Well…I knew this day would come. No, not the day I would begin to blog again, although, maybe this is that day.
I have come to the conclusion that I’m going to have to cut sugar from my diet. After a few days of watching what I eat and what my appetite is doing, I have figured out that every time I eat sugar, I have cravings for food. And when I say cravings, I mean, I would rip someone’s arm off for some chocolate or something else sweet.
Now that you all feel safe around me, I just wanted to let you know. I’m going to try to eliminate sugar from my diet, except for special occasions. Oh, and I will continue to put a little in my coffee in the morning, because that doesn’t seem to bother me. And honestly, even if it did, I have my limits. If you know me IRL (in real life), and I seem a little cranky. DO NOT OFFER ME A COOKIE.
This year has flown by. It seems like just yesterday that you were born. You are such a sweetie and have been such a joy to us. We knew you were going to fit in perfectly the first moment we saw you. Your big brother Garrett and you have such a loving relationship. You already have fun together. Sometimes you keep each other from falling asleep because you are talking (well he’s talking, you’re babbling) and playing with each other. You love him so much and he adores you.
You have had a very calm, laid-back personality, except when you don’t feel good. You do like to do things your own way and in your own time. For example, you refuse to drink from a cup, rather you prefer your bottle. You also don’t crawl. You scoot around on your bottom.
You love playing with balls and you’re very strong. You have the prettiest blue eyes and dark blond, curly hair. You like to make a face where you pucker your lips up and close your eyes. It’s hysterical. You like to play independently and with others. You love going to preschool on Tuesdays, you almost jump out of my arms to go in the room.
You have been such a blessing to our family and I can not wait to see what God has planned for your future. I am so glad that God made me your Mommy.
Yesterday I was walking by the computer and noticed that the Yahoo search engine was pulled up on the screen. I always use google, so I stopped to see what the search was for. In the search box was “Potsto”. I asked Garrett if he had been typing on the computer. He said he had tried to find the Potato Song. Garrett and Gracie LOVE the Potato Song
Uh…so the whole phonics thing really works. He just happened to be a letter off (s instead of a). So, we’ll be getting some child-friendly internet software soon…
Last night I was reading a few of my favorite Psalms. I started with Psalm 40. I don’t know why it’s a favorite except that I read it to my Nana while she lay in her bed in the nursing home in the last days of her life. I even read it from the same Bible, which my grandfather was so kind to give me for Christmas. It was nice to read from because it’s larger print. Have I mentioned that I suddenly need reading glasses? Anyway…
I skipped over to Psalm 139. I was supposed to be memorizing it with the other 95,000 people that read this blog. Well. I made it through the first 4 verses. I know. Impressive…
Last night I kept reading after verse 4, trying to decide whether to try to memorize the rest even though I’m about 20 days behind on the “schedule”. I couldn’t get past verse 5.
You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Maybe I got stuck because when I hear the word “hem” I think clothing. It’s not really a “Bible” word. I did a little looking, into the Hebrew and stuff. The root of the word means “to confine”. I also found rephrasing of the verse in a commentary: “You so guide me with your hand, that I can turn no way, but where you appoint me.”
What if you allowed God to guide you in such a way that you could not turn anyway but where he lead?
Honestly, I have no idea why we continue to put this thing up.
When we put it up, it said 42 days. Then we changed it to 23 days. And when we had people here for Advent the other night, we realized we hadn’t changed it, so we changed it to 19 days, which is what it still says.
There are 14 days until Christmas. I think our reindeer is lazy. Seriously, when is this thing going to start doing his job and counting down for us?
We have big news in our family. Something exciting! Something that will mean a transition for all of us. Something that will require sacrifices but will also bring blessings…No, I’m not pregnant. (I’m sure a few of you were sweating!)
Ricky started a new job today. He has taken a position at our church and he’s really excited.
