this and that

moving on up

2011-01-26T23:13:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm not sure about the "up" part.

But, I am moving...my blog, that is.

I decided that my blog needs a fresh look and feel, something new for the new year.
And try as I may, I can't get my old posts to convert to a new blog on Blogger.
So,
I'm moving to Wordpress.
Come on over and take a look!
I'm at Snapshots & Scribbles.
I hope you like what you see.
And don't forget to subscribe..'cuz that would really make my day!

no words

2011-01-22T23:33:00.000-05:00

Are you ever in that crazy place where there are tons of things swirling around in your head,

yet you don't have words for any of it?

That's me right now.

There is so much going on, that the thought of writing about it all is overwhelming to me.

There is school, which is going well, but takes a lot of discipline to stay on task.

There is my dad's health, which is not looking good.

There is Marko's work situation, which has recently taken a turn for the better

(read: he actually has work again! Yay!).

And then there's me, the very pregnant ~~wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend~~ woman trying to stay afloat.

Some days all the balls I'm juggling seem to be made of lead.

Some days I drop them.

Some days I juggle them well, by the grace of God.

And blogging, well it just seems like a chore right now.

So pardon me while I take a breath.

I'll be back when things calm down a bit.

And I might bring some surprises back with me.

So stay tuned.

fresh

2011-01-01T14:21:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you,

but the first day of the new year always inspires me with fresh beginnings.

I'm not a resolution maker, but the thought of a clean slate and new chalk is always exciting.

The endless possibilites that lay ahead of me...

New life,

New friends.

New opportunities.

A chance to reconnect.

A chance to dig deeper.

A chance to be the best that I can possibly be.

"No matter what a man's past may have been, his future is spotless."

John R. Rice

I love this quote, because it's filled with such hope and promise.

A spotless future...how great does that sound?

A future in which I don't yell at my kids,

or get lazy about cleaning my house,

or ignore the opportunity to minister to someone because of my selfishness.

That's the kind of year I want 2011 to be.

So here's a challenge to myself for the new year...

do the right thing,

do it well,

and do it cheerfully.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

in the midst of the storm

2010-12-30T22:18:00.000-05:00

Today I received some hard news.

My dad (who was diagnosed with cancer in October) went in for his second surgery

to remove tumors under his collarbone and on his neck.

The doctors were not successful.

The tumor is larger than expected and embedded in a major artery.

They will not attempt another surgery.

Radiation and chemo are not viable options.

Reality is setting in,

my Dad will not be around forever.

I wonder how long he'll get to enjoy his new granddaughter.

I wonder if he'll be here for Sam or Ava's next birthdays.

I wonder if he'll enjoy another Christmas with the family.

So many thoughts are swirling through my head.

So many questions that there are no answers to.

But one thing I do know.

My Jesus is in control.

He is my Comfort and Peace,

the Arms That Will Carry Me,

my Assurance and Hope.

So in this moment

I will look to Him and take refuge in His strength.

Tomorrow (or the next hour) has it's own troubles.

But right now I will choose to rest in the soothing embrace of my Savior.

comfort and joy

2010-12-26T13:53:00.000-05:00

God rest ye merry, gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember, Christ, our Saviour

Was born on Christmas day

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel,

This blessed Babe was born

And laid within a manger

Upon this blessed morn

The which His Mother Mary

Did nothing take in scorn

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father

A blessed Angel came;

And unto certain Shepherds

Brought tidings of the same:

How that in Bethlehem was born

The Son of God by Name.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

"Fear not then," said the Angel,

"Let nothing you affright,

This day is born a Saviour

Of a pure Virgin bright,

To free all those who trust in Him

From Satan's power and might."

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,

All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas

All other doth deface.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

Wishing you and your family the Comfort and Joy that comes from our Savior!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

sam says

2010-12-08T13:48:00.000-05:00

The other day Sam asked Marko,

"Do you know why I'm a redneck and you're not?"

"Um, nooo..."

"Because I have camo underwear and you don't!"

This morning was our first real "cold" day.

After Marko went outside and declared that it was 42 degrees,

Sam said,

"Mom, we're gonna need muffins for our hands!"

And last, an entry from the dictionary of Sam:

PUMBLE: verb

1. Strike repeatedly, typically with the fists.

As in, Sam and Marko were wrestling and Sam said,

"I'm gonna pumble you, Daddy!"

christmas creativity

2010-12-04T10:18:00.000-05:00

Something about Christmas gets my creative juices flowing.

I get this huge urge to craft and create, to give handmade gifts

and invest time in making the perfect offering for my friends and family.

Here is the first item in a clutter of gifts I'll be making this year.

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.

Isaiah 49:16

I'd love to know, are you doing any crafting for Christmas this year?

something to ponder

2010-12-03T15:38:00.000-05:00

tick tock

2010-11-30T23:29:00.001-05:00

This week brings me to 6 months pregnant.
I can't believe that I'm over half-way through with this pregnancy.

I feel like I just found out yesterday that I was expecting.

Baby Girl is kicking and grooving up a storm these days.

Thankfully, she settles down at night and I'm still able to get a good night's sleep.

(Except for the 5 times a night I have to get up to pee!)

We have decided on a name (no, I'm not telling)
and it's fun to talk to/about her like a real person now,

instead of referring to her as "the baby."

Sam is getting used to the idea of another sister...
although he's still praying that she will come out a boy!

And Ava, she's totally clueless.

However, she is very, very interested in her newborn cousin.

And wants to be touching and playing with her whenever she can reach the baby.
So, I'm sure once her little sister arrives, Ava will be all over her!

Speaking of Ava...

she is walking all over the place now
and tries really hard to keep up with her big brother.

Her favorite questions are, "What's that?" and "Who's that?"...

questions she asks a hundred times a day!

She also says, "WOW!" about anything that catches her eye.

She has perfected the temper tantrum,

and looks up at us out of the corner of her eye
to see if we're watching her do something she knows is wrong.

She is obsessed with cell phones and, if there is one in a 20 ft. radius,
she will have it in her hands in 1.6 seconds.

The moment music hits her ears, she wiggles and jiggles like she's dancing for her life.

And she manages to wrap everyone around her little finger in a matter of moments.

I'm just wondering...what happened to my newborn?

a reminder from the Lord

2010-11-22T15:26:00.000-05:00

Things are tough right now.

There are unanswered questions.

The path is not well marked

and the way is not clear.

It ~~could be~~ is easy to get discouraged and wonder

"why, Lord?"

But I am reminded of this verse,

"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you."

Psalm 9:10

And what is His name?

Protector

Joy-Giver

Provider

Counselor

Strength

Comforter

Healer

Friend

just to name a few.

He says, "I AM."

So I will remember His promises.

In the storm

He says,

"I AM your Shelter."

In the drought,

"I AM your Refreshing."

In the confusion,

"I AM your Wisdom."

In the fear,

"I AM your Consolation."

I have expereinced Him to be all these things.

So I will trust Him once again

to be who He says He is.

After all, He is Good.

how is it

2010-11-14T20:52:00.003-05:00

that I got a little girl that loves everything girly?

At 13 months, she is completely smitten with babydolls

and jewelry

and fixing her hair.

She crawls around most days with a beaded necklace (or three) around her neck.

She feeds and pats and rocks her babydolls like a pro.

Not that I think there's anything wrong with this...at all.
I love that she loves all these things.

It's just that I was so, so different growing up.

Instead of dolls, I loved drawing.

Instead of baubles, I loved books.

There were no frills or lace or pink (gasp!) around me if I could help it.

And now, I have a daughter, who at a very early age
is showing serious signs of girliness.
This is definitely a stretch for me.

God has such a sense of humor!

pumpkin patch fail

2010-11-09T10:26:00.001-05:00

All I wanted were a few cute pumpkin patch pictures.

Is that too much to ask?

Apparently my charming children thought so.

They were bound and determined not to look my way.

It was like they had plotted before we even got to the pumpkin patch,

"Ok, here's the plan: if mommy calls your name, look away.

Anywhere is fine, as long as it's not at her!"

"Like this?"

"How 'bout this?"

"Yep, that's great! Looking down is always good too!"

(Man, is she gonna be frustrated, or what?)

"Uh oh. There's that look. We better cooperate or bad things might happen..."

"Sucker...you fell for the 'ugly face'?

I'm still not looking!"

"I'll just pretend to be distracted by this pumpkin stem."

Oh well.

There's always next year, right?

And adding a 7 month old to the mix is bound to make it easier...or not.

raw(e) little

2010-11-08T22:11:00.000-05:00

This week's theme over at Sailor & Company is

little.

And since it's officially fall here in the south,

I thought it would be fitting to take a photo

of my itty bitty pumpkins.

Aren't they adorable?

If you love the little stuff, take a few baby steps over to Sailor & Company to see all the other itty bitty cuties.

take a look

2010-11-01T13:16:00.000-04:00

at these incredible chalk drawings!

Yesterday I grabbed my camera and headed to the downtown Chalk Festival.

A city block was closed off and over 250 street painters from around the world

gathered to display their amazing talents!

The theme this year was 'halloween' (not a fan!)

but I figured there would be a huge variety of interpretations on the theme.

And I was right!

I love the 3-D quality of these two.

In person it seemed as if you could actually step down into them.

I think my favorite part though, was watching all the artists at work.

What incredible talent!

What a groovy way to spend an afternoon!

shocked

2010-10-27T18:41:00.000-04:00

Well, the results are in and it's a

GIRL!

We are all shocked and surprised.

Sam is a little sad.

Poor guy, I know how he feels.

I wanted a sister more than anything, and got a brother...twice.

But time will ease the disappointment.

And by the time the baby is here, he will be excited to see her.

Otherwise, she is healthy and right on target according to the ultrasound.

She is very wiggly and even sucked her thumb for a second (just like her brother).

Whether or not she has CF, still remains a mystery.

