Jerry, Elizabeth & the 3 A's

Running the Rock

2010-08-31T12:09:00.000-07:00

Several months ago, while sweating away during a typical gym session, Jenny Nott, one of the girls I have befriended at the gym, proposed we run the White Rock Marathon in December. The first thing that crossed my mind was, "Holy Moses...26.2 miles? Are you kidding me?" But as I continued to ponder the idea I became more excited to embark upon a new journey...create a new goal...challenge myself beyond anything I've ever accomplished. And with that we marked our calendars to begin our 4 months to a 4 hour marathon training. Training commenced August 9th.

For the last 3 weeks as we've completed different steps in the training we both have discussed food journals, mileage progress charts, perceived exertion. I felt it was time to bust out the 'ol blog and bring my few readers along for the ride. Let the journey begin! (Future posts won't be this long.) :)

Week One
Our first week consisted of a 40 minute jog on Monday which I completed on the treadmill at the gym, 30 min. cross-train...my cardio of choice was the elliptical (XT) on Tuesday, track work on Wednesday...running 6x400 in 2:05-2:15 per 400, 30 min. easy jog on Thursday (again on the treadmill), XT on Friday and a 7 mile long run on Saturday morning. We ran our first long run in the neighborhood at 6:30 am.

Struggles: Surprisingly it was more difficult for both of us than expected.
Wednesday we took the kids to the track with us and they played as we clocked laps. It was fairly warm for 8:00am but they were troopers!
Jenny quickly figured out having margaritas on Friday night was a "no-no" from here on out. :) I didn't get as much sleep as I needed because 7 miles is not usually a difficult feat. Unfortunately it caught up with me.

Wisdom: More sleep, no drinking, no more runs in the neighborhood (too monotonous).

Week 2
Our second week was fairly similar. Wednesday we upped the number of laps to 8x400 with kids in tow. Saturday we ran 9 miles around White Rock Lake at 6:30am. I purchased a new pair of shoes for training and struggled with them the entire week.

Struggles: The kids started having a difficult time at the track towards the end. It was hot and between a 10 min. warm-up, 8 laps with 2 min. breaks between and a 10 min. cool-down, they were out in the sun for too long.
Jenny said our Saturday long run was challenging. My knees were hurting quite a bit toward the end of the day on Saturday. I returned my shoes and purchased a pair from Luke's Locker.

Wisdom: Training with a partner is the ONLY way to go. I had a great long run on Saturday. I could have kept running beyond the 9 miles. Jenny was pushing through but is an amazing partner...she won't stop and won't give up. Perfect combo in a training partner. I told her the fastest way to become friends is to ask someone if they're willing to get up at 5:00am on Saturday and run with you. If they say "yes" they're a keeper!
ICE! ICE! ICE! the knees and STRETCH.
Keep trying shoes until you find the perfect pair.

Week 3
All soreness had dissipated by Monday morning and I was pumped to get back in the program. Jenny and I have talked about how hard it is to take Sunday as a rest day. You're muscles are fatigued but you're so energized from the Saturday long run that you just want to get out there and run a few easy miles. I never thought it would be difficult to lay on the couch and put my feet up.

We added another 2 laps to Wednesdays track work for a total of 10. Our daughters started school on Monday so we had our boys...Jenny has a son who is 4 named Aidan. With my 4 year old Aidan and 3 year old Austin it is non-stop fun for these little dudes. It was a very cool, overcast morning. We brought scooters, big-wheels, toys...anything that would keep the boys occupied long enough for our run. One warm-up lap complete and the three guys needed to go potty. After they're potty break it began to sprinkle. Outdoor track work was not in the cards this morning so we were off to the gym. I'm sure we looked absolutely insane carrying a mass of toys to and from the track with three little ducks following behind.

I exchanged my 2nd pair of training shoes at Luke's and went back to the old faithful...Nike Pegasus.

Saturdays run consisted of 11 miles around White Rock Lake. It is only 9 miles around so we had to run passed the car by one mile and turn back to finish our eleven. This was the first long run we popped BlokShots. I highly recommend them for a long run. Unlike GU or any other carbo gel you don't gag trying to swallow fruit flavored phlegm. Jenny said she had a great run on Saturday. Her comments sounded similar to what I had experienced the week before. I just pushed through the run with no intention of stopping.

Struggles: I pushed it a little too much during Fridays XT and really regretted it Saturday morning. My thighs were sore and screaming by the end of Saturday. I was a little hesitant about the now third pair of new training shoes because I really didn't want pain at any point during the long run.

Wisdom: Take Friday workouts easy. There is no need to go into Saturday morning feeling sore or rundown. Working with a partner is again, the only way to go. Jenny pushed me through the 11 like I had pushed her through the 9 just one week prior. Ice and stretching make everything better.

Challenge for week 4...determine what meal is best before Saturday long run.

SFM - Day Three

2010-03-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was about the same as the day before. I did really well until a certain friend brought over chocolate cake. I did only have one small piece but COME ON! I can't even say "no" to one piece of cake? What is the deal here?!

Today I noticed that I need to probably pay more attention to exactly what I'm eating. I did very well not eating refined sugar today but I'm a little concerned I may replace it with too much protein. Unfortunately a lot of protein sometimes means a lot more fat...and that's a no-no in my book!

But this is an experiment...trial and error. Success with no refined sugar today. One point for me :) Hoping to see that cutting out sugar has minor physical benefits as well as health benefits.

SFM - Day Two

2010-03-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

I was feeling pretty good about yesterday...thinking to myself I didn't have any sugar except one cookie. But DANG it! That is a big fat zero for day one. It may sound a bit harsh but this is not something where I can, kind of, succeed. It's a pass/fail. And yesterday I failed.

Cravings weren't too terribly strong. Like I said yesterday sweets are not a huge part of my life. But the true kicker was watching labels and actually seeing how much sugar is in EVERYTHING. That's where the tough part comes in. So I've decided to view this as more of a raw food challenge...organic if you will. Staying away from sugar is actually pretty easy if I don't eat anything that comes in a box. Woah - did I just say that out loud!? This may be tougher than I originally thought.

This will also be an experiment with new foods and flavors. I'm sure I'll find some recipes along the way that quench my sweet tooth and I'll be sure to share them. Day two - up and running.

Sugar Free Me

2010-03-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

It's always good to have goals that are difficult but still attainable. I also think it's important to award oneself for accomplishing goals....even for sticking out the tough days while striving for the end result.

I workout 2 hours a day, 4-5 days per week. I eat healthy for the most part, but my one true weakness is sweets. I don't overly consume sweets by any means but they are definitely a part of my diet. Sometimes on a daily basis. Truth be told, on a bad day they probably sneak in more than once. And with this I have decided it is time for a new challenge...a new goal.

For the next 30 days I will not consume any refined sugars...and hopefully live to blog about it.

Overall, I am satisfied with my appearance. I am extremely happy with my physical health. But I'm ready to take it to the next level. I also signed up with a personal trainer for the next 8 weeks who is fully aware of how hard I want to push my body. I'm ready...let's do this!

Today is the first day of a 30-day adventure.

