The Cheerleaders

There's nothing like the first day outside after a long winter. We spent a good part of last month being sick so it was nice to get outdoors, and take in the fresh air.

47 degrees felt like summer. Annie kicked off her shoes and ran barefoot, giggling and laughing through the dead, yellow grass.


She was joined by another...


This is all Mikey wanted to do. He LOVES football! If no one is around to play with him. He'll just keep throwing the ball up in the air to himself.


Eventually, the cheerleaders came around and made him feel special. They cheered for him like he was at the Superbowl. He dove for the ball a little harder, and strutted around with his chest all puffed out. Who doesn't love to be noticed and praised?


But remember: Proverbs 27:2 "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth." Leave it to the cheerleaders. :o)

*Update on Anna

I will call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised! -Psalm 18:3

*******Praise the Lord, little Anna is going home today! My friend told me that her baby is on medication for the next 6 months, and then they will do more testing. Please continue to pray as God brings them to your mind, for "He is able to do above and beyond what we ask or think."

Please Pray!

A little while ago, I blogged about our friends, Seth and Liz, who had just welcomed their baby girl, Anna Grace. Yesterday, little Anna had to be rushed to e.r. because she began having seizures. I know the family would appreciate you praying for their little girl.


Isaiah 41:13 "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand...Fear not, I will help thee."

An awesome book

I was just talking to my cousin on the phone, telling her what a great book this is. I don't have a whole lot of time to do extra reading, so when I do cozy down with a book, it's gotta be worth my time. This book is absolutely worth my time! I have loved what this author has said when it comes to being the kind of wife and mom that God wants us to be. She is very real about her experiences, and has a funny way of how she explains them. She does not paint herself to be the picture perfect homemaker with a halo over her head. She tells you stories of how "she's blown it." But what I love the most is that she always brings everything back to the Word of God. As I was reading one chapter, I came across this clever idea, "How to get in the mind of your child." She suggested a few questions to get meaningful conversation started such as:

1. What do you think heaven looks like?
2. What does Daddy do at work?
3. Who do you see as the most Christ-like among everyone you know?
4. If you were going to spend one year on a desert island and could only take three things, what would they be?
5. What's the hardest part about being________(fill in your child's age)?


I decided that the first child that came around the corner was going to be my target. It was early in the morning and I sat waiting, sipping my coffee. Finally, a little sleepy child came around the corner. It was Emma. I got her breakfast and we sat down together. (I also grabbed a paper and pen so I wouldn't forget her answers.) I began with question number 1.

"Emma, what do you think heaven looks like?" In between bites of cereal she said, "umm, clouds, Jesus and people."

"And I have another question. What does daddy do at work?" She said, "goes on the computer and gets money."

"Who do you think is the most Christ like among everyone you know?" I questioned. She said, "nobody." I said, "Nobody?" She didn't hesitate, "nobody." I questioned her again, "What I mean is, who acts the most like Jesus out of everyone that you know?" She said, "nobody." I said, "What do you mean nobody?" She said, "Everyone sins." I said, "I know everyone sins, but surely SOMEBODY must at least be showing some goodness in their life that you can learn from." She looked up from her bowl, "Nope, only Jesus is perfect." I explained my question once more. "I'm not asking, 'Whose perfect' because we know that no one on earth is perfect. What I want to know is, 'Out of everyone that you know, who acts the most like Jesus?" She said, "NOBODY." Finally, I said, "Isn't ANYONE a good example to you?" She thought again, "nope." What more could I do? This question was clearly going nowhere. "Ok then," I said, "I guess, we'll move on to the next question." Suddenly her eyes lit up and said in a very long drawn out tone, "Weeeeeeeellll, Soooooooometimes.......Aunty Krissy." (hope you're proud of yourself, Kris. I was hoping to win that one.)

Question 4 "If you were going to spend one year on a desert island and could only take three things, what would they be?"

"You'd die." she said abruptly. I reminded my little, short-termed memory child that she got to take three things.
(now granted, she went beyond 3, but it was just too good to stop writing.)

"Hmmmm, Well, first I would bring food, then a tent, and my blankie and pillow, Oh! I can't forget my bathing suit so I can go swimming, ummmm....a compass so I could get back home, my undies, my clothes, a table, an umbrella, a box so I could have somewhere to put my food, my Bible, Oh! and a church tent."
I stopped writing. "A church tent?" I asked.
"Yeah, a church tent with one seat, that way I could talk and pretend people are there." -let me tell you, I was biting my cheeks, trying so hard not to laugh on that last one.

"So, what's the hardest part about being five, Em?"

She sighed, "Cleaning my room."



Buy the book. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be challenged by the Word of God and you'll discover a little more "heaven in your home."

Boys!

There are some things about raising boys that I am still trying to understand. Why must boys tease? And why must boys wrestle? Why do they feel the need to run, hop or crawl like an animal from one room to the other? Why do they enjoy being dirty? And what is the deal with sword fighting? Today Matthew was teasing Mikey. Mikey came to me in tears and told me about it. I had a serious talk with Matt about his words and how they have the power to build someone up or tear them down. I told him that teasing is ok as long as both people involved are laughing, but the minute that one person's laughter stops, you have crossed over and you are now hurting them. No one forgets hurtful words. They never go away. You can say "I'm sorry," but you can never take back what you said. I want our children to understand this. It seems like we are always going over this principle! Today was one of those days where you wondered if you taught your children anything at all. I'm tired, and I couldn't wait for the children to take their showers and go to bed. I walked into the bathroom to grab the dirty clothes, contemplating all that today held. As soon as the door swung open, this is what I saw....