We have opted not to do an amniocentesis (same as with Ava).

But the ultrasound markers were clear, which is a good sign.

Thank You, God, for another little life!

tomorrow

2010-10-26T23:24:00.001-04:00

is the day that I find out the sex of babe #3.

Marko and Sam are totally rooting for a boy.

Honestly, I'll be surprised if it's not a boy.

My pregnancy symptoms have almost been identical to what I had with Sam.

And nothing like what I had with Ava.

Sooo, we'll see.

I'll keep you posted!

does this

2010-10-24T22:18:00.000-04:00

ever happen to you?

I had one of the best times with the Lord on Friday morning.

And then, by Friday afternoon I felt like the biggest heathen ever.

Giving in to temptation,

snapping at the kids,

being lazy,

whining,

the list goes on and on!

I find myself exclaiming with the Apostle Paul.

"Wretched person that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"

(Romans 7:24)

How can I be walking in the presence of the Lord one moment

and then totally not walking in it the next?

The answer:

my choices.

In 10 minutes

I can make enough wrong choices

to take me from

life

death.

But...

here is my comfort.

Jesus rescues me.

He picks me up,

brushes me off,

lifts my face,

and speaks tenderly to my heart.

"I love you.

Let me help you up

and together we can continue on."

O, what a wonderful Savior!

open up the sky

2010-10-22T10:56:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning with this song in my head.

Waiting for His touch,

immersed in the shower of His presence,

satisfied with nothing less than Jesus.

Looking at my Savior,

awed by the glory of my Lord,

Face to face with Love Divine.

What a spectacular way to start the day!

in other news

2010-10-18T00:02:00.000-04:00

Alternately titled: Random thoughts that have nothing to do with each other.

Tomorrow I will be 18 weeks pregnant.

Now that I am fully into my 2nd trimester, my energy has returned and my stomach has settled.

My tummy is starting to pop out a bit and the maternity clothes have come out of hiding.

Can I just tell you how much I love wearing maternity clothes...cute ones, anyway?

I love them.

I love that I can have a tummy and people look at me with a twinkle in their eye,

instead of giving me the stink eye because they think I've had one too many twinkies.

Just kidding. I don't ~~really~~ normally get the stink eye.

Only if I'm walking passed a gym eating twinkies.

Sam has finally decided that he is okay with the boy name that we've most likely chosen.

Whew.

Now he wants to name the baby Charlotte Leah, if it's a girl.

Not our first choice, but it sure beats Gator!

Anyways, my 20 week ultrasound is coming up soon and all mysteries will be revealed.

Speaking of Sam, his mouth is healing well.

He had his stitches removed yesterday, and the scabs have all fallen off.

Unless I look into his mouth, I can hardly tell that he was a bloody mess one week ago.

His teeth have not shifted back into place yet, and I'm not sure that they will.

I'm just happy that they are all baby teeth, that will eventually come out anyways.

Ava is taking her first steps, and will soon be on her way to full-on walking.

She has also acquired several new words and has become quite a chatterbox.

She is fascinated with babies (baby dolls, specifically)

and anything with a face-that is smaller than her-is a "baby."

The S.W. Florida version of fall is finally here, which means pumpkin patches and fall festivals.

It also means weather that is NOT scorching hot!

I'm thrilled that our highs are in the 80's and the lows are in the 60's.

Outdoors, here we come!

the hiatus is over

2010-10-13T14:33:00.001-04:00

Honestly!

What a slacker I've been.

I can't believe that it's been almost a month since my last "real" post.

Much has happened in the past several weeks.

There have been births,

and birthdays,

a trip to Sea World,

and most recently, our first kid ER visit.

(Gorey picture ahead. Consider yourself warned.)

Sam was swinging on a baby swing on the neighbor's patio (read: brick floor)

Sunday afternoon, and decided to jump off of it.

The landing was less than perfect and the bricks caught his fall. Heh.

Marko came running into the house with him and

blood

was

EVERYWHERE.

Sam was bleeding so much that I couldn't even see inside his mouth.

So, off to the ER Marko and Sam rushed.

Once there, they discovered that Sam had knocked out one of his bottom teeth

(not adult, thank the Lord!)

and needed about 6 stitches on his lower lip.

A trip to the dentist the next day revealed that there were no fractures or permanent damage to the bones in his mouth/jaw.

WHEW!

Well, I guess all's well that ends well.
Sam has learned his lesson, and will now be traveling the preschool circuit extolling the virtues of swing safety.

happiness is...

2010-10-07T22:27:00.001-04:00

...balloons

a ladybug smash cake,

and turning ONE!

Happy Birthday, Ava!

To see what others are happy about, check out this blog.

raw(e) smiles

2010-09-23T00:48:00.000-04:00

This week's RAW(e) photo challenge over at Sailor & Company is
SMILES & LAUGHTER

Introducing...

Miss Mischief.

I have discovered something about Ava.

She is FULL of mischief.

Even at 11 months, she gets that glimmer in her eye

and I know that some naughtiness is about to happen.

You can almost hear the "MUAHAHAHAHA"

running through her little head.

She is so completely different from Sam in that respect.

He was my calm, totally compliant baby/toddler.

If we told him not to do something, he didn't.

No questions asked.

I actually thought for awhile it was because of our fabulous parenting skills.

HA!

Now I know that it was just his laid-back personality.

But not his sister!

Oh me, Oh my!

She is proving to be a little handful.

And this is just the beginning...

i wonder

2010-09-17T23:48:00.001-04:00

I had my first OB appointment a couple of days ago

and it got me wondering...

...why you wait for an hour and a half to be seen for 30 mins?

...why they can't come up with a better name than "Advanced Maternal Age"

to describe those of us that are over 35 and pregnant?

...why all the cute maternity clothes in the pregnancy magazines cost over $100...I mean really, for a t-shirt?

...why the office scale always says I weigh 4 lbs. more than my scale at home does?

...why "the cup" is the size of a thimble?

...why the paper on the exam table induces butt-sweat?

Any answers?

raw(e) snacks

2010-09-14T10:00:00.003-04:00

I had to laugh at this week's RAW(e) photo challenge over at Sailor & Company.

Since I've been pregnant, the only thing that consistantly sounds good to me

and settles my yucky stomach is

Cheez-Its.

And what is the theme this week?

Snacks!

So, here are my beloved Cheez-its.

Preserved for all eternity as a testimony to my pregnancy craving with babe #3.

you know you're a CF mom if...

2010-09-13T09:50:00.001-04:00

...your entire meal is dominated by the sentence, "Please keep eating!"

...conversations about the frequency, density and color of poop are a normal part of life.

...your entire day is scheduled around breathing treatments.

...you secretly rejoice when your offspring asks for additional food.

...you feel weird giving your non-CF child food without enzymes.

...the words "negative culture" are music to your ears.

... you never thought you'd have such a dislike for the words "crackles" and "wheezing."

...you feel especially blessed that the Lord has entrusted this precious life into your hands.

the beauty of homeschooling

2010-09-12T16:48:00.000-04:00

Unlike most families,

we are finishing up our school year this month.

Why, you ask?

Well, for several reasons.

1. "Fall" in southwest Florida (aka October,November, December)
is undoubtedly the nicest time of the year weather-wise.

We like to capitalize on that
and be free to enjoy the fleeting moments of nice weather while we have them.

Long walks, bike rides, mornings at the park...fabulous.

Summer, on the other hand, is brutal.

When the thermometer hits 90 degrees before 9am,

there's usually not a lot of incentive to be outside for very long.

And, in light of the fact that Sam gets dehydrated faster than you can say "hot and humid,"

we practically have to strap a water cooler to his back to keep him hydrated in that kind of heat!

2. This time of year, November and December especially, are stuffed with holiday activities!

Parties and Fall Festivals, excursions to the pumpkin patch and live nativities.

Instead of trying to cram school in there too, we will use the time to do some community outreach, bake some goodies and maybe create a lap book or two.

3. Because we can!
One of the most appealing aspects of homeschooling, to me, is the flexibility that it affords.
I love that we can study at 9am or 7pm,
in the sunshine or under a tent made of sheets and chairs.

That, my friends, is the beauty of homeschooling.

parched

2010-09-10T10:42:00.000-04:00

I stretch out my hands to You;

My soul longs for You, as a parched land.

Psalm 143:6

For several months now my soul has been parched.

Dry.

Thirsty.

Dehydrated.

Withered.

I've been wandering around like I was in the desert

when water was easily available to me at every turn.

But I was too busy,

too tired,

too nauseous,

too distracted.

Until last night.

Last night at church, the Lord broke through

and started to rain on my parched soul.

It softened the hard, dry places

and the tears began to flow.

Tears of gratitude and repentance,

unworthiness and hope.

And I was swept away in the flood,

the deluge,

the down pour,

the torrent of His love.

Kim Hill says it best in her song "Rain of Your Mercy"

I see the clouds out on the horizon

I feel the wind blowin' in my face

I hear the sound of a rollin' thunder

I know a storm is about to break

It's the rain of Your mercy

Now I've always heard about Your greatness

How showers of life flow from Your heart

Your death on the cross proves how much You love me

But I'm still surprised at how good You are

In the depths of my sin

Your mercy comes in

And shows me the depths of Your love

And it humbles my heart, tears me apart

Moves me to thank You my friend

For the rain of Your mercy

The rain of Your mercy

Is fallin' again

(Is comin' again)

I'm bein' washed in the water from heaven

Sweet tears of joy pourin' down on me

I lift up my head, drink Your forgiveness

Your spirit is here to set me free

If you find yourself parched right now,

let the Rain of His Mercy fall on you today

and be refreshed.

cupcake heaven

2010-09-04T18:10:00.000-04:00

Have I mentioned that Marko likes to bake?

Well, he does.

And he's really good at it.

Cakes,

muffins,

spiced breads,

and, as of this weekend,

cupcakes.