Surprise! It's Jerry's 35th Birthday

2009-12-27T18:58:00.000-08:00

The year of "Sweetness" (Walter Payton, #34 of the Chicago Bears) has come to an end for my sweet husband. I decided to throw a surprise party for his 35th birthday and help him celebrate the last 5 years of his 30's in style.

With the help from family and friends we were able to keep the party a secret. If you know anyone in either of our families then you know this can be a difficult feat. But...we pulled it off!

We ate at Luigi's Italian Restaurant in Rockwall. Great fun, great food, and great friends.

Happy Birthday, Jerry! I love you :) ~YG

GO IRISH

2009-11-12T11:35:00.000-08:00

On Halloween morning we set out for San Antonio to watch the Notre Dame vs. Washington State game at the Alamodome. We had a great time getting away for a night with good friends.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish Band played, "Deep in the Heart of Texas." It was great :)

Jerry's parents gave us the tickets. His dad is standing behind us. Great pic, Dad!

Make sure to take note of Kevin's Longhorn hat. You can take the boy outta the country...

Did I mention Notre Dame SPANKED Washington State...40-14?

Must have been the shirt. :)

For the Dogs...

2009-10-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

On July 3, 2009 things changed in our household. A typical day of going to the gym, running errands and taking care of the kiddos. When we got home I performed my usual duty of letting the dogs out to do their business. I got caught up in normal household chores and totally spaced the dogs were outside. About an hour after letting them out I heard Lady, our yellow lab, barking at the back door. I opened it to find her rapidly panting. Suki, our Yorkie, was not with her. I let Lady in for a drink slightly puzzled as to why she would be out of breath since she's not a very active dog. I walked out in the back yard to call Suki, walked around the side of the house and noticed that the gate was open. Since this has happened before I wasn't terribly worried that Suki wouldn't return. She is known for digging out, running out the front door to greet the neighbors, waltz out an open gate when available. I went back inside and went about my business expecting a neighbor to bring her by. But the doorbell never rang.

We put up signs the next morning, called the local shelters...no luck. The next weekend we received a call that someone spotted a Yorkie down the street but they were unable to catch the dog. We never saw the animal.

Though the loss of an animal will never compare to the loss of a child I can honestly say that a part of me is gone.

I got Suki when I was 20. Things in life at the time were rocky. She was my bud...the one that listened, the one that let me cry. I've joked with my mom about how great it is that she could never talk because Oh! the things she saw and heard!

Thank you Suki for being everything a dog is meant to be. I miss you so...

Being Thin is Overrated

2009-05-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

At least that's what I'm trying to convince myself.

I have been working out at the local gym for 5 days a week since I was 10 weeks pregnant with my third child. I gained a good bit of weight during my first pregnancy...65 lbs to be exact. I did lose almost all of it (all but 10 lbs) before I found out I was pregnant with our second child. I didn't gain quite the same amount with pregnancy #2 but didn't really feel much of a drive to lose the baby weight after giving birth. By the time I got pregnant with our third child (#2 was only 5 months old) I was tired of my clothes being too tight, having to purchase new clothes because what was in the closet didn't fit, and not being happy with the size of clothing I was purchasing. As soon as I found out baby #3 was on the way, I signed up for a membership at the gym and haven't looked back.

After recovering from a c-section I was back in the gym full-throttle. Arms, legs, cardio, eatin right...and the weight started to fall off. Before I knew it, the clothes in the closet were starting to fit again. I felt like I looked better...but I still wasn't in a maintenance mode. Fast-forward...my third child is now 2 years old and I STILL haven't hit the maintenance mode. I am working hard...1 hour cardio everyday, eating healthy, changing strength training routines so I don't hit a rut. And still no washboard abs. I'm constantly looking for the next best thing that will FINALLY take off those last 10lbs. I'm not overweight. I'm not at risk for heart-related or weight-related disease. I'm actually really strong and in fairly good shape overall.

I've been really down on myself, frustrated with just about everything. So I took a step back to asess what was out of line. Listen to how self-centered I sound. The "Ah-ha" moment...my relationship with Christ is what's really out of whack. The more I have focused on my outward appearance, the more I have neglected my soul. That is why I'm so unhappy with how I look. The real, stripped down, naked, soul-baring me isn't lookin' so good. But, you know what's so great about knowing and loving our Lord? The minute I ask for His forgiveness and redirect my attention back toward Him, I'm lookin' really good once again.

1 Samuel 16:7
"...The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Although, I must say, it would be nice if I got the same instant results from one 5-mile run. :)

For the Glory of God

2009-04-16T21:17:00.000-07:00

Sin is a nasty little (okay, BIG) problem. We are all born with a sinful nature. We struggle throughout our entire lives fighting off sin. But what exactly is sin? One definition is estrangement from God. Wow...anything that separates us from the Father is sin. So why do we think we have the right as humans to place levels on sin? Can one person be more separated from God than another? If so, is it our place to point this out?

I started thinking about different things that people have an opinion about that may possibly considered sin. Liar, cheat, fornicator, thief. Is being gay a sin? Is being obese a sin?

Who am I...a lowly, wretched, sin-drenched earthling...to rank one persons sinful nature against another? So many "Christians" screw this up. It is not our place to dabble in the emotions of others and so crassly stab at flaws in ones character.

Luke 6:41
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

So I came away with this. It doesn't matter if you're living with someone and not married, it doesn't matter if you cheated on your SATs, or stole a pack of gum from the local convenience store at the age of seven. Is your life a testament to your faith? Do you look for ways each day to reveal God's glory to others? If you are a Christ follower, EVERYTHING you do, say, think, and feel should be for the Glory of God. When you wake up in the morning ask God to bless your day and remind you that every task you complete, no matter how significant or menial it may be, is all for His glory. What can you do tomorrow to make His presence known in your life?

Lord, help me not to judge others. Give me your eyes to see them as children of God, just as you see me. Convict me in the areas of my life where I need more of you and less of me. It is all for you, Lord.

Prayer for Stellan

2009-03-30T12:20:00.001-07:00

As I begin the yearly task of Spring Cleaning, my heart is heavy. I am thinking of organizing closets, planting flowers, and wiping down baseboards. I am reminded of how insignificant these tasks are when I read about a precious 5 month old boy that I have fallen in love with. I have followed MckMama's blog for almost a year and have had the pleasure of watching how our Lord works, heals, and holds steadfast in times of uncertainty.

Long story short...during her pregnancy, Stellan's mom was told that he would not survive because of heart complications. I'm not a doctor and won't try and give the accurate details of their struggle, but Stellan was born a healthy baby back in October 2008. If you are interested in following their story I suggest subscribing to her blog. Recently Stellan's heart has flipped back into some of the issues he had while in utero. With little to no success, his doctors have tried numerous drugs to get his heart to break out of SVT. They are currently in the process of introducing yet another treatment. The fear is that no one is sure how long his tiny body can endure the strain that is on his heart.

Please pray for Stellan. As a mother of three I am grieved by what this family is going through. I know their hope is in the Lord but it is human nature to doubt, to question "why," to sometimes feel, "Where are you, God in all of this?"

