed and puffed my way through the mound of dishes, I felt God soften my heart. I was embarrassed about being so prideful earlier to set expectations that were unrealistic, and when those expectations weren't met, I formed a bad attitude towards Hubby. Silly pride!

I finished cleaning the kitchen too embarrassed to even look at Eric and came away with a lesson learned. I plan on putting this lesson into practice. There are so many times when I feel the temptation of pride tugging at my thoughts.

God is so good.

No more monkey jumpin on the bed....

Kayla felt awful last week. Poor thing. Her little face ended up breaking out because she wouldn't stop wiping, (forgive me), her snot all over her face. YUCK! Even though she was clingy and crying most of the time, I was able to capture moments of fun being that they were few and far between. She had a grand time jumping on brother's bed. What fun--- up and down and up and down and up and down.......that is until she bit her tongue. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. :-)

The Dress

There is a beautiful story about friendship that I happened across.

There once was a girl who loved a boy, but this is not the story of friendship. On the day they met God shone down on them and blessed this love at first sight, and this is a story for another time. This boy and girl sought the Lord's will for their future. God answered the boy in girl in ways they could not see in the present, but the boy and girl would later obtain wisdom through these lessons in the future.

It was through God's providence that He brought a friend into the girl's life, now begins the story of friendship. Instantly the friend was filled with love for the girl. She shared with the girl the one of the most sacred treasures of all things love. A lovely, white dress.

The girl wore this dress on the day she was joined to her love under the shelter of the Lord. The friend soon became more than a friend and became a sister to the girl. Though this sisterhood she helped lead the girl to the Lord, opening her eyes to many things.

The girl was not only blessed with one joyous memory on her special day, but two. That of love and that of friendship.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

A little something for a little friend...

One thing that amazes me is that we are blessed with the technology to make some wonderful friends who live so far away.

Corynn here's a special butterfly just for you!

Krista's First Meal

Krista had her first supper of cereal and the tradition continues of Daddy feeding them the first meal. She did so well and opened her mouth as soon as the spoon got close. Too bad most of it didn't stay in her mouth :-).

Speaking of meals. meet the newest chef in town.

Thank you, Uncle Joe & Aunt Heather!

Family Fun Day of Sledding

We celebrated the New Year with each other and a fun, but cold day out in the snow!