Delicious cupcakes.

This weekend we had a surprise 60th birthday party for Marko's dad

and Marko made 120 cupcakes.

Chocolate Mocha cupcakes with Cinnamon Mocha frosting.

Blueberry Pancake cupcakes with Maple frosting (don't knock it til you've tried it!).

Cream-filled Chocolate cupcakes with Cookies 'n Cream frosting.

Peanutbutter cupcakes with Nutella and Whipped Cream frosting.

And my favorite...

Cream-filled Key Lime cupcakes with Cocoanut Meringue.

Oh yum!

The picture doesn't even do them justice.

They. Are. So. Good.

Excuse me, while I go eat the rest of them.

just to make you smile

2010-09-01T11:36:00.000-04:00

Ok GO video set to TobyMac's "Hey Devil".

sam says

2010-08-31T22:36:00.000-04:00

The other day Sam was telling me something and (positive that I wasn't listening to him) he kept repeating himself...over and over and over. Finally I looked him in the eye and said,

"Yes Sam, I heard you the first twelve times!"

Always the literalist, he responded,

"But mom, I only said it three times."

One of things that makes me laugh most often, is when Sam gets his words mixed up.

The other day, worn out, he exclaimed,
"I'm sooo white!"
(wiped)

And then, I heard him singing at the top of his lungs,
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, meat, patience, kindness, goodness."

What do your kids say that tickle your funny bone?

raw(e) yellow

2010-08-31T14:16:00.000-04:00

Rubber ducky, you're the one...

This week's theme for the RAW(e) challenge is

yellow.

Float on over to Sailor & Co. to see the rest of the yummy yellow-ness.

rice krispie treats (not a recipe)

2010-08-29T13:00:00.002-04:00

Rice Krispie treats are evil.

In a good way though.

This is the one treat that I can't get enough of.

This ooey-gooey, sweet and crunchy yumminess.

I could easily eat the whole pan by myself (but I didn't!).

This time, I had a little help.

raw(e) pink

2010-08-26T12:50:00.001-04:00

Ok, so this week's theme for RAW(e) is

PINK.

Yes, pink.

The color that I avoided like the plague.

Until recently, that is.

Because now that I have a daughter, pink is popping up all over my house.

Pink clothes,

pink sippy cups,

pink towels,

pink shoes,

and yes, even pink toys.

It's a losing battle.

And I, the reluctant prisoner, am coming to terms with the fact

that pink will forevermore be a part of my world.

If you are a lover of pink, hop on over to Sailor & Company to get your fill of pink-ness.

houston, we have a problem

2010-08-23T11:07:00.000-04:00

Ok, I'm taking a poll here.

How many of you have named your offspring a name that their siblings were opposed to?

Anyone?

We are having that little dilemma here.

A couple of weeks ago we were talking to Sam about his new brother/sister and threw out our favorite boy name.

He was beside himself!

Thisclose to tears, he proclaimed that he wanted to name the baby...

Gator.

And he was totally serious.

He was devestated that we were thinking of naming the baby anything else.

Well, now that it has been firmly established that the baby (should it be a boy)

will not be named Gator, he is still completely opposed to our chosen name.

Hmm...what to do?

home again, home again, jiggety-jig

2010-08-20T16:55:00.001-04:00

Last night we (and our piggies) arrived safely home.

It is so nice to be back in our own beds,

eating our own food,

walking barefoot on our own floors,

and relaxing on our own couches.

Ahhhhh!

Sam is only relieved that the needle part is over.

Because when he wasn't doing this...

He was playing games

and doing crafts

and tormenting the hospital staff with fake rubber snakes.

And he was doing this...

hanging out on the window ledge (we were on the 8th floor)

and watching all the vehicles and people below.

Or, watching the helicopters land on the helipad of the hospital across the street.

He was fascinated with both!

And this..

opening presents (Tuesday was his birthday) from us and the hospital staff.

We already had a party for him before he was admitted to the hospital, so we just had a few small gifts that we brought to the hospital for him to open.

But the hospital!

Everytime someone new arrived, they came bearing gifts.

He received a book

and a puzzle

and a couple of stuffed animals

and a craft paint kit

and a $50 gift card to Toys R Us!

And, they gave us a free birthday cake.

And, all the nurses came in and sang "Happy Birthday" to him.

I think he's going to want to have his birthday at the hospital every year now!

isolated

2010-08-17T21:46:00.000-04:00

Well...

there's good news

and bad news.

The good news is, that Sam didn't have to have the bronchoscopy (which means he wasn't put under general anesthesia and didn't have any invasive procedures).

The bad news is, that he has a bacteria that is highly resistant to common antibiotics. And, although it doesn't seem to be resistant to the antibiotic that Sam is on, it could cause serious problems for other patients with weak immune systems.

So,

Sam is in isolation.

He cannot leave his room.

No play rooms,

no air hockey,

no walking around to get rid of all his pent up energy.

He is literally bouncing off the walls!

Bouncing on the bed,

bouncing on the couch,

and bouncing off the huge window ledge that looks out of his room.

The physical therapist was concerned that he wouldn't get enough activity.

Her fears have been laid to rest.
The kid has been circling the room non-stop!

Fortunately, it looks like we may be able to go home Thursday.
So, hopefully only one more day of this.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

a necessary trip (and the winner)

2010-08-14T23:43:00.000-04:00

The winner of the Charlie Church Mouse software is Lindsay!

Please email me with your info and I'll get the program mailed off to you ASAP!
Congratulations! I hope your little ones enjoy the program as much as Sam does.

In other news...
Monday we will be heading to All Children's Hospital to admit Sam for I.V. antibiotics and a possible bronchonscopy.
A few weeks ago he had a constant cough and an x-ray showed inflammation of his lungs.
The doctor also heard significant crackles (crackles=infection).
After a triple course of oral antibiotics, he still has evidence of an infection in his lungs.
The doctor is not sure what is causing the infection (all cultures have come back negative) so, off to the hospital we go to get a better idea of what's going on.
Our prayer is that they will be able to identify the infection and knock it out with a common I.V. antibiotic.
If all goes well we will be in the hospital for 3-4 days and then come back home to finish the I.V. here.

Sam is actually really excited about going.
Last year when we went, he was in heaven.
Aside from the I.V. insertion, he had the time of his life!
There are video games and movies,
air hockey and board games,
crafts and musical instruments to play with.
This year we will be going to the newly built hospital, so I'm sure it will be even more fabulous!

And, he gets to order whatever he wants to eat, whenever he wants to eat it!
Pizza for breakfast,
pancakes for dinner,
slurpees and nachos and ice cream, oh my!
Last time, he got so used to ordering off the menu, that when we came home and he asked for pizza (I told him we didn't have any) - he asked to see what else was on the menu!
Gotta love him.

Anyways, please keep us in your prayers as we head out.
We will be bringing Ava with us too.
And, although Marko will be able to come up Monday and Tuesday,
it may get a little challenging to keep a 10 month old off the floor and occupied for the whole stay!
Once Marko is gone I'll definitely need your prayers.

I'll keep you posted on our progress.
And hopefully this will end up being a very short, uneventful visit!

a little sad

2010-08-13T11:28:00.000-04:00

Being pregnant again has landed me in new territory...
the "I have kids close together in age" group of moms.

I mean, Sam was 4 when Ava was born. We had 4 uniterrupted years to experience all things "Sam."
All the snuggles and cuddles and rocking to sleep,
all the book reading and bath times,
all the outside discoveries on our walks...
my focus was concentrated solely on him.

By the time I got pregnant with Ava, I was ready to experience the whole cycle all over again.
I was looking forward to the extended nursing,
the baby cuddles,
and watching her experience her world of firsts.

But now, in this new territory, I'm feeling a little jilted for her.
By the time Ava is 18 months the new babe will be here.
And there will be very little exclusive "Ava time."
Already, due to pregnancy hormones, nursing her has almost come to an end.
It makes me sad.
I am cherishing every quiet moment I have with her,
knowing that all too soon my attention will be divided.

I used to wonder why my sister-in-law (who has 6 munchkins ages 7 and under) tended to baby her little ones for so long.
Now I know.
I kind of feel like I need to make it up to Ava for taking away my undivided attention so soon.

Has anyone else felt like this?

I mean, it's not that I wish I wasn't pregnant.
I am excited for this new life and looking forward to adding a new little one to our family.
I have just been caught off guard by the melancholy feelings that have surfaced in this area.

I guess I should just blame it on the hormones!
What do you think?

5479

2010-08-12T11:33:00.000-04:00

Are the number of days that...

...I have felt safe and secure in your embrace.

...you have challenged, encouraged and accepted me.

...I have enjoyed looking at the most perfect back-side ever created.

...we have worked on our differences and have a stronger relationship because of it.

...I have looked forward to seeing you walk in the door.

...we have experienced laughter and tears.

...you have tried unsuccessfully to beat me at Scrabble. ;P

...I've said "I do" to the love of my life.

...you make me laugh so hard that I snort.

...I love to hear you say my name.

...you love the Lord and your family.

...I am blessed to call you Lover, Friend and Husband.

Happy 15th Anniversary, Marko!

I am so thankful to the Lord for you, and the life that we've built together so far.
I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us in the next 15 years...and beyond!

raw(e) vintage

2010-08-12T11:31:00.000-04:00

Vintage

is the theme for this week's RAW(e) photo challenge.

The word "vintage" brings to mind family for me.

I have been fortunate enough to inherit vintage toys, dishes, clothing and more.

I'm known around here for pitching anything that sits around for too long, but I do have a sentimental side that keeps me holding onto these things.

It was a tough decision for me to decide which item to photograph, but in the end I settled on my grandmother's wedding dress. It was part of the inspiration for my own wedding dress and I think it's one of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen.

If you'd like, go take a look at the other vintage inspired photos at Sailor & Company.

just because...

2010-08-10T10:51:00.000-04:00

...I love you.