Father, give them strength. Give them the peace that surpasses all understanding. Show them your mercies. It if is your will, allow us to carry some of this burden for them. We know we are never alone, Lord. Make your presence known in that hospital room and in their home. Heal him Jehovah Rapha...

A Testament of Faith

2009-03-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

The women I meet with on Thursday evenings for Bible study recently wrapped up the "Bride of the Week" stories. Each Thursday before reviewing our reading we get together and one of us shares the tale of how we met our husband, fell in love, our marriage proposal and wedding ceremony. It has been an amazing way to get to know the history behind each magnificent couple we share life with. We decided that once the BOTW stories were complete we would take a deeper look into each others lives by sharing our testimonies. I shared my testimony with the women last Thursday.

Instead of going straight from mind to mouth, I decided to write it down to make sure I didn't miss any of the important details of how I came to know my Lord and Savior. As I pecked away at the keys on my computer I had the opportunity to reflect on my life as a child, my years as a wayward young adult and the night the Lord revealed Himself to me. Emotions I had not tapped into for years came flooding back...joy, anger, frustration, rebellion and brokenness. I could physically feel His love pour over me as I reminisced about the day I asked Him into my heart at seven years of age. I felt His arms around me as I remembered the wretched, self-destructive behavior of my twenties. I felt the hem of his garment brush my hand like the woman in Mark 5:24-34 as I envisioned myself laying beside him on the ground bleeding and in pain from the utter mess I had made of my life. Not worthy of his attention, He picked me up, dusted me off, and forgave me. My sins were washed away. In the midst of gathering tales from my past, I fell in love with Jesus all over again.

If you have not taken the time to sit down and remember who God is to you and why He is Lord of your life, I suggest you do. He revealed His grace and mercy to me in areas of my life that I had chosen to forget about.

Mark 5:34

..."Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Happy 5th Birthday

2009-03-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

Wow...Five years have gone by since I gave birth to my first born child...a 7lb. 8 oz. beautiful baby girl born at 3:49 pm on March 8, 2004!

After seeing a picture from another blog site, she requested I create her "Mii" as her cake. I think it turned out pretty good!

We rented a bounce house and hung out snacking on munchies with family and friends. This is a memorable birthday because this is the first party she requested friends be invited and probably the last family birthday.

Here are a few pics from the Wii Extravaganza!

Happy Birthday, Ashlyn Elizabeth!

Not Me! Monday

2009-02-09T19:13:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I have never joined in on the MckMama fun, but I'm feeling a bit saucy tonight...so what the heck!

This week, while playing at the park with our three kids, my littlest one did not come up to me with his hand stretched out and exclaim, "Yuck!" I most certainly did not almost lick his fingers before realizing he had been diaper digging. I would never lick foreign substances off my children's hands...who would do that?

I did not update my Facebook status at 8:00pm this evening to wish my son a happy 2nd birthday. What kind of a mother would forget to announce their childs birth date to the world until after he was in bed? Not me!

I absolutely did not drive 3.5 hours in the car this weekend to a motherhood retreat only to find that the retreat material had nothing to do with mothering whatsoever. I did not sneak out of the retreat at 9:00pm on Saturday, throw my bags in the car and haul outta that joint as fast as lightning to arrive back home after midnight. I would never do such a thing!

I did not teach my 3-year-old the phrase "jacked-up" only to find that he now tells people when he needs to go potty it is because "his front bo-bo is jacked up". Not me.

I most certainly did not suggest starting spring cleaning early when my husband got laid off this week. I can not imagine the type of wife that would think of organization at a time like this! Not me.

I hope anyone reading this post has had a good laugh and a fantastic start to their week.

The Fast and the Furious

2009-02-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

I grew up in church hearing messages of fasting...one is to abstain from certain foods, or all food, for a period of time to grow closer to the Lord. Honestly, I didn't get it. My first question was, "why would anyone ever want to go for a prolonged period of time without eating?" And close behind that came, "why does it make a difference...can't God speak to me with a full belly?" This has always been my view of fasting...until now.

I am on the last day of a seven day fast. Over the course of several days of praying over my youngest son and his persistent issue with eating, the Lord kept bringing the word "fast" to mind. I shrugged Him off for several days. I even questioned why on earth He would think such a thing would be good for me - doesn't He understand what it's like being a mother to three small children that are in constant need of attention? How am I actually supposed to have any opportunity to get alone with the Lord when the requests for potty, juice, snacks, and T.V. never come to an end? It didn't matter how disobedient I was He kept telling me the same thing..."fast, fast, fast." I knew this had to have only come from Him because I really like to eat. So I cratered and started my fast on January 29th.

There were times when I did eat...and this sick little thing called guilt started to set in. How evil! Satan is so good at manipulating the truth and making us feel like we are failures. One of the most important lessons I learned during this week is that there are no rules when it comes to hearing from the Father. I wrote down several questions I wanted answered during this past week pertaining to my youngest offspring, parenting, and selfish behavior. As each day ticked by I became more frustrated (and yes, furious) when I didn't see the immediate answer to my questions. Had I asked them enough? Were my questions not worth answering? Was I not spending the quality time with the Lord that He required of me? (again...satan rearing his ugly head) After my seven days my answer came in Psalm 121.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Three words keep ringing in my ears, "I am here."

What about Baby A eating? "I am here."

How do I spend more time with my children and have enough time for me? "I am here."

What do I do about the guilt of failing as a parent? "I am here."

Thank you Lord for just being.

Created and Loved by God

2009-01-15T13:48:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week I took a trip to the grocery store with the kids to pick up a few items necessary for the rest of the week...milk, bread, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary. The idea of strolling through the store gazing at "items of want" with my three beautiful, well-behaved darlings always seems like well-thought out plan until its execution. Yet it is a daunting task buttoning coats, loading them in carseats, unloading them, positioning them just right in the grocery cart so there is no hair pulling, hitting, fighting, or stealing (yes, I have an unintentional clepto :) ). But...the call of the pantry is much stronger than the voice of reason.

We rushed through the store picking up our necessities and ended up in the frozen food section. I casually walked from case to case looking for what would be the next great meal in our home. As I approached one of the cases a man and a woman were coming toward us, she on the phone, he pushing the cart. She was ordinary...he was not. He appeared handicapped, hunched over, eyes separated, with an amazing smile that lit up the room. As we passed him, he looked at me and said, "Wow, you sure have your hands full!" (As a mother of a 4, 3 and 2 year old, I hear this often.) I smiled and said, "I sure do, but they're worth it." (My standard response.) Our conversation was a mere 10 seconds. Two steps passed him, my oldest whips her head around, looks at me and says,

"His eyes..."

"Stop." I whispered.

She hushed as I knelt down next to her seat. I asked her if she knew who made that man.

"Um...No?"

"Miss A, who made you?"

"God did."

"So, who do you think made him?" By this time I had tears in my eyes.

"God did." And as the tears began to well in her sweet, baby eyes she exclaimed, "and God loves him very much."

She gets it.