A big, fat man with tiny stick arms and legs drawn into the steamy mirror. His name? Matt. Mikey was giggling and singing in the shower.

My favorite, guilt free dessert

My people,
today I will be sharing a secret love of mine. I can't get enough chocolate!! My new favorite dessert is Chocolate Mousse with fresh raspberries....oooo, my mouth is watering as I type it! It's the most delightful dessert and the best part is that it's made with fat free, sugar free pudding, lite cool whip and fresh fruit. You don't even have to say, "I wish I didn't eat that" after it's gone! In fact, you can go get seconds!

And it's this easy to make....


Make your pudding according to box directions, mix in your lite cool whip, and adorn the top with your lovely raspberries.


Now, go enjoy it with a friend!

P.S. I'd like to be that friend.

Matt's heart

I love this picture! It was taken the day after we brought our Annie home from the hospital. As you know, she was born on Matt's birthday. He never once showed any jealousy of having to share his birthday. In fact, he felt extra special for getting a sister on his special day. The years have passed now and she's too big to fit on his lap, however the tender care that this picture displays is still in his heart. Matt is a wonderful big brother. He came to Joel and I the other night, needing to talk. Someone had been mean to his little brother, and it brought him to tears. He is an affectionate little guy and I love him for that...and so much more!!!!! I pray our children will always take care of each other, even when they're grown, have their own children and Daddy and Mommy have gone to heaven.

My Fairy Tale Evening

"Fairy Tales can come true. It can happen to you." And it did last Friday night. It all started on Thursday when Joel told me that he was taking me out and that I needed to get very dressed up for the following night. He said, "I'm taking you to a very fancy restaurant." Imagine my excitement! I squealed, "WHERE?" He smiled and said, "Just be ready tomorrow night. Oh and by the way, you'll need to get ready upstairs in the kid's bathroom." "Why?" I asked. He said, "because I want to pick you up for our date there." Friday arrived and I couldn't wait for my date! At 6:00, I grabbed my sparkly shirt, dress pants, high heels, make up, brush, toothbrush, hairspray, hair clips and moved up to the kid's bathroom.

In a little while, Mary came up and said, "Mommy, Daddy needs another 40 minutes." I said, "Ok." So, what's Cinderella suppose to do in a little bathroom with all this time? I yelled downstairs for Mary to bring me my camera.




I waited...


and waited...

still waiting...


and waited a bit more, starting to get hungry...



"zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"


Finally! I heard a gentle, quiet knock. There stood my little man, all dressed up. He offered me his arm and said, "May I take you to dinner?" I put my hand through his, and he led me downstairs. He was breathing heavy from excitement, and I could feel his heart beating through his arm.


We stopped at our bedroom door. I said, "Is this the restaurant?" He couldn't stop smiling. He knew something that I didn't. I was about to be very surprised. As the door to our bedroom opened, this is what I saw....
Candles lit everywhere, a "computerized fire" crackling in the corner, "Fair Tales Can come True" quietly playing in the background, a beautifully dressed table for two, and my darling husband all dressed up. He greeted me with a kiss and told me that he was glad I could make it. I said, "Where did you dream this up?" He smiled like he didn't know what I was talking about. He sat me at my chair and called for the waiter and waitress...

I was given a beautiful bouquet of flowers. "May we start you off with some fruit?" they asked. I was treated to a cup of fruit with berry sorbet, fresh bread, Italian wedding soup, garden salad, pecan crusted salmon, steamed broccoli, oven roasted potatoes, deliciously brewed coffee and an outstanding chocolate mouse with raspberries and whipped cream....all that my husband had shopped for, prepared and cooked ahead of time. Yet, he sat there "staying in the suprised character" over our new found fancy restaurant.

When it was time for the main course, Matthew said (in his best English accent) "For our main entree tonight, we have chicken with these little nuts....." Joel leaned over and whispered in his ear...Matt quickly recanted, "I mean, we have salmon." Joel's eyes widened and he said, "Oh, that sounds great. I think I'll try your salmon." I couldn't help myself...."I'll have the chicken," I said. :o) Mary grabbed Matt like a mother taking her over-active toddler out of church and yelled over her shoulder, "You'll have what we have." We laughed, listening to the loud whispers in the hallway right before the kids entered, oh so properly, to serve us each entree. When our meal was over, Joel left a tip on the table, and thanked me for the beautiful evening. He escorted me to the door and said, "We need to try this restaurant again, sometime." I said, "How about tomorrow night? " :o) It was the most romantic evening, and I didn't want it to end, however it was time to put our giggling, little kitchen staff to bed.



This is a night that I will never forget!!!!!
Joel, you make Prince Charming look like chopped liver. You are and forever will be the love of my life! Thank you!!!