I'm giving away this really great kids software!

No strings attached, no company endorsements...

I just really love this program and decided to give one away!

If you have a 4-8 yr old that loves computer games, this will be a super addition to your home.

Charlie Church Mouse Bible Adventures is a biblically based educational program for early elementary-aged kids. There are six diferent bible adventures (each with three skill levels) that teach:

Greater/Less Than

Addition/Subtraction

Spelling

Synonyms/Antonyms

Telling Time

Counting Money

Sequencing

Rhyming Words

Problem Solving

Critical Thinking

AND they learn about the bible in a fun way.

Sam loves these games (we have the preschool and the kindergarten versions as well) and has learned so much! Plus, I don't have to worry about the content of the games because every adventure centers on stories from the bible.

Disclaimer: the graphics are, uh, shall we say...basic. But every kid that I know that has played the games thinks they are fantastic.

SO.

Leave a comment by 5pm Friday and I'll pick a winner!

back where i started

2010-08-10T09:18:00.001-04:00

The answer to this:

is this:

Yep, baby #3 is on the way!

It has been almost a year since I started my blog, and what a year it has been!

I started blogging because I was pregnant,
unable to sleep,
and bored!

Fast forward...

I am pregnant again,
just getting back to a good night's sleep,
and now trying desperately to find the time to blog!

any guesses?

2010-08-07T23:32:00.000-04:00

Give it a shot.

I'll have the answer (and the full photo) tomorrow.

moms don't get a day off

2010-08-04T18:25:00.000-04:00

Today is my birthday.
Today has also been one of the craziest, busiest (is that a word?) days I've had in a while.

I woke up to see Marko and Sam off to a dr. appt (thanks for letting me sleep in a little, honey!) then got Ava up and ready to go to Preschool Co-op.
But, before heading there I had to run by the store and pick up a few things for the class.
Co-op was a zoo today (read: lots of hyper 3-5 yr olds!) and I was short on patience (for reasons I'll disclose later) making it all the sweeter when I was done. After Co-op I dropped the kids off at home with Marko and ran some more errands that needed to get done today.

On the way to my last stop I got a frantic text from Marko
"Help! Ava has poop all up her back and in her hair!"
Nice.

So home I sped (not literally) to clean up the pooped on floor, while Marko bathed Ava. Marko left and I attempted to take a little time for myself (it is my birthday after all!) but, Sam asked me to read him a book...or 10.
Sigh.

Sure, Buddy. Let's read some books.

And then it hit me.

Mom's don't get a day off.

I mean sure, we can physically leave for a little while and get a much needed break.
But by virtue of being a mom, we are always on call.
Birthdays,
Mother's Day,
Christmas,
Thanksgiving...
on call.

Not that I'm complaining.
I willingly surrendered my "me time" when I signed up to be a mom.
I believe that fulfilling the call as a mom is the greatest thing I can do. Training up little people to love the Lord and become productive members of society is a HUGE task.
And I love a challenge.

It was just a gentle reminder from the Lord that "there is no greater love than to lay your life down for a brother"...or munchkin.

So, Happy Birthday to me.
And thank you, Lord for all the blessings that this life offers me.
Even the little ones that interrupt "me time."
And chocolate cake with chocolate chips inside.

because i don't have anything to say

2010-08-02T23:40:00.000-04:00

raw(e) lamps

2010-08-02T18:51:00.000-04:00

This week's RAW(e) photo challenge theme is

LAMPS

This has got to be one of my favorite items in my house.

I'm usually not very girly, but I love this lamp.

It reminds me of romance and distant lands,

fabulous jewels and exotic meals.

Anyways....back to lamps.

Here are the rules.

Take a picture of any kind of lamp and don't do anything to it.

No editing, no cropping, just SOOC.

Then, follow the lights over to Sailor & Company and check out all the other great photos.

sam says

2010-07-27T13:56:00.001-04:00

Bathroom talk ahead.

Consider yourself warned.

Let me set the scene for you a bit...

The other morning Sam was in the bathroom doing his "business."

I was about ten feet away (outside the bathroom)

and the not-so-pleasant aroma was wafting my way.

All of the sudden he says,

"What's that SMELL?!?"

"Um, your poop?!"

"No Mom, I think it's your breath."

Thanks Sam.

I mean, really.

I'm not known for my sweet morning breath, but C'MON!

raw(e) 2(6)

2010-07-26T22:36:00.001-04:00

No, this is not some strange new blogger code,

it's the theme for this week's RAW(e) photo challenge.

Here's the skinny - go to your 2nd folder and post the 6th photo.

No matter how wacky or horrible the picture.

No editing.

Just raw.

So, here's my photo.

It's a cast-off from a photo session I did with Ava.

I really would've loved it if the picture was something crazy like Sam picking his nose

(yes, I take those pictures!).

But alas, this is what we've got.

So trot on over to Sailor & Company and see if anyone else has a crazy, hilarious photo...I'm headed that way now!

listening

2010-07-25T00:42:00.000-04:00

I've been listening to Tenth Avenue North Over and Underneath recently.

WOW.

Every single song convicts and comforts at the same time.

My kitchen has become a sanctuary.

My living room has become a confessional.

Here are a few lines that have really impacted me in a deep way...

"Why are you looking for love?

Why are you still searching?

As if I'm not enough?

To where will you go child

Tell me where will you run?

To where will you run?"

and

"Could the maker of the stars

Hear the sound of my breaking heart

One life, that's all I am

Right now I can barely stand

If You're everything You say You are

Would You come close and hold my heart?"

Man.

Good stuff.

Take a listen for yourself.

peanut butter pie

2010-07-23T16:17:00.000-04:00

This has been one of my favorite desserts for as long as I can remember. It's also a classic Amish/Mennonite specialty (for those of you Man vs. Food watchers, this is the pie that Adam had at Yoder's Restaurant on the Sarasota episode). Here is the not-quite-from-scratch-but-just-as-yummy version.

Peanut Butter Pie Ingredients:

1 deep dish pie shell- I just use the ones from the freezer section

2 boxes of vanilla pudding mix (about 1.5 oz. each)

3 c. cold milk

1 heaping tablespoon of peanut butter (I use creamy)
1 8oz container of Cool-Whip

Peanut Butter Crumbs:

3 tbsp. peanut butter

1 c. powdered sugar

Bake pie shell as directed on the box, set aside.

Mix vanilla pudding and milk until thickened, add 1tbsp. peanut butter.
Mix thoroughly and place in fridge to set.

In the meantime, combine 3 tbsp. peanut butter and powdered sugar in a bowl. Use a fork to mix and continue until crumbs form.

Take pie shell and pour 1/3 of the crumbs in the bottom of the shell. Add pie filling and pour 1/3 of the crumbs on top of the filling. Spread about 1/2 a container (or more) of Cool-Whip on top of the that and add remaining crumbs on top of the Cool-Whip.

a slight detour

2010-07-22T23:34:00.000-04:00

...now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

asparagus with lemon butter sauce

2010-07-22T23:00:00.000-04:00

As promised, here is a recipe for one of Marko's favorite dishes.

The sauce is really the thing that makes it so yummy.

You can use it on just about anything...fish, chicken, and vegetables. The sky's the limit!

Here are the ingredients:

1 lb. asparagus

2 tbsp. butter (salted or unsalted)

1 tsp. flour

1/4 c. white wine

1/3 c. lemon juice or juice from 1/2 of a lemon

Break off tough ends of the asparagus where they snap easily. Cut spears into 1 inch pieces, separating the stems from the tips.

Heat one inch of water (salted if preferred) to boiling in a deep skillet or dutch oven. Add lower stalk pieces and return to a boil.

Reduce heat. Boil uncovered for 6 mins. Add tips, cover and boil 5 mins longer, or until crisp-tender.

Drain asparagus and transfer to warmed serving dish.

Return pan to stove on medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter; swirl to coat. Add wine, remaining tablesppon of butter, 1 teaspoon of flour and lemon juice. Heat 1-2 mins, stirring occasionally, or until thickened. Toss butter sauce over asparagus and serve.

Up next, Peanut Butter Pie....

the food of love

2010-07-20T00:18:00.000-04:00

Well, it's week 6 of the "Completing Him" Marriage Challenge over at Women Living Well.

And this week's challenge is:

Make your husband a priority by asking him what his favorite dinner, dessert and drink are.

Then head to the kitchen and start cooking!

Now, I realize that some of you may never even set foot in your kitchen to make a meal...much less know how to make Chicken Cordon Bleu, or his mom's famous lasagna!

But here's the thing, he will be really touched that you tried.

Because the heart of this challenge is giving him preference and doing something nice for him "just because."

So, if the chicken burns and the carrots are soggy, high-tail it to his favorite restaurant. He'll give you an "A" for effort.

For the rest of you, dust off those recipes and let your man know that you haven't forgotten that the way to his heart is through his stomach!

Here is some of what I'll be making this week (recipes to follow):

A big juicy Steak (thank you Pioneer Woman for the handy tutorial)

Asparagus tips and Sweet and Savory Potatoes

Peanut Butter Pie for dessert

and

Peanut Chicken Satay

Coconut Rice

Asian Green Beans

and still eating peanut butter pie...Ha!

Who am I kidding?

That thing will be gone in 4.2 seconds flat!

So are you in?

I'd love to hear what some of your husband's favorite meals are.

I'm ALWAYS looking for new things to make for dinner!

same kind of different as me

2010-07-19T23:15:00.001-04:00

A dangerous, homeless drifter who grew up picking cotton in virtual slavery.
An upscale art dealer accustomed to the world of Armani and Chanel.

A gutsy woman with a stubborn dream.

A story so incredible no novelist would dare dream it.

It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana . . .

and an East Texas honky-tonk . . .

and, without a doubt, in the heart of God.