I hold such a special place in my heart for people with a physical defect because I too was born with one. I was born severely cross-eyed. My parents agreed to eye surgery at 6 months and I had to exercise my eyes every night as a child. I had to wear a patch on my "strong" eye to help strengthen the weak one. I was questioned by kids throughout elementary school about what I was looking at, what could I see, did things look different to me because of the way I look. I fought my physical ailment and tried to hide it from the world for years (including my optometrist). The thing is, EVERY one of us was born imperfect. At some point in our adolescence we were ridiculed for something that was out of our control. By the time we reach adulthood, most of us have learned to hide it...some better than others. Genesis 1 tells us everything God created was "good." We are created in His likeness.

(A Royal Allegiance)

Sin messes everything. God made all humans perfect and unique, all together bearing God's image.

But this cancerous disease called sin broke everything.

Maybe this is why my daughter "gets it". Even though she was born into a world full of sin, she is still innocent. She is not shackled by the image of who she "should be" or what she "should look like", in order to be accepted by the ever-judging eye of society. My challenge is to see the world through the eyes of a child, just as He sees us.

God made each of us unique...short, tall, skinny, robust, athletic, couch potato, cross-eyed, crooked smile...and loves every stinkin' one of us. We are not merely damaged goods...we are all a masterpiece in the making.

Thank you Lord. I praise you for making me exactly the way I am...warts and all.

Isaiah 64:8
Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Transparent

2009-01-09T21:48:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays we typically spend more time with family, focusing on the good of the past 365 days, reminiscing about Christmases of past. In 2008 I spent time with my new blogging friends and I was given the opportunity to share life with people all over the world who I probably would never have come in contact with this side of heaven. I read of growing families, daily life, difficult pregnancies, heart-wrenching losses, miracles of life. What an adventure!

Recently I have had trouble falling asleep and have used that time to think about my day - what I've done, seen and read. As I thought about each blog I subscribe to and those that have made a lasting impact on my life I questioned "why?". What is it about some of these friends stories that moves me from my foundation? One word: transparency. These saints hold nothing back. They allow me to take a full look into their lives (some on a daily basis). I am not a window shopper gazing at merchandise from outside. I am a full paying customer. I am given the chance to browse through their laughter and pain, joy and tears and pull from it whatever I choose. They place every emotion out on a page for all to see. But this kind of transparency comes at a cost...a very high cost. In order for them to be transparent to the world, they first have to be transparent to the One who created them. They have to allow Him to come in, set up shop and clean house. And by being completely vulnerable to Him, He is able to use them for His glory and touch millions of peoples lives with their tiny hands.

So for 2009 I will have the usual resolutions: eat less, spend more time with the kids, get more sleep. But for 2009 I will commit to being more transparent. This blog has been, and will continue to be, a documentation of our life as a family. But from today forward it will be seen through different eyes. I want the world to see me as I am...an imperfect child of God trying to focus more on Him and less on me. I want to sit for longer periods of time at His feet and listen.

From a blog I joyfully subscribe to (light your world):

Jesus told His disciples in John 15 that they could do nothing without Him. He told them to abide in Him and then watch what He would accomplish thru them. He told them to abide in His love and keep His commandments, just as they had watched Him keep His Father's commandments and just like He had abided in His Father's love. And He told them to do these things so that His joy would be in them. [emphasis mine]

The 5 Elves of Texas

2008-12-20T10:17:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmas Tour of Homes 2008

2008-12-17T12:42:00.000-08:00

Tis the season to be jolly! A blog that, dare I say, I am addicted to (Bring the Rain) invited readers to partake in BooMama's 2008 Christmas Tour of Homes. And what better way to share in the joyous birth of our Lord Jesus Christ then to post pictures of my humble abode?!

The outside of our house...

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care..."

This Nativity was given to us as a wedding present. It is from Frankenmuth.

A few of my snowmen on the cabinet in our foyer.

I stole this idea from Cottage Living Magazine...(I realize I don't live in a cottage).

O Christmas Tree...a gift from my sweet husband two years ago.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Turkey Trot 2008

2008-12-02T14:14:00.001-08:00

I completed my first 8-mile Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. I finished in 1:28:59...very important because my goal was to finish under 1:30.

The first mile was a breeze...soaking in the sight of downtown Dallas on a crisp Thursday morning, sun shining, iPod cranked up, local bands playing on the side of the road, couple thousand rear ends jiggling in front of me.

Surprisingly by the second mile the street was littered with miscellaneous energy gel packs. Apparently there are quite a few people that can't run over two miles without sustenance. I was actually amazed at this sight and at one point considered counting them.

The run really didn't get challenging until between mile 4 and 5. I'm not sure if it was because the hills really started kicking in or if I just wasn't as prepared for the run as I should have been. Nonetheless, the beat of the pavement began to take its toll. Though I never considered quitting, at mile 5 I questioned how long it would take me to walk the remainder of the course. I prayed the Lord would sustain me...such a trivial request when there were homeless people within walking distance who didn't have a hot meal to enjoy on this day of giving thanks.

Up to this point in my run I had been listening to upbeat, Top 40 music....Pink, Justin Timberlake, Avril Lavigne. I started to think, "Sexyback can only carry me so far". I kept feeling this pull to switch the music to Praise & Worship. Urgh. For those of you who don't run, Praise & Worship is NOT good running music. But I switched anyway. The first song I heard was Phillips, Craig and Dean, Everday.

What to say, Lord?
It's You who give me life
And I can't explain just how
How much you mean to me

Now that You would save me, Lord
I give all that I am to You
That every day I can be a light that shines your name

Fortunately, this is an up-beat Christian song, but this music began speaking more to my soul than to my soles. I felt re-energized, moved by the Spirit, ready to conquer the final portion of the run.

And here comes the Ah-ha! moment. This world can only take me so far. When I decide that I can't carry the load (which I was never supposed to bear), I can no longer go on (as if I sustain myself), I can no longer keep up with the rat race (like somehow I thought I was in control in the first place), He is there...waiting for me.

Every day, It's you I'll live for
Every day, I'll follow after you
Every day, I'll walk with You, my Lord
(or in this case, run) :-)

I have been put on this earth to glorify God. My duty isn't running, or finish times, or dishes, or laundry. Everything I do is to bring honor to His name...Every Day.

I am thankful He has carried me this far. I am grateful He sent His son to earth to live a perfect life and die for the sins of all man-kind so that one day I can stand before Him and be welcomed into His kingdom. I am thankful He so graciously placed a amazing, loving man in my path who pledged to love me above all others 'til death do us part. I am so appreciative He gave me the opportunity to carry three beautiful children in my womb and graced me with the extreme joy of hearing them say, "Mama." Thank you Lord.

I am on the LONG distance run of my life...keep the pace, watch my time, never lose focus of the finish line.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

Too Cute for Words

2008-11-20T13:59:00.000-08:00

A Window to the World

2008-11-20T13:40:00.000-08:00

Sister A has had a loose tooth for a couple of weeks. I originally thought it possibly was loosened by a recent encounter with her brother's head. But she didn't say anything about pain and there was no blood. I did research losing teeth online to see when is typical for a child to lose their first tooth. Apparently, 5 1/2 years old is typical though it is not uncommon for children to lose a tooth before their fifth birthday. Good thing since my baby is 4 1/2.

Regardless of how it was loosened or what age is "normal", Sister A lost her first tooth on November 18, 2008 at Mimi and Granddaddy's house. Her tongue now has a window to peer out at the world. I'm still shocked that I am mother of a child that is old enough to begin shedding baby teeth. Where does the time go?