I’ve always said I’d never be married to a pastor. I grew up with family members that were pastors. My dad was on staff at a few churches. I’ve seen the frustrations and sacrifices required to work in full-time ministry. You might not know this about me, but I don’t like frustrations. I don’t like sacrifices either. So I’m sure you can imagine - I was pleased as pie when I met and fell in love with Ricky. He had a heart for ministry but a paycheck from corporate America. However, over the years, the heart for ministry has grown and the paycheck from corporate America has become less and less fulfilling. So…God did what God does. He opened a door that only He could open at the exact right time and voila! I’m married to a pastor. His title I think is “Spiritual Formation Pastor” so I really am a “pastors wife”.
Apparently God did not hear me the 87 times I made the prediction that I wouldn’t be married to a pastor. So now, I have to be nice to people in the grocery store and never give someone a dirty look in the parking lot. I can’t be caught reading tabloids in the grocery store (although I do think our Pastor’swife might read the occasional US Weekly.) I’m going to have to always speak in sweet, low tones to my kids and gaze longingly at my husband - well, at least the gazing won’t be hard…
All kidding aside, it’s a great fit for Ricky and I’m am so proud of him and SO excited for him. The church is fortunate to have him in that role and he is fortunate to be in that role. I really think it will be a win-win for everyone.
I, however, am going to be more careful about the sweeping predictions I make about how I think my life will turn out. I always said, I’d never home-school my children. Apparently God didn’t hear the 148 times I said that, because he has really laid it on my heart in a way I can’t ignore. I am still dragging my feet on that one though, hoping he’ll change his mind. I’m also wondering if he has heard the 297 times I’ve said we aren’t planning on having any more kids. I think I’ll quit saying it - for good measure.
I know. Two posts back to back. Those of you that have been keeping up with my blog for the last year and a half - don’t faint! So here’s the conversation that Garrett and I just had after he got out of time-out for yelling no at me:
Garrett: Mommy, I’m sorry I had to raise my voice at you. I’m really sorry.
Me: I forgive you. Garrett, you have been very disrespectful lately. What should Mommy and Daddy and you do about that?
Garrett: (Looking me right in the eyes - very seriously) Mommy - we need to have a bigger feast.
Me: A bigger feast?
Garrett: Yes. And another table with chairs.
Me: What?
Garrett: And we need some more chairs for the Cars table because it has a rip in it. That’s all. (Turns around and walks out of the room)
I love Christmas! I think this is the most exciting time of the year! I would also love to do a good blog post on all of our plans for Christmas this year, including opening our house up to other families and sharing the Advent celebration together, which we did last night. (Aunt Beth - are you cringing at my grammar/run-on sentences yet?) But, I don’t have time for that since no one at my house took a nap today. No One. So, I’ll just do a short post with a picture.
As part of our Advent celebration, we’ll be building a nativity scene. Last night, we set up the stable and let the kids throw straw all over my floor sprinkle hay around the stable. After about 5 or 6 little ones made a gigantic mess (and had a blast doing it!) I decided that I was going to be bagging up the stray/hay each week, I mean, we don’t live in a barn…
Anyway, back to my “short post with a picture”, when Ricky got the stable to set back up on the table, it had a new addition (it’s supposed to be empty - we build it gradually adding animals and then characters, etc). You might call it a renovation. A kitchen renovation:
I guess someone just got done making Christmas cookies since the oven door is open…
No, I didn’t go to Goodwill. I went to www.50000shoes.com. You too can purchase 2 pair of shoes for $5.00. That is FOUR shoes for $5.00. What do they look like? I have no idea, but that’s ok. You see, they aren’t for me. They are for someone who has no shoes. Think about that. No shoes. NADA. Cold toes. Cut up soles.
Go. Now. Buy a pair TWO PAIR of shoes for $5.00. Then tell everyone you know to do the same. The goal is to raise 50,000 pairs of shoes in 50 days. It’s easy. It’s inexpensive. It’s cool.
For the price of a coffee drink, you can give shoes to TWO people. You can warm their toes and bless their souls!