It unfolds in a Hollywood hacienda . . .

an upscale New York gallery . . .

a downtown dumpster . . .

a Texas ranch.

Gritty with pain and betrayal, this true story also shines with an unexpected, life-changing love.

If you're looking for a great read (one that you won't want to put down until you're finished) go out right now and pick up this book!

Same Kind Of Different As Me takes a look inside the hearts and minds of two vastly different men. More than a good read, this story moved me and challenged me to see people with heavenly eyes. Eyes that look beyond the dirt and disaster of addiction, eyes that look for wisdom in the most unlikely places, and eyes that do not make rash judgements based on the appearance of a person.

I was also challenged to step out of my comfort zone. Do the thing that is hard for me. Obey the voice of God and leave the results up to Him. Like Deborah (in the book), pursue the passions that God has placed in my heart...no matter how far fetched they seem.

I would highly recommend this book. It is a heart-warming, convicting, stereo-type destroying book that everyone should own.

p is for...

2010-07-12T11:35:00.001-04:00

Pee Wee people

painting,

putting purple and pink polka dots & puzzle pieces on P's,

polishing off popsicles,

and playing in the pool

at preschool.

photo therapy

2010-07-10T13:46:00.001-04:00

Taking pictures is one of my favorite ways to de-stress.
And given the week that I've had, I needed some serious de-stressing!
So, yesterday I headed out to the marina and clicked away.

I got there feeling like this

but after seeing this

and this

and this

I started feeling more like this

and left feeling like this.

the man i adore

2010-07-08T00:54:00.000-04:00

This week over at Women Living Well the "Completing Him" Challenge continues...

Admire your husband in writing.

Gladly!

And, because I'm feeling ~~obnoxious~~ creative, I'm going to list his merits in alphabetical order.

Attractive- His eyes still melt me into a puddle after 15 yrs.

Brave- He goes to check out the strange noises for me in the middle of the night.

Creative- He loves to create things, from wedding cakes to model trains...and does it all well!

Devoted- He is completely committed to his job as husband and father.

Encouraging- He encourages me to take chances and do things that intimidate me.

Faithful- He shows me in a million little ways that he only has eyes for me.

Gentle- He is a pro at soothing hurts (emotional and physical) and always has a soft touch at the right moment.

Hard-working- He is the provider for our family and puts 100% into making sure that we have everything that we need...and lots of what we want!

Inventive- He is always thinking outside the box. He finds extraordinary uses for ordinary things.

Joker- His antics keep the rest of us in giggles!

Kind- He speaks to me with kindness and thoughtfulness.

Long-suffering- He is endlessly patient with my quirks and insecurities.

Masculine- He is a man's man in the best sense of the word.

Nature-lover- He loves sharing his amazing knowledge of plants and animals with Sam.
Ornery- He is playful and mischievious.
Prepared- He is a man with a plan when it comes to keeping our family safe on outings and trips.

Quick -thinking- He always has an ingenious solution to problems big and small.
Relaxed- He is relaxed when I am a stressed out mess...somebody has to keep their head on straight!

Sincere- What you see is what you get with him. No airs, no pretense, just 100% real.

Trustworthy- If he gives me his word, I know he will follow through on it.

Unswerving- He sticks to his convictions and is not easily swayed.

Vital- He is vital to my happiness. ;oP

Warm- He is my personal heater on chilly nights.

X-tremely wonderful- Need I say more?

Youthful- He is young at heart and makes an excellent playmate for the kids (and me!)

Zestful (is that a word?)- He has a zest for life and fun.

God could not have picked a more perfect man for me. He is my opposite in so many ways, yet we are a perfect fit.

I love you, Marko!

raw(e) flower-o-rama

2010-07-06T22:48:00.006-04:00

So.

I figured I would ease back into posting (since my computer is still down)

with a RAW(e) photo challenge from Sailor & Company.

This week the challenge is flowers...one of my favorite things to photograph.

Despite the blurriness, I love this shot. There is something about the way the buds
pop out at you that makes it a favorite of mine.

If you love blossoms, blooms, and buds, dash on over to look at the other beauties.

catching my breath

2010-06-29T01:15:00.000-04:00

The past 8 days have been CRA-ZY.

It all started on Father's Day when Marko's family descended on our not-so-big house.

16 people (including 9 kids under the age of 8) squeezed into about 1000 sq. ft.

Note to self: Get a bigger house.

Monday I watched 4 of my sister-in-law's munchkins while she took the 5th one to the doctor. Turns out he was having an acute asthma attack and needed to be admitted to the hospital. The kids stayed a few extra hours and a grand time was had by all.

Tuesday, we caught up on school (and everything else that didn't get done the day before).

Wednesday I watched some of the cousins again (because Momma and little brother were still in the hospital). We went to the park and these really great kiddie fountains that the kids love...getting home just in time for naps, and dinner, and heading out the door again for church.

Thursday, more doubling up on school.

And cleaning the house like mad.

And grocery shopping.

And thanking God that my nephew was released from the hospital.

Friday, we went to the beach with some friends that were visiting from out of town.

I got really sun-burned.

Note to self: Don't forget to slather yourself, after you bathe the kids in sunscreen.

We got home just in time for naps, dinner, and hosting a party here for our niece's 6th birthday.

Note to self: Really, GET A BIGGER HOUSE!

Marko made her a princess castle cake. It was very cute!

That night we also had a pretty nasty storm. Lightning struck my computer (I think) and fried it.

So, I've been without a computer for 3 days.

And I'm going into withdrawal.

This computer I'm using is my hunk of a husband's laptop (which he takes with him each morning for work) so my time on it is very limited.

Well, back to my insane week.

Saturday.

I can't, for the life of me, remember what we did Saturday.

Except that it was crazy and we ended it by going to church.

Sunday.

Ahhh....the home stretch.

The light at the end of the tunnel.

Only one birthday party to go to.

Although, I was alone with the kids all day because Marko went

SWAMP BUGGY HUNTING!

FOR WILD BOAR.

He got to carry a gun.

And wear camo.

And ride on a vehicle that was 8ft off the ground.

He was in hog heaven! Heh.

In the meantime, the munchkins and I had a relaxing evening at my sister-in-law's house.

We ate fabulous BBQ.

And hung out with friends.

And I was finally able to catch my breath.

nine

2010-06-21T15:23:00.001-04:00

Nine sweet faces.

Nine little mouths to say "I love you!"

Nine sets of arms to give tight hugs.

Nine sets of ears to listen to Daddy's words of love and instruction.

Nine sets of legs to run to the door when Daddy gets home.

Nine little minds being molded and shaped.

Nine little hearts being protected and cherished.

Nine little eyes that shine with laughter.

Nine amazing gifts from the Father in Heaven.

What better gift could a daddy ask for?

happiness is...

2010-06-16T15:55:00.001-04:00

...a cozy bed.

And a really good book (or four) to curl up with.

What makes you happy?

For more Happiness is... photos, check out Carlotta's blog.

the young and the clueless

2010-06-15T09:33:00.001-04:00

This week I'm taking a walk down Memory Lane.
Yesterday, I posted the story of how Marko and I met and started dating.
Today I thought I'd sorta fill in the gaps between then and now.

1994.

19 and 23.

Dated for 6 months (4 of which were spent 20 hours apart from each other).

Engaged on Christmas day.

He came to my parents' house in the morning.

I was still in my pj's...had bed head and morning breath.

He still proposed.

It must have been true love.

We were so young and naive! We didn't have a clue about marriage.

All we knew was that we wanted to be together...forever.

Good thing we were committed to making it work.

We made it through horribly cooked meals,

being penniless,

differences of opinion in almost everything,

miscommunication,

stubbornness (on both sides),

major illnesses and life-saving surgery,

miscarriages,

and...life.

2010.
35 and 39.

Now, almost 16 years later, we have

better cooking (for the most part!),

stability,

acceptance,

honesty,

comfort in each other,

health,

children,

laughter,

and satisfaction in a marriage that we have worked hard to create.

Don't get me wrong. Our life is far from fairy dust and rainbows.
But in the space between what was and what is,
there is a wisdom and a mellowing that has happened.

I have to say, I'm really looking forward to the next 16 years!

butterflies

2010-06-14T06:00:00.137-04:00

Today I'm linking up with the "Completing Him" Challenge over at Women Living Well.

Today's challenge is to tell your dating story.
So, here we go...

Memorial Day Weekend 1994.

My friend, Hope, and I planned a camping trip to North Carolina for the long weekend. Several mutual friends were going and Hope had also invited a guy she thought I'd like a lot. I wasn't really looking for a serious relationship, but I didn't object to her inviting him.

The day of the trip arrived. As soon as Marko and I started talking, I felt butterflies in my stomach...good ones! He immediately liked me too, and we were inseparable for the rest of the trip. We spent every moment together, staying up 'til 3am talking over a dying camp fire, finding out everything we could about each other. I often say that it was like catching up with a best friend that I hadn't seen in 20 years.

(for those of you who haven't seen this photo here, Marko and I are right in the middle.)

When we arrived back home Marko asked me if he could call me, and a week later we were seriously dating. Two months after that I left for Bible college (20 hours away) and 4 months after that (Christmas Day) we were engaged.

Side Note: As it turned out, Marko's family and mine had known each other for decades! Our mothers, grandmothers, even aunts and uncles knew each other. Marko and his mom were even at my parents' wedding- but we had never met! The Lord kept us apart until just the right moment and then we were a match made in heaven.

Looking back on that time, the thing I remember is the freshness of a new relationship. There were so many things to find out about each other.

And I think along the way we've lost a bit of that.

We got comfortable.

We started to finish each other's sentences and stopped asking questions that we didn't know the answers to.

After 16 years A LOT has changed in our life.

We are not the same people that we were then.

We have different likes and dislikes,

different interests and goals,

different perspectives on life and God.

So this week I'm going to ask the questions.

I'm going to rediscover all over again

this man that I'm so in love with.