A New Kind of Pick-up Artist

2008-11-18T19:27:00.000-08:00

Ever hear this one...

"Hey Baby, are your legs tired?"

"No, why?"

"'Cause you been runnin' through my mind all day."

Gone are the days of crowded bars, loud music and "old school" pick-up lines.

I am a new kind of pick-up artist...
Pick up the half-eaten bowl of Cheetos off the living room floor that is sitting next to Buzz Lightyear and one of the characters from the Cars movie. Grab the DVD remote that is now missing its batteries (which are cleaverly hidden underneath the couch amongst the tufts of long, blonde dog hair). But wait! Don't forget the box of baby wipes sitting on the couch along with one child's shoe and sock, Wii remote perched atop the back of the couch, a sippee cup of milk, a hairbrush from the morning primping session and a napkin from the first snack of the day (peanut butter and crackers). And that's just one room!

And exactly who are these ungrateful, selfish individuals who haphazardly leave their belongings strewn about my humble abode? They are Cheetos eating, milk drinking, Disney watching, pretend playing, sock wearing, potty training, scripture learning, music singing, rays of sunshine. They are my breath, my life, my babies. They are three little dumplings...giggly angels...Sister A, Middle A, and Baby AJ.

I will pick up after these three until my body is too arthritic to bend over. Then I guess they'll have to start to pick up after me!

Happy Halloween

2008-11-01T12:19:00.000-07:00

We had a fun time trick-or-treating in our neighborhood with some friends. Here are a few pics from Halloween.

Dorothy, the Wicked Witch of the East and Buzz Lightyear.

"We're off to see the Wizard..."

"If I were king of the forest!"
(Cowardly Lion...just not so cowardly)

Sweet Ms. K was a monkey (SO cute).

This is Ms. K's brother (and her mama) Mr. K...he's the monkey's banana.

Our three little munchkins.

"To infinity, and beyond!"

Dorothy loves Buzz (this is how they act when no one is looking).

Introducing, the latest version of the iPhone, the iJerry.

Autumn at the Arboretum

2008-10-27T18:46:00.001-07:00

We took a trip to the Dallas Arboretum on Saturday afternoon for the annual fall festival. It was a fairly uneventful outing, except for Aidan wandering off at one point. **panic** There was a wedding taking place when the park closed...I most certainly did not tell my daughter that Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, from The Wizard of Oz was getting hitched and she didn't want the public ruining her event. Alas, amid the craziness of large crowds, we were able to experience autumn in Big D...80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.

Imagine this conversation...

Little Ms K., Ms. M. and Ms. A.
(the sunshine was getting in Ms. K's eyes)

You know what he's thinking...

"In about five minutes, I'm going to disappear...Mommy and Daddy will be so surprised 'cause they won't be able to find me. I'm really good at hiding!"

Little A loved all of the pumpkins!

Happy 3rd Birthday

2008-10-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

Three years ago today I walked into the hospital at 6:30 in the morning, ready to begin induction. Your original due date was October 28th, but the doctor said you were going to be a little bigger than your sister (7lb 9oz) and felt induction was the way to go. After being hooked up to various IVs, machines and monitors, I sat...anxiously awaiting your arrival. As the medication started kicking in and contractions increased, I anticipated your birth, but oddly relished the last few moments I would have with you in my womb. I spent eight agonizing hours in labor only to be told that you had no intentions of making your appearance the "normal" way. After much hush-hush discussion, the doctors felt it would be best for both of us if you were delivered via c-section. Because the medication had not worked properly, they informed me I would have to be put under general anesthesia. I cried. I was crushed that I would not get to lay eyes on you the moment you entered this world, but...it was all for your health and safety. I was so nervous...I prayed for you, my sweet son.

After I awoke from surgery, Daddy told me you had been born at 4:09pm and weighed 9lbs 2oz. WOW! What a big boy! Daddy was so sweet and waited patiently for me to "come to"...he wanted you to meet both of us together for the first time. The nurse then wheeled you into my room in your clear plastic bassinet. Even for a "big" baby you were still SO small. I studied your chocolate brown hair and your steel blue eyes. 10 tiny fingers, 10 tiny toes. You were truly a beautiful newborn...I know I am biased but several people stopped and confirmed my opinion.

And now here we are...three years later. Your smile lights up the room. You have an amazing sense of humor with FANTASTIC comedic timing. You are so smart and so sweet. You are a joy to have as a first born son...you still are a truly beautiful child.

I love you Aidan Michael. Happy 3rd Birthday.

Improving My Time

2008-10-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update...I ran 5 miles in my neighborhood this afternoon in 46 minutes. Granted, there are a lot less hills in these parts, but I improved my time by over 10 minutes.

I will catch that turkey on Thanksgiving morning and what a mighty fine feast it shall be. :-)

Woodcreek 5mile
Find more Runs in Rockwall, Texas

Twas a Good Run

2008-10-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

Inspired by a friend who recently ran from his home in Woodcreek to Chandlers Landing in Rockwall (woo! a total of 11.8 miles!), I decided to map a run of my own using a VERY cool website (which he also introduced me to), MapMyRun.com.

Yesterday, my sweet husband dropped me off at Harry Myers Park in Rockwall...and I ran home. I mapped it as a 5 mile run.

Overall, it was a rather unevenful run with a little more hills than I anticipated, the occasional dog barking from behind a fence (and two that were not contained), a decomposing cat in the middle of the street and a dead corn snake near the newly harvested corn fields. Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of any of these amazing sites...I was too busy keeping pace and trying to make it home in time for dinner. I was impressed by the courtesy shown to me by on-coming traffic. The only concern I had was crossing FM 549 at 5:00pm, but traffic was surprising light when I crossed.

I completed my run in just under 58 minutes. Time to start shaving minutes...getting revved up for the 8-mile Turkey Trot!

My Pumpkins at the Patch

2008-10-11T21:01:00.000-07:00

On Friday, we met some friends for an afternoon at the pumpkin patch. The kids wandered through the hay maze, rifled through baskets of baby gourds, and splashed in the sprinkler run-off (well, at least my boys did). Here are a few photos from our excursion...

Middle "A" in the maze

Big Sister LOVES to pick flowers!

Baby "A" checkin' out the pumpkins...I think he found just the right one!

Big brother and little brother comparing gourds...too cute.

My sweet middle child (such mischief behind those big blue eyes).

(photo courtesy of JC Originals Photography)

Thanks to Jill and her amazing photography, more pics from our outing can be seen on her blog.

Little O.C.D. Me

2008-10-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

First off, I do not want to offend anyone that may truly have O.C.D. This is meant only as a light-hearted poke at me...and anyone else who chooses to comment.

There are a few areas in my life where I do the same thing, the same way, every time. I thought it might be fun to share a few of them.

When folding laundry, I have to stand in the exact same place next to my bed. I place each family members clothing in the same place on the bed every time...including the piles for their shirts, pants, PJs, underwear, etc. This only happens on Tuesdays...laundry day...every week.Ashlyn's clothes go at the foot of the bed on Jerry's side of the bed... her PJs are at the very end followed by her shirts and then her pants.

When I change a diaper on the changing table, my childs head must be on the right, every time. I can not change it if their head is on the left (which is odd in, and of, itself because I am right-handed).

When I clean my house, I start in the same room with the same chore, every time.

When I take a shower, I wash my body first, shampoo second, conditioner third, and shave fourth, every time. If I run out of conditioner, I'm screwed...can't function...seriously.

I put on one sock and then my shoe before putting on the other sock and shoe, every time.

Every time I make my bed, the top sheet has to be folded down and the pillows have to be positioned just right. Ask Jerry, I rearrange them when he helps out. But nevertheless, I am grateful for the help he affords me.

Every night when we go to bed, NOTHING can be out of place in the house...toys, throw pillows, kitchen chairs, dishes in the sink. It can be 2:30am and I'm loading the dishwasher.

Toilet paper must come OVER THE TOP of the roll, every time. C'mon people, get it right! :)

Now it's your turn...you down with O.C.D? Do share...

1 Corinthians 14:40
Let all things be done decently and in order.

The First Race

2008-09-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

The first race is the toughest (not really)...

I did it. I finished my first race. Mind you, it was only a 5K, but I did it. I ran it in 32.19...6th place for my age, 30th overall.

I'm now going to begin training for the next race...8 mile run on Thanksgiving Day (Nov 27th) in the YMCA Turkey Trot.

Chili's in Rockwall
1st Annual 5K run benefiting St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital

Battle Royale

2008-09-24T11:02:00.001-07:00

We are going through a battle of the wills in our household right now.

My battle, her will.

Truth be told, there would be no battle if dear old Mom would just give in and allow Little Miss 4-Year-Old to run the house. Wouldn't that be a sight?! Peanut butter and chocolate milk for breakfast, Dora the Explorer on TV 24/7, mismatched shoes, no brushed teeth, naked barbies everywhere. What would happen to my boys?!

This particular day she has been cranky from the moment she woke up...whiny, not listening, argumentative. She has been refusing to take naps for some time now, and I usually let it go as long as she spends some quite time in her room while the boys are napping. But today...she needed a nap. I informed her of this and was immediately met with MUCH resistance. After trying to reason with her...the spank stick came out...and Momma was a-swingin'. One pop...she screamed loud (not pain loud, defiant loud)...second pop (same reaction). She would quiet down long enough for me to reach for the door knob and then the screaming would commence once again. After the third pop I had to leave the room. I cried walking down the stairs (the screaming had still not stopped...I just couldn't spank her anymore). I cried for her ignorance, I cried for the sting on her behind, I cried because I truly hurt inside from disciplining her.

Why are we rebellious by nature? I didn't teach my children to NOT listen to me. Why do we REALLY test boundaries when we KNOW the consequences? Do we think there will be a different outcome if we push it two, three, four times? Why don't we realize that whether we choose to obey or disobey we are still a slave to something.

Romans 6:16
Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Marshmallows and Peanut Butter

2008-09-22T21:08:00.001-07:00

Our sweet baby Austin has had an issue with self-feeding. At 19 months, the fact that he will still only eat Cheetos, crackers, Goldfish...basically anything crunchy, has bothered me, but I blame it on the fact that he's our last baby. I breastfed the kid until he was 15 months! I made lunch for the older kids today and decided I would make the same plate for AJ. Without hesitation he picked up his peanut butter sandwich and started chowing down! He even decided to comment on the matter...

"Mmmmm, mmmmm. Dee-shish-shish."

Later on this afternoon he was reaching for the pantry. I opened it and gave him the first thing in front of me...multi-colored marshmallows. I had tried to give them to him in the past, but he would take one in his fingers, mash it and throw it on the floor (this is the usual reaction to any new food). He grabbed the marshmallow and popped it in his mouth...and kept reaching for more!

For dinner I had made tortellini with chicken. I cut up chicken and placed it in front of him...and he ate it too! I am so proud of my little man for FINALLY making a breakthrough in his feeding today! Keep up the good work, Austin Jimmy!

I tell ya...Perseverence pays!

The Minivan Years

2008-09-16T11:51:00.001-07:00

I know we've all heard Jeff Foxworthy's take on, "You might be a redneck..." And it got me thinking lately after our latest vehicle purchase...

"You know you're a mom when..."

- a minivan has gone from "that is such a Mom car" to "this thing has enough cup holders for everyone's juice cup!"

- you can name all of the different spots on your shirt (oatmeal, milk, spit, blood).

- you sing The Itsy-bitsy Spider in the car when you're all alone.

- a trip to Wal-mart by yourself feels like heaven on earth.

- your husband thinks you look sexy and all you did was FINALLY take a shower.

- you make your 15th trip to Wal-mart because in all of the commotion of parking, kids, and checkers you forgot the real reason you came in the first place.

- you fully understand toddler talk...you get that "potty" means little business and "podda" means BIG business.

- you spell words to other adults even when your children aren't present. You may have even been spelling words around the kids that don't need to be spelled out. "Honey, I took out the T-R-A-S-H this A.M."

- you take the opportunity to smell each baby head fresh from the bath.

- you relish the sight of peacefully sleeping children.

- you cry in the shower...laugh when they giggle...ache when they're in pain.

What a great gift. I'm so glad I'm a mom.

The Protestant Irish Fan

2008-09-08T18:30:00.000-07:00

Being a fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish makes as much sense for me as being a fan of the Brigham Young Cougars. I am not Catholic anymore than I am Mormon. Yet, I am drawn by the mighty pigskin. I am consumed by the roar of the crowd...the chant of the dedicated...the rumble of the stadium. I am intrigued by the die-hard fan that paints their face (and their body) to show support for a group of individuals that don't even know they exist. It is human nature to desire oneness...we want to belong.

Notre Dame Fight Song

Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame,
Wake up the echoes cheering her name,
Send a volley cheer on high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky!
What though the odds be great or small,
Old Notre Dame will win over all,
While her loyal sons are marching
Onward to victory!

And hey... my kids all look great in their football jersey.

(photo courtesy of Uncle Dave)

GO IRISH!

Out of the Mouth of Babes...Part II

2008-09-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

The kids were sitting at the kitchen table waiting on me to finish making lunch. They were arguing about whatever a four and two-year old argue about when Ashlyn informed Aidan he was not being nice. She then proceeded to let me know...

"Mom, Aidan is not being nice."

"I'm sorry Ashlyn. What isn't he being nice about?"

"I don't know, but I think we should get rid of him. I think we need to get a new Aidan...at Wal-Mart."

Ahhhh, we have taught them well. Nice to see that our four year old realizes that practically everything in our world comes from Wal-mart. Sam Walton must be doing back flips in his grave!
________________________________________

I was walking down the stairs with the three A's. The dogs were down below anxiously awaiting our arrival. Ashlyn made it down the stairs first and after announcing her first place standing - aka "I win" - she stopped suddenly. She made the most peculiar, "bitter-beer" face and exclaimed, "Lady smells like dirty Cheerios!"

P. U. - Hilarious...

No bones...

2008-08-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

This topic will most likely continue beyond this post.

Kids say the darndest things...