And find even more reasons to love him.

sam says...

2010-06-13T23:12:00.002-04:00

Sam has been saying some pretty hilarious things lately (in my humble opinion).
Here is a sample:

As he played in the tub the other day, he was pretending that he had fallen out of a boat.

"Help!" he yells, "I'm draining!!"

(drowning)

This morning, he and Marko were getting ready to go fishing and we were saying that it was already really hot out. To this he asked,

"Do I need to wear sour cream?"

(sunscreen)

As he was getting dressed this morning, I offered him a pair of clean underwear to put on.
"No mom, those underwear are for wearing around the house. I need a pair for going out!"
(I have NO IDEA where he came up with that theory! LOL!)

Can you stand it?!?

the woman your man needs

2010-06-08T12:31:00.002-04:00

What does your man need?

I know what mine needs.

He needs a peaceful home,

clean underwear,

satisfying meals,

physical attention,

playtime (with me and without me),

a tidy house,

and most of all...

a godly wife!

For the next couple of months I'm joining the "Completing Him Challenge" over at Women Living Well. The challenge is to take inventory of your relationship with your husband and allow the Lord to reveal and refresh areas that have taken a backseat to kids, work, hobbies...and, well, LIFE!

I want to be all that the Lord has made me to be for Marko. And by God's strength, I can be the woman he needs me to be. Want to join me?

Here's the Topic Schedule for those who want to link up each week:

June 7 - announce to your readers you are participating by posting the button on your site and leaving your link below.

June 14 – Post Pictures from your dating days (or tell us all about it!). Think about one thing you used to do or have as a couple that you have lost in the shuffle of life. How can you regain it?

June 21 - Remember Your Vows - post pictures of your wedding day. We will review the sacredness of this day.

June 28 - Ask your husband every morning how you can pray for him that day. Bonus: Fast and pray for him one day this week.

July 5 - Admire Your Husband. Write this post and then show it to him! He will smile!

July 12 - Make a list of 5 things you currently do and ask him to prioritize them for you of what is important to him. For example - a clean home, home cooked dinner, coupon clipping, service at church, having friends over for dinner, watching/doing sports with him, etc.

July 19 - Make him a priority. Ask him what his favorite dinner, dessert and drink are. Be sure to serve him all three one night this week. Bonus: cook his favorite dishes all week long!

July 26 - Support his vision. Discuss his vision for your family. Where does he see your family in 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years. Share with us how you let your husband lead.

August 2 - R-E-S-P-E-C-T! No complaining, criticizing, rolling your eyes, nagging, or giving him any friction this week. Enjoy a week of peace in your home!

August 9 - Kiss Him Like You Mean It (and be sure the door is locked!)

“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

Proverbs 31:29

kicking and screaming

2010-06-07T08:40:00.006-04:00

I have a confession to make.

I did not intend to home school my children.

In fact, I initially loathed the idea for several reasons.

1. I was home schooled myself and I saw first-hand the time and effort required to do it right.

I did not want to spend the time and effort.

2. I dreamed of the day that my little darlings would trot off to school so that I could...

have a spotless house?

be a lunching lady?

pursue a new hobby?

I don't know.

But it was going to be glorious!

3. I ~~was~~ am scared.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not dumb. But I've always felt like I needed to be a MENSA

candidate to give my kids the best education possible. I have come to realize that this is not the case, and that a little fear goes a long way in keeping me accountable to do the very best that I can do.

So, how do I now find myself a home schooling momma?

Well...Marko made me do it.

Just kidding.

Sort of.

You see, my wonderful husband has long held the opinion that home schooling would be the best fit for our family. Coupled with that fact, is the reality that (because of his CF) Sam is at a much higher risk of picking up illnesses in a traditional classroom setting.

So, being the perfectly submitted wife, I gladly obliged (um...not so much).

Actually, it took a couple of years of discussing it for us to come to an agreement.

But in the end, I consented.

Realizing that above all else, Marko was doing his best to lead our family in the way he felt God was leading us. And by honoring his conviction, I was ultimately submitting to God.

So, "How is it going?" you ask.

Well...GREAT! Thanks for asking.

I am knee deep in ABC's and Bible stories,

counting by 2's and practicing printing,

cutting and crafts,

and it's going really well.

And you know what?

Don't tell Marko...but I'm actually enjoying myself!

feeding on Jesus

2010-06-05T23:34:00.001-04:00

I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.

John 6:57

Awhile back I was listening to a sermon on Jesus being our Food and Drink. And how, in order to receive Life, we must continually be filling ourselves with Him. The Lord brought 1Kings 19:5-9 to mind and showed me this.

bed head

2010-06-04T01:03:00.001-04:00

This greets me every morning.

The cutest case of bed head I've ever seen.

toes

2010-05-28T13:52:00.001-04:00

Sweet toes, how I love you.

Chubby and cute

deliciously soft

I could kiss you all day long!

sidewalk scribbles on a sunny sunday

2010-05-28T00:51:00.002-04:00

Sunday afternoon (after going to a photography class), I came home to Sam chasing dragonflies in the front yard. I went inside to put my things away and, all of the sudden, Sam was at my side.

"Mom, come look what I made!"

"What did you make?"

"Come look, Mom! I made...ME !"

So we trotted outside to this

Sam had drawn a picture of himself with sidewalk chalk.
He was elated.
He also drew a picture of Ava (with a "really big foot").
And this "kid."

Here, he's drawing shoes on the kid because the cement was too hot for his bare feet.

And he finished with a drawing of a football (first, making sure that he counted the laces to draw it exactly right).

What do your kids like to do outside?

happiness is...

2010-05-27T09:34:00.002-04:00

...grass on your toes.

Playing with Daddy.

Sidewalk chalk.

Blue skies and cotton candy clouds.

Ahhhh...summer happiness!
Now stroll on over here to see more "happy" photos!

i did it!

2010-05-22T16:18:00.000-04:00

For the first time ever in my 35 years...

today, I got a pedicure.

Huge accomplishment, I know.

Sorry to get your hopes up.

However, it is kind of a milestone for me because I'm not a huge fan of people messing with my feet...especially my toes. For some reason I had visions of toe-excavations and huge cheese graters being used. But it wasn't like that at all.

I have to admit, it was nice.

The foot and leg massage,

the exfoliating scrub,

the hot stone treatment,

the full body massage chair after the pedicure,

even the complimentary frozen yogurt with hawaiian fruit...

all very nice.

I see more pedicures in my future.

raw(e) this week

2010-05-21T00:27:00.000-04:00

The RAW(e) photo challenge for this week was...

This Week

The challenge was to take a picture this week and of anything and post it.

Fresh, new, current.

No digging through archives to find the photo.

Our week hasn't been very eventful (hence the late posting).

But, this morning as Sam and I were eating breakfast, I glanced over and saw this

Sam had turned every one of his strawberries over and was balancing them on their tops. For some reason it made me chuckle and reminded me of some kind of abstract sculptural exhibit.

Well, that was the highlight of my day (don't be jealous!).

Now, for some real adventure, head on over to Sailor and Co. and check out the other RAW (e) photos.

cheese puffs

2010-05-19T08:57:00.002-04:00

Once there was a boy who LOVED cheese puffs...and making cheesy faces.

One day, the Boy and his Momma went to Sam's Club and saw this.

The MOTHER LOAD of Cheese Puffs!

The Boy was so excited!!

He could hardly contain himself.

"Pleeeeease, Momma...can we get these, Pleeeease?!?"

Thrilled that her fat-averting child was asking for something

that would add some calories to his eating routine

(albeit greasy, processed calories),

she quickly consented and off to the check-out line they scurried.

As soon as they arrived home, the Boy asked for some Cheese Puffs.

He had Cheese Puffs with lunch.

He had Cheese Puffs with supper.

He had Cheese Puffs as a before-bedtime snack.

And then a curious thing happened.

Early the next morning the Boy woke up complaining of a stomach ache...

and barfed up Cheese Puffs.

No more Cheese Puffs for the Boy.

The End.

no better place

2010-05-18T14:30:00.007-04:00

Can you hear the call?

 Come to me my people, come

Perhaps you feel like the Prodigal Son...

longing for home but, afraid of the reception you'll receive

if you dare to show your face?

There's no need to be afraid of your Father

 When He sees you

will He frown,

cross His arms and turn away?

 
When I see you I will run

  What's this? He's running to meet you?!

 I will be there, I will be there

What comfort is found in His embrace!

Before you call, I will answer you

  No excuses, no vain promises to do better...

He quiets you with His love and sings a soothing song to your soul.

 While you still speak, I will hear

He hears the longings and intentions of your heart,

listens in rapt attention while you pour out your soul.

My ears are turned to the cry of my chosen ones

 He hears the cry and listens with compassion,

ready to offer the Love that will banish all fears.

In my love you can rest in me

Contentment, peace, calm, rest ...

all found in the arms of your Savior.

Will you trust Him enough to rest there?

 For you are my very own

 Despite your rebellion and stubbornness,

He has an everlasting love for you.

A love that fights for, protects and is jealous over you.

So hold on to the hope you have

The hope birthed out of the love that's been lavished on you.

Hope that knows no limits, no restrictions,

no "If you do '....', He'll love you more."

 That I would draw you to myself

 With a love that keeps pursuing and never gives up on you.

That pulls you in and captivates you.

 For I will never leave you alone

 Even in the dark, lonely places

He is there.

When you are blinded and disillusioned,

defeated and filled with regret,

He is there.

You are never alone.

I will not forget you, I gather my lambs in my arms

 Even though you wander and stray,

looking to greener pastures.

You are always on His mind.

He will search you out and bring you back.

He will tend to the wounds and bruises,

gently nursing you back to health.

So I will comfort you and carry you close to my heart

Carried by the strong arms of the Good Shepherd.

Held close and secure.

Comforted by His presence.