There are things in your children's lives that you will cherish forever. Unfortunately, there are many more things we will forget because of the fast-paced lives we lead. I wanted to share a few of the amazing, and hilarious stories my children have told. These are the moments when any beverage you may be enjoying at the time will spew from your mouth or nose.

The other day I was riding in the car with the kids and Ashlyn starts talking to me about the human body. She was questioning our design (remember, she likes to talk about blood a LOT right now).

"Do we have bones in our tongue, Mom?"

"No Sweetie, it is just a big muscle." (probably one Mommy needs to exercise a little less)

"Hmmm...just a muscle? No bones? So we have bones in our legs, and arms, and feet?"

"We sure do! And in our chest and hands. Hey Ashlyn, do we have bones in our nose?"

Quietly she pondered my question...

"We have bones in our head?! But...no bones in our nose...just boogs."

Ya got that right!
_________________________________________________

Aidan and Ashlyn were having an argument about toys. (This is a pretty regular occurrence nowadays) Aidan was frustrated by his sister for some reason and decided to hit her in the face.

Ashlyn screamed and I grabbed Aidan by the arm. I knelt down in front of him with my hands on either of his biceps.

"Aidan, did you hit Sister in the face?"

"No...I hit her in the nose."

Well, at least he's honest!
_________________________________________________

Jerry and I took the kids to Wal-mart to pick up a few things (we all know how these visits usually go). As I headed down the aisles looking for miscellaneous items we needed around the house, Jerry took the kids on a tour of the store. There was a bit of commotion near the electronics, but we didn't pay it much attention...we're the "go in, get what you need, and get the heck outta Dodge ASAP" family. After checking out and getting the kids in the car, Jerry decided to share their adventure. Apparently, there was an autograph signing going on with a WWE wrestler, CM Punk. Jerry had taken the kids walking through the sporting goods and stopped next to a very large man with two bodyguards. After asking Jerry if he was a fan (which he responded, "I'm a Dallas Stars fan"), a man told Jerry that they couldn't have an autograph. My sweet, direct husband informed them that he had no intention of getting an autograph. While discussing the logistics of standing in line and waiting his turn, CM Punk began to talk to Aidan...

"What's your name?"

"I Aidan. (Pause) You have colors." (If you check out his link, you will see that CM Punk is covered in tattoos)

"I sure do! Does your dad have any tattoos?"

Without even thinking about it for a moment, Aidan responded..."Ra-ta-too-nee?" (Apparently we have allowed our small children to watch too many movies)

Needless to say, CM Punk was delighted to meet our middle child and asked him to give him "some skin."

WOW! Out of the mouth of babes.

Impostor!

2008-08-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

I am an impostor. I am fake and phony. I am a liar and no good.

Before my sweet husband gets on me about being down on myself (which is a chronic problem I need to work on), I will explain. I am saddened by my mediocrity. I am frustrated by my lack of intimacy with the Lord. I am broken-hearted by the way so many Christians share this same lukewarm lifestyle.

Revelation 3:16
So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

I can not even begin to comprehend the closeness I could have with Him if I only would allow myself. I am short on words right now...but the heaviness is in my heart.

Hillsong United, "Hosanna"

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

A scripture was brought to my attention by a fellow blogger that I want to share...it is so simple, yet so direct.

1 Samuel 3:9

"Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening."

God and the Green Goblin(s)

2008-08-21T15:32:00.000-07:00

To the owners of the "hard to start" green machines...(Mr. J and Mr. K)

Just when you realize satan is lurking around the corner, trying with all his might to make you question yourself physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually, remember this...

God has you in the palm of His hand each time you drive away from our homes (no matter how many times it takes to start the "green beans.") He is honored by your relationship and accountability to each other. You are hard-working men of character and he is pleased by what he sees. I am proud of you for leading our families down the path the Lord has laid out.

Keep on trekking.

Remember...

2008-08-21T10:55:00.001-07:00

Please remember the Sponberg family today in your prayers. They are burying their 10 week old son today in the plot next to Audrey Caroline.

Let Them Eat Cake

2008-08-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

I have this secret...I like making cakes. I don't pride myself on being an artist (or a photographer), but I enjoy the satisfaction of making children's faces light up. I wanted to share some of my "work"...

This was the first cake I made...Ashlyn's 1st birthday. I had just found out the week before that we were expecting baby #2 (Aidan). I promise, they do get better!

Ashlyn's 2nd birthday...Dora the Explorer...I don't think the pic does her justice.

Aidan's 1st birthday...Baby Einstein caterpillar (I was 5 months pregnant with Austin)

I didn't make Ashlyn's 3rd birthday cake because Austin was 1 month old...sometimes you just have to eat cake from the grocery store.

Austin's 1st birthday...Oswald the Octopus

Ashlyn's 4th birthday...Barbie (it was a "princess" party that included Tinker Bell, too!) Hey, when you're the only girl, you can have all the princesses you can handle!

I couldn't find any photos of Aidan's 2nd birthday cake...it was Buzz Lightyear.

I created Mickey Mouse for my nephew Will's 2nd birthday...HUGE Mickey fan!

"Little Man" Caleb's 1st birthday cakes (he is pictured in the background).

Geoffrey the Giraffe Didn't Steal My Money!

2008-08-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

Jerry came home early Friday afternoon so we could take the kids out to purchase educational toys. We originally had planned on going to Hawaiian Falls, but the threat of rain put a damper on that idea.

We decided to make the haul to Mesquite and venture in to Toys R Us. If you have not been to the Toys R Us in Mesquite, it is not quite the wonderland one would expect...it's gives you more of a feeling of a Big Lots for kids. Catchin' my drift?

After scouring the aisles for the item that would advance our children into the next open enrollment for Mensa, Ashlyn came away with a Disney Princess dry-erase board with pages to practice writing the alphabet, numbers, shapes and simple words. Aidan, our engineer, wanted a new puzzle and since making the trip to the museum, asked for dinosaurs ('cause they have bones and will chomper you). Austin, our baby genius, opted for a Lightning McQueen book and plushie.

It was turning out to be a rather uneventful trip, with the exception of the occasional "I want this too" whine in unison from our two older darlings, when we went to the check-out and they spotted the "rides." You know, the clown car and the firetruck that rock back and forth for 30 seconds? I caved in to the begging and went diving into my purse for loose change. Amidst the non-stop question "can I ride next" and corralling AJ while Jerry paid for our merchandise, I set down my wallet on a closed register. Oblivious to my error we rushed out the door, into the car, and back to Rockwall. The worst part...I had just taken $450 out of the bank.

We cheerfully arrived home, played with the kids new goodies, ate dinner, put the kids in bed and sat down to watch the Olympics and begin our relaxing weekend. Between Michael Phelps crushing the gold medal record and watching track and field, we chatted about our finances. Still unaware that my wallet was somewhere in Mesquite we discussed how through every trial, every struggle, every bump in the road, the Lord faithfully provides for us. We are amazed at how there are times when the bank shows the money is just not there yet the Lord sustains. We went to bed thankful for His mercy.

We awoke in the morning to an overcast sky. It was much cooler than it had been the last few days. We decided we would walk to the donut shop down the road for a fun outing with the kids. Kids in-tow I grabbed my purse (which was quite a bit lighter than I expected) and walked out the door. Unsure of its weight, I rummaged through my purse...to my surprise there was no wallet!! In a panic I yelled for Jerry. We searched the car and the house and retraced my steps over the past 24 hours. My heart was in my throat.

Oh Father, remind me where I misplaced it.

The money that I had taken out of the bank was for groceries and living expenses for the next two weeks. Toys R Us didn't open until 9:30 so we decided to drive back to Mesquite and await the store opening.

I jumped out of the car as soon as we pulled up to the building. I paced back and forth between the registers and the customer service desk...I never realized there were THAT many people shopping for toys at 9:30 on a Saturday morning. A gentlemen finally asked me if there was something he could help me with. After explaining my situation he began rustling through several drawers...he found my wallet! And all of my cash was there! A woman was checking out at the register next to me when all of this went down. She simply turned to me and said, "what a blessing." Exactly.

What a blessing it is to know we serve a God that is good, and fair. He was there as I wrestled our children and absent-mindedly set my wallet next to my purse. He saw the person who found it and turned it in...untouched. He placed the image in my scattered-brain and helped me recall the events of the day before. Thank you, Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace. You deserve all the credit, all the glory and honor.

Matthew 6:4
"...Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Bubbles and Fossils and Farming...Oh My!

2008-08-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

If you have not taken a trip to the Dallas Science and Nature Museum recently, I suggest making the trek to Fair Park.

On Wednesday morning we set out with a group of friends for a day of adventure and learning.

Between servings of goldfish and teddy grahams and handing out sippy cups with juice, we explored Ice Age Dallas, Ocean Dallas, Texas Dinosaurs, and the Little Urban Farm. I actually learned about a giant sea turtle that was found in Dallas that lived over 65 million years ago! I have now decided to research these creatures and "update" my tattoo to reflect two of my favorite things...turtles and Texas!

Protostega

The kids had the opportunity to learn about farming in the Little Urban Farm, but I don't think much info was retained. The boys had fun shifting the fruits and veggies from basket to basket and Ashlyn enjoyed taking all of the eggs from the chicken coops and putting them "away". I would bet the employees are still finding eggs throughout the exhibit.

Genesis 1:31
"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good..."

Good Summer Fun

2008-08-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

"Well, we're out here havin' fun, in the scorching hot Texas sun!"

Do you remember a sunny, summer day growing up when it seemed if the mercury rose one more degree, the asphalt would literally turn into liquid? And then, from almost out of nowhere...drip, drip, drip. It started to rain! Dark clouds covered the sun and the wind started whistling through the trees! Such a day we had this week! The kids had been playing in the backyard, digging up miscellaneous "treasures" when the wind started to pick up and rain clouds starting rolling in. As the down-pour commenced I questioned, "What to do??" Let 'em have fun!

Now, that counts as bath night, right? :-)

Jesus Loves Me, This I Know...

2008-08-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

So, I wanted to make good on my comment about my children yesterday. I did, indeed, kiss the face off of my sweet baby AJ. I told my Aidan Mike how proud we are of him and his effort in mastering the Royal Throne. I also made sure to tell Ms. Ashlyn how much I love her. Then, I asked her if she knows who loves her even more. With a inquisitive look on her face, the conversation took a slightly more serious turn...

Who loves me more than you, Momma?

Jesus does! I exclaimed. (I wrongly assumed the conversation would end here)

Does He love me more than this? She stretched out her arms beyond her reach.

Even more! I excitedly replied.

Do you love me this much? She asked while holding her hands out in front of her, cupping them as if she were holding a small puppy.

Ashlyn, I love you more than this! I stretched out my arms as wide as I could and gave her a hug.

She moved away from me, stood silent for a moment and then asked, How much does Jesus love me?

And...she stumped me.

This is the first of many, many questions that she will ask that I will not be able to answer. But this was not a "Why is the sky blue?" question. That is something I personally can't explain because of my limited knowledge of science and space. If she ever asks me, I'll tell her to come to the computer and we can Google it together!

This question is unanswerable because there is not a word in the human vocabulary, or a sight we can view with our limited vision, or a sound that could be beautiful enough to communicate the love of Jesus. To explain to my sweet daughter, at the tender age of four, that Jesus loves her so much that He gave His life for her would only puzzle her more. (Trust me, she is fully aware that He was on the cross, and was bleeding (she reminds me of this often), and that He was not in the "cave" after three days. Thank you Vacation Bible School!)

Honestly, I don't think at 31 years old I can get my mind around this fact. He DIED for me. He willingly went through absolute agony so I can have the opportunity to reside with Him in Heaven. Who am I? What am I willing to do to show His love to others? I'm not even willing to let someone get in front of me in line at Wal-mart because I'll be stuck in the store for an extra 5 minutes!

Here I am...the maggot that deserves nothing. He loves me when I'm sharing His life with others and He loves me when I'm yelling at my husband. He loves me when I'm smiling, and loves me when my face is hot from frustration. He loves me even when I turn my back on Him. He loves me through it all.

But...you don't have to take my word for it...Stellan's Story

Thank you, Lord for loving me....this much.

Ephesians 3:18-19
"...together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

This Thing Called Life

2008-08-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

So, this never-ending, all encompassing rat race I call life has sent me running full force to the arms of my HP desktop in hopes of some much-needed relief.

The concoction of high pitched shrills from our two-year old combined with the bossiness of our 4 year old is beginning to make me gray before my time. But, I wouldn't trade any of this for the world. I am blessed to have three beautiful, healthy children. I have the love of a good, godly husband and the support of amazing Christian family.

I have been consumed by the world of bloggers lately. I stand in awe at the stories that the Lord weaves in many lives of the too-soon passing of children or "high-risk" pregnancies that so many must endure. I have sat reading hour after hour questioning why He would allow this to happen to so many followers. And then one day while sifting through the tears, it hit me. These saints have been given a glimpse of the face of the Father. See Bring the Rain. They have been given the opportunity to feel a fraction of what He must have felt when His own son gave His life so we could be saved. What a heart-wrenching gift to be given.

I can not fathom the depth of your love or the emptiness of their hearts.

And so I sit here with my 18-month old at my feet, grabbing miscellaneous wires from under my desk, hoping he won't hit the switch and shut down my entire system, and I am humbled. I will kiss his face and squeeze his rosy cheeks. I will tell my two-year old I am proud of how much he has accomplished with potty training...however unsuccessul he may have been today. I will look into the eyes of my four-year old and tell her how much I love her and that Jesus loves her even more. For I am blessed beyond measure...

His Name is Jesus

2008-06-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

Today we began a new series in ABF entitled, "It's in the Name." I couldn't help but question what comes to mind when I hear the name of Jesus. He is the Son of God, the Great I am, Emmanuel. He is also my protector, my teacher and my counselor. I stand in awe at the mention of His name. Words can not express the feeling that comes over me when I contemplate His greatness. One question I pondered today is, "what comes to His mind when He hears MY name?" ...Who am I that you are mindful of me... Does He rejoice at the sound of my name? Is He proud of the follower I have become? What can I do to glorify HIS name more?