There is no better place to be.

lyrics by Daphne Rademaker

"way behind" wednesday

2010-05-13T00:09:00.003-04:00

Ok.

I am way behind on my blogging.

Blame it on my malfunctioning computer...

or uncooperative camera...

or my Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Monday...

or the ~~rain~~ sweltering heat...

whatever the reason, I've got some catching up to do!

Let's start with Mother's Day.
After a (mostly) relaxing morning at home
(we go to church on Saturday night),
and some wonderful cards and gifts,
we met my parents and brother at Olive Garden for a yummy lunch
(gotta love those bread sticks and salad!).

Then we lazed around the house until early evening and met some family and friends at the beach for a cookout.

Sam, his cousins, and friends had a great time jumping waves, playing with boogie boards and digging humungous trenches in the sand.

The dads cooked up some mean hamburgers and hot dogs, and wrestled each other into the water (Marko has a broken toe to show for it {shaking head}....BOYS!!)
And the mommas...relaxed!

This was Ava's first time at the beach (even though we only live 20 mins away from it...sad. I know.) and she did really good. She liked the sand and the water (a BIG plus, since I hope to be there a lot this summer!) but wasn't too crazy about the wind.

All in all, it was a fabulous day!

raw(e) automotive

2010-05-12T16:22:00.003-04:00

So, this week's theme for the RAW(e) challenge (photos straight out of the camera, NO editing what so ever!) over at Sailor & Company is

Automotive

and there's no way you're getting a picture of my

so-ordinary-it-will-bring-you-to-tears car.

So I thought I'd give you a little glimpse into my house instead.

Pretty much any day of the week you will find this scene on my floor...

Lines of Monster Trucks, race cars, motorcycles and the like.

(side note: Sam is learning all about the letter "L" this week. Every time I write a word that starts with "L" I say it over in my head: L-L-Little, L-L-Lines, L-L-Like)

Anyways....

My day would not be complete without stepping over a multitude of cars, trucks, and various other vehicles. There are race tracks and bridges, train tracks and monster truck rallies, dirt bike tracks and jeep trails.

I guess it's just how we roll around here.

raw(e): running

2010-05-06T09:28:00.000-04:00

There is something to be said for procrastination.

Sitting here this morning, I was thinking that I really needed to post a photo for this week's RAW(e) challenge because I was running out of time. Then inspiration struck!

Running out of time...

So here's my last minute, up to the deadline submission. But hey, there's still time to go check out the other great RAW(e) pictures over at Sailor & Co.! So get running!

if i could ask God anything

2010-05-04T22:35:00.002-04:00

The other day Sam and I had "the talk."

No, not that one...Sam's only approaching 5 (although he is fascinated with the human body)

The other one.

The one about heaven and hell.

Yep, that one.

Sam is totally intrigued with spiritual questions.

Every time we read the Bible I can see his little mind start to spin

and questions come out like,

"Why did Jesus have to die for us?"

and

"How does God make thunder?"

and

"How can God be 'God' and Jesus be 'God' too?"

(ever try to explain the Godhead to a 4 yr old? It's mind-bending.)

So, I knew it was only a matter of time before I had to answer the heaven/hell question.

Thankfully, I happened to have this little gem on hand.

When I saw it on BookSneeze.com, I jumped at the opportunity to review it. I love reading how other people explain God and the Christian faith to children (mostly because mine asks TONS of questions!) and I sent for it. Written by Kathryn Slattery and distributed by Thomas Nelson Publishers, this 207 page book covers questions like,

"Do I need to use special words when I pray?"

"Why did Jesus have to die?"

"What is sin?"

"Where did God come from?"

"If God loves people, why do bad things happen?"

Great questions that kids actually ask with simple, straight-forward answers. Each answer has a biblical reference too (which I liked a lot), so that you can take your child directly to God's Word.

Overall, I thought this was a pretty good book. I would recommend it for ages 6 and above, since some of the answers were a little over my (almost) 5 yr old's head. I loved that it covered all the major themes of Christianity and even covered topics like holidays. To that end though, I was a little disappointed with the inclusion of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and Halloween. I realized that it was a great starting point for some answers, but that I would need to fill in the gaps regarding our specific doctrinal beliefs. I also thought that it over-simplified the love that Christ has for us, without giving equal emphasis to our need for repentance.

All in all, a nice little book though. And I look forward to reviewing other books soon.
If you're interested in receiving books to review, check out BookSneeze here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

honestly...

2010-05-03T00:47:00.003-04:00

I've been tagged!

Tessa over at A Bundle of Blessings tagged me with an Honest Scrap Award.

Here's the deal...I share 10 things with you about myself, and then I tag 10 others to do the same. Like I said here, I'm a total sucker for these kind of things!

So, here we go...

1. I used to clog in middle and high school. For those of you who do not know what clogging is, it's basically redneck Riverdance. I loved it, and my feet still move automatically when I hear a song that I used to dance to.

2. I've always dreamed of recording a CD. Below is probably the closest thing I'll ever get to it (I'm the chick to the left). This is a live recording that my church did about 2 years ago (the sound is NOT the greatest).

3. I once had a pet skunk...de-scented, of course. He still smelled.

4. My favorite car in the whole world is a Mini Cooper. If they made one into an SUV I would jump for joy! 'Course then it wouldn't be nearly as cute.

5. I could probably eat pizza every day of my life and be happy. Hawaiian and White pizza are my favorite.

6. I have never had a cup of coffee. Ever. Peppermint Mocha Creme Frappuccinos on the other hand...a totally different story!

7. I love period movies. The A&E version of Pride & Prejudice is one of my all-time favorites.

8. I am a pattern junkie...scrapbook paper, fabric, wallpaper...if it has a funky, vibrant, or beautiful pattern I can't get enough of it!

9. My husband's family and my family have known each other our entire lives, yet we didn't meet until I was 18 and he was 23...on a camping trip set up by a mutual friend! We are the two smack dab in the middle. And, ahem, please keep in mind that this was 1994.

10. I lived in the same house from birth 'til the day I was married. Then my husband and I moved 6 times in the next five years. Minus the actual moving (packing, transporting, unpacking) I really enjoy moving to new places and having a change of scenery. (This picture cracks me up...who does this??)

So, there you go...my 10 things.

And the 10 people I'm tagging are:

Heather @ Traveling Down the Tracks of Life with D&H

Joye @ The Joyeful Journey

Gail @ Delightfully Diva-ish

Sami @ Sailor & Company

Mama M. @ My Little Life

Lindsay @ Because He Gave

Tiffany @ A Moment Cherished

Monica @ Pixel Perfect

Kristy @ PaisleyJade

Beth @ I Should Be Folding Laundry

before & after

2010-04-29T11:44:00.000-04:00

Well, it's official.

The heat is here in (almost) full force.
And my shaggy, long-haired boy

has turned into a mini boot camp recruit.

I prefer his hair long. But, because of the high salt content in his system (from CF) he sweats up a storm and loses hydration faster than other kids. So, we have to do everything we can to keep the poor guy as cool as possible.

So geared up with lots of Gatorade and a buzz cut...
Summer, here we come!

miles of smiles

2010-04-27T12:33:00.000-04:00

I found this blog a few weeks ago and the name caught my attention right away. I love taking pictures of people, and 90% of the time I'm taking face shots. There is just something about capturing a close-up expression that thrills me! Anyways, I got brave this week and decided to enter their weekly photo challenge. The theme is "Smiles."
I know I recently posted the same photo here. But, it was perfect for this challenge so I'm reposting it.

I can't look at this picture without grinning! If you need a pick-me-up, head on over to iheartfaces.There are tons of pictures that are guaranteed to brighten your day!

raw(e) : red

2010-04-26T22:04:00.000-04:00

When I think of red I think of...

...words like "crimson"

and "scarlet" (a name I'd love to give a little girl).

I think of crisp apples,

and tangy cherry tomatoes,

and juicy strawberries.

I think of my phone,

and Target

(the store that has successfully eliminated

red and tan from my wardrobe forever).

I think of ruby lips and painted toes,

and my friend Sandra.

But most of all,

I think of these...

These words of red,

spoken by my Lord and Savior.

Words that comfort and correct,

give Life and quench every thirst.

Words that I base my whole existence on.

The words in red.

This week's RAW(e) photo theme is RED.

Pop on over to Sailor & Company and see what everyone else is taking pictures of!

water and perspectives

2010-04-22T21:27:00.000-04:00

The theme for this week's RAW(e) photo is water.

After taking a bazillion pictures of water,
and not being satisfied that any of them were
unique enough,

pretty enough,

or in any way special.

I finally took an ordinary glass of water

on an ordinary piece of paper

and shot this...

...a thing of beauty (in my humble opinion).

And it got me thinking how I spend so much time and effort trying to be

unique,

pretty,

special.

When all that I need to be is simply, me.

Because I was perfectly created by my Creator.

And when He looks at me He sees
a thing of beauty.

come as close as you want

2010-04-21T23:01:00.000-04:00

This song has been in my head for the past couple of days.
It is the cry of my heart right now.
It is the decision to choose life over death.

Come as close as You want,
Consume this heart that longs to burn
I know Your fire can hurt,
But I would be worse here without You

For I was made to dwell with You,
And how I ache until I do

Come and take all these chains
That get in the way of what You want
And as I stand in the flame
Still I will say, “I trust You God!”

Holy God, Take my heart,
Purge with flame and truth!
A holy heart is all I want,
That I may live with You!

-Misty Edwards

drum roll please...

2010-04-19T22:35:00.000-04:00

But first, I need to vent.

Does anyone else have a babe that is stuck to you like glue??

Seriously,

Ava is a BIG TIME momma's girl right now.

For the past couple of days she has flat-out refused (read: screamed at the top of her LUNGS!) to be held by anyone but me.

It's exhausting.

And I'm totally open to suggestions on how to ease her out of this phase (if possible!)

Ok, enough about me.

On to the real reason that you're here...the winner!

Well, I guess mystery picture #2 wasn't that tough either.

Almost everybody got it right!

The correct answer is

MILK JUG.

And thanks to Sam and a bunch of numbers,

the winner is...

SAMI!

(email me and I'll get the necklace out to you this week)

Thanks for playing.

Next week's photo is going to be a hum-dinger (I promise!).

wedding fish

2010-04-19T15:00:00.000-04:00

Here is a simple recipe for the yummiest fish EVER!!! I call it Wedding Fish because if you are dating and you make it for your Honey, you WILL be marrying him/her in the near future!

Wedding Fish

(otherwise known as Tilapia with Lemon Butter Sauce)

Ingredients

4 teaspoons flour, divided

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

large zip-top bag

5–6 sprigs fresh Italian parsley (optional)

juice of 1 lemon

1 1/2 pounds tilapia fillets

3 tablespoons butter, divided

1/4 cup white wine

Steps

1. Place 3 teaspoons flour and seasoned salt in zip-top bag; shake to mix and set aside. Chop (rinsed) parsley coarsely, leaves only, and measure (2 tablespoons). Slice (rinsed) lemon in half. Set both aside.

2. Preheat large sauté pan on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Check fish for bones by pressing on fillet with finger tips and remove. Add fish to zip-top bag; seal tightly and shake to coat. Wash hands.

3. Place 1 tablespoon butter in pan and swirl to coat. Add fish (wash hands) and cook 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon butter to center of pan. Turn fillets, using spatula, distributing butter under each fillet. Cook 3 more minutes until fish is golden and flakes easily. Place fish on serving plates.

4. Place remaining 1 tablespoon butter and 1 teaspoon flour, wine and juice from lemon in sauté pan. Heat 1–2 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally. Stir parsley into butter sauce and serve over fish.

Serves 4

warning...

2010-04-16T15:12:00.001-04:00

...the following pictures may induce sugar shock!

Of course, this is coming from a totally obsessed and ~~slightly~~ completely biased momma.

mystery photo giveaway #2

2010-04-16T11:25:00.000-04:00

Ok All, here is the next photo to decipher.

Since everyone had such and easy time with the last one, I'm making this one harder.

Can you guess what it is?

If you guess correctly, you could be randomly chosen to receive this...

...a 20" tumbled stone necklace by Sweet P Jewels (moi!).
So guess away! You have until Monday at 5pm to enter.

Happy guessing!

miss me?

2010-04-16T01:30:00.000-04:00

Wow...I can't believe it's almost been a week since I last wrote anything. Life here has been kinda crazy lately and it seems like the only time I'm online is when I'm holding Ava (not very conducive for typing) or too brain dead to put together a coherent thought. So here I am, after midnight, posting a few thoughts before my brain turns to jello.

Ready?

Here we go...

First, you must understand that I DO NOT like to keep things just for the sake of keeping them. I do not keep things "just in case we might need it" or because my second-cousin-once-removed gave it to me for my birthday. I have made the mistake (more than once) of selling things in garage sales that I have received as gifts from my husband...much to his pack-rat-ish dismay. Call me heartless, but those are the facts.

That being said, we seem to accumulate "stuff"...toys and misc. household items...faster than I can sort it and dispose of the ~~junk~~ unique and wonderful items that find their way into our home. My son has recently inherited a truck load of LEGOs, board games and various other toys that have started to spill out of every bin and toy chest that we own. At my wit's end, we finally sorted and purged the bins, reigning in the toy madness for at least another month. Tomorrow my mission is to bring all the excess to Goodwill.

We are also overflowing with clothes. With an infant and 4 yr old growing like weeds, I am constantly changing out smaller clothes for bigger ones. The problem? The smaller ones have to go somewhere! I have finally given up on saving anything for future babies and just give everything away as the kids grow out of it. Sigh...my sentimental side is always losing out to my practical side.

So, now that my spring fever has subsided a little, I can concentrate on more important things like blogging , suggesting baby names for MckFlurry, and taking pictures of random things {rolling eyes}.

Speaking of babies, Ava is 6 months old already. How did that happen?? Just yesterday I was bemoaning the fact that I was 14 days overdue! And now, I have a little girl brimming with personality and activity. She is sitting up and clapping, starting some solid foods and truly becoming her own person. Now, if she would just sleep through the night...

Well, it's time for me to greet my pillow before my chick pea calls. But stay tuned, I've got photos and a giveaway coming your way tomorrow. It's good to be back!

ode to a blog party

2010-04-11T17:53:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my little site

I'll share a bit, if I might.

My name is Lisa and I love

to worship God in heaven above.

I'm a mom of two little kids

whom sometimes, I want to put up for bid!

But, they are mine and I love them so

I never want to let them go.

I also have a husband man

he makes me melt like no one can.

I like to craft and pictures take,

just don't ask me to bake a cake!

Take a look and you will find

I write whatever's on my mind.

So come on in and look around

a bit of everything can be found!

p.s.

If I should win any party prizes,

the laptop, baby carrier or Hilton stay

would be very nice surprises!

(I'd also take #'s US8, 92, USC 3, 11, 57, or INT 11)

empty...

2010-04-09T11:05:00.000-04:00

...is what I want to be today.

Empty of my selfishness.

of my own plans.

of an uncaring heart.

of everything that is not of You.

Please come and fill me...

with Your Love,

with Your Compassion,

with Your Life,

with Your Light.

sam's eye view

2010-04-08T19:50:00.000-04:00

Sam has become my new photography buddy.
He loooves to take pictures.

Whether it's my phone, my point and click or the disposable cameras he received for Chistmas, he's constantly click-click-clicking away.

Here are a few of his shots (straight out of the camera-that turned out surprisingly well for a 4 yr old!):

Sunset at a local park

Pineapple plant in our yard

Mommy being silly

Crocodile at Busch Gardens

flower child

2010-04-07T09:27:00.000-04:00

Okay, so recently I've become obsessed with taking pictures of flowers.

Maybe it's because I was given a nifty DSLR that I looove.

Maybe it's because it's Spring (although in South Florida we don't officially have Spring, just a little interlude between Kinda Chilly and Blazing Hot!).

Whatever the reason, I've been snapping flower photos left and right. Here are some of my better shots (in my humble opinion)...

What do you think?

raw(e): around the house

2010-04-06T22:22:00.000-04:00

These are permanent fixtures in our home...

As soon as I went over to Sailor & Company to find out what the new theme for her RAW(e) photo contest was, and saw that it was "Around the House," I knew exactly what my photo would be.

These are the machines Sam uses in his daily treatments for Cystic Fibrosis.

For those of you who do not know what CF is, it's a disease that effects the respiratory and digestive systems. Sam's body produces a thick mucous that impairs his airways (lungs) and prevents his pancreas from digesting fats and proteins. To counteract this, each day he does several lung related treatments and takes enzymes and acid-reducing meds to help him digest his food.

Twice a day Sam straps on his VEST and nebulizer. The VEST is a vibrating airway clearance machine that keeps the thick mucous moving through Sam's lungs instead of settling and causing a breeding ground for bacteria and infection. The nebulizer delivers a host of medicines to his system in the form of a very fine mist. From antibiotics to brochodilators (meds that keep his airways open) to meds that thin and loosen the mucous. These treaments last anywhere from 45 mins. to an hour and a half, depending on what meds he is currently taking.

Doing his "treatments" are a routine part of our day. First thing in the morning and then again in early evening, on goes the VEST and the nebulizer mask. He shakes, rattles and rolls as the medicine penetrates deep into his lungs. Not that he minds the vibrating...he's busy watching DVD's or playing his favorite LEGO video game. And because these treatments continue to extend the life of my little man, they will always be welcome "around the house."

loving and obeying

2010-04-04T18:26:00.000-04:00

I came across a journal entry that I wrote several months ago. The truth of it is still ringing in my ears...

Last night I was getting Sam ready for bed and he was not obeying me (for what seemed like the 50th time that day!). Instead of doing what I asked him to do he came up to me, wrapped his arms around my neck and said,

"I love you soooooo much."

A statement that usually melts my heart, this time it sounded mocking and hollow.

I responded,

"I love you too, but instead of telling me that you love me, I want you to show me by obeying me."

Instantly the Lord echoed those words in my heart.

"Don't just tell me how much you love Me, I just want you to obey Me."

I thought about how hollow Sam's "I love you" sounded in that situation. And how my own "I love you" must sound to God, when it is not accompanied by obedience.

Because Sam is four, his love for me is immature. It's based mostly on his feelings at the moment. He does whatever feels right- not realizing that a demonstration of true love towards me would be to obey whether he feels like it or not- trusting that what I've asked him to do is in his best interest.

Yet, even in my "maturity" as a child of Christ for over 20 yrs. I too, have an immature love for God sometimes. If I really loved Him with a secure, developed love- and truly understood His love for me- I would obey.

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."

John 14:15

Lord, please help me to love You. Please open my eyes to see when I'm just giving You lip service instead of truly obeying You. Please deepen my understanding of what it means to love You and to see clearly the love You have for me.

do you know that he knows?

2010-04-01T17:00:00.000-04:00

Find out who...and what he knows here.

she sells seashells by the seashore

2010-03-31T09:47:00.000-04:00

Don't Ask.

Just enjoy the cuteness.

Happy Wednesday.

how to become unproductive in 6 easy steps

2010-03-27T11:55:00.000-04:00

Step 1: Give birth to one child.

Step 2: Spend large amounts of time holding, nursing, soothing, playing with, changing, and bathing said child.

Step 3: Finally get child to sleep at 11:30 p.m.

Step 4: Stay up until 2 a.m. blogging. (This step must not be skipped!)

Step 5: Wake up at 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. to feed child.

Step 6: Try to get up at 7 a.m.

Repeat as necessary. Guaranteed to be unproductive in 1-3 days.