Calgon take me away

I've had a rough 2 days, worked 2 hours extra, family in from Houston, dinner at 8 o clock, I'm exhausted, I haven't even packed yet, and I've got to get up at 5:00am. I'm packing tomorrow. I'm exhausted.

If my head wasn't screwed on, part 2

This morning was disasterous. I couldn't find anything. I was looking for all of Isabel's underwear (all 12), then my badge (still lost), then the sippy cups, then my mission friend material (still lost)...
Got to work, in jeans and a t-shirt and didn't realize it was a site visit day.
So I called Eddie to bring me some clothes, he did, but forgot the shoes.
Multi-colored plaid Converse don't exactly go with my outfit, so at 10 o'clock I rushed to the Payless and bought the cutes slip-on's. I was back in 15 min, record shopping time for me.

Good things that happened this morning.
I solved the problem that I was haveing yesterday with some code I was writing.
My parking space was still open when I got back from Payless.

Today is a good day.

Don't try to tempt me... it won't work

We're having to save for taxes that are due at the end of the year. Because of our our lack to discipline to do it throughout the year, we are not going to be able to do anything for the rest of the year. That means no Christmas. Oh well, Christmas is about giving not receiving right? So instead of us spending hundreds of dollars in gift for others, I think we'll give of our time and do some volunteer work.

Satan keeps putting in the back of my mind that the amount of money we need is the amount of our tithe for the rest of the year. Whatever! My God will provide. With his help and our hard work, we will get the money to pay the taxes.

Malachi 3:10-12
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.

Piojos (pe o hos)

Spanish for lice.... dreaded words you don't want to hear from your babysitter. Let alone when she's talking about your 11 month old.

What? Where? Who? How?... questions that are swarming through my head.

Needless to say they were gone within the next 2 hours. Although I spent the entire day Saturday cleaning there room from ceiling to floor and washing everything.

No Pull ups on this kid.....

Isabel had 4 accidents at church on Sunday. Her teacher asked me if I could bring her in a pull up next week. My first thought is "no". I don't want her to think that it's ok to go in a pull up and that just because she's at church doesn't mean that she can play and play and forget to go potty. Even if I have to sit with her in class, I'm not putting her in a pull up. In my opinion pull ups are for those who are too lazy and who don't want to be inconvienced with carrying extra clothes and washing countless of underwear a day. I don't care if I'm inconvienced. Hey they were the ones who were pushing to have the kids potty trained so they wouldn't have to change diapers in class. You've made your bed, now.....

3 am call

It's 3:30 am, my eyes are glued shut.

"MOMMMMMMY, I GOTTA GO POTTY! I GOTTA GO POTTY"

Eddie took her, I was blind at the time, and would have done serious
harm to myself If I had attempted to get out of bed in the dark.
I hope this is the first of many nighttime potty episodes.
This will mean that we will be able to get rid of the night night panties (pull-ups)

Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark Matching Game

Cry Out To Jesus

If you haven't heard Third Day's new song "Cry Out To Jesus", I highly recommend you hear it. You can download a free copy of their song on Third Day's Website

Baby Talk

Yesterday when I picked up the girls I walked in a Isabel yelled out "Mommy!" (like she does everyday). I said "Hi Isabel, give me a hug". Then Emma yelled out "Ahhhhh!"(mommy). I said "Hi Emma, give me a hug". I love all the new words Emma is learning. There's "Ahhhhh", "Nana, Nana", "Ehhhhhhh", "Papapapa". I love baby talk.

IF...THEN

In this weeks Sunday School lesson, Eddie used my job as an analogy.
He said that computers are dumb boxes, and that they required instructions. For example...I tell the computer, "IF the user clicks on this button, THEN submit the application.". Well the Bible is full of instructions for us. We are sheep, and sheep are the dumbest animals on the earth. God has to give us instructions.
"IF you sin, THEN you will pay the consequences". God gives us chance after chance after chance to change our ways. Just like when you are going to delete an email, the computer asks "Are you sure, you want to delete?" If you say yes, the message is put into the recycle bin. And even then it can still be recovered. That's how God is, he gives us chance after chance to repent (turn from our sin). Just like Isreal, he kept telling them to change and they wouldn't. He said change or I'm going to let the Babylonians take over your country. But they wouldn't. He tells us the same thing. He says, people of the U.S. change, or I'm going to allow bad things to happen to you. Like terrorism, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, fires. When are we as a nation going to heed his warnings? We need to change as a nation, and as individuals.

Anyways, I thought it was cool how he related my job to the study. Here's a good one.


IF you accept Christ as Lord and Savior THEN
you will go to heaven
ELSE IF you don't accept Christ as Lord and Savior THEN
you will go to hell
END IF

How do you do this?
A. Admit that you are a sinner.
B. Believe that Jesus Christ died and was raised from the dead and lives today.
C. Change your life and commit to following Christ

Race Relations

This weekend I saw two movies. "Crash" and "Guess Who".
"Guess Who" was a comedy about a black girl who brings her white financee home to meet her parents. This movie was funny.
"Crash" is about all these people of different races who are intertwined. It's about stereotypes and how some people of America view other races. Although it had nudity, and profanity, the movie was good. Watch this one when the kids are asleep.

It reminds me of a time when Eddie lost his blockbuster card, and had to go talk to the police at blockbuster because someone had used his card and had not brought any of the movies back, of course. Well they had the guy on tape. He had a fade, and was Mexican. Well Eddie had a fade and is Mexican. Perfect description. Before Eddie went up there, I told him to go in wearing his paramedic uniform. That made the world of difference, they put a hold on his account and issued him a new card. Eddie said that the video wasn't clear, anybody could have mistaken the person in the video for him. I wonder if he had gone in wearing jeans, a t-shirt would it have been harder for him to clear his name? Things that make you go Hmmmmm.

Man of Respect

"Her husband is respected at the city gate..." Proverbs 31:23

Eddie received his evaluation from his captain yesterday. The captain went on and on about how great Eddie was. He retold a story about how Eddie performed many jobs and single-handedly put out a house fire that would have taken 5 men. He gave many examples of how Eddie used his skills and said that Eddie was a valuable part of the department. Eddie you are not afraid of hard work. I'm so proud of you. You da man!

Emma I like playing with you.

Each day when I pick up the girls, Isabel says "I want to sing 'Together'". She has a cd that is personalized with her name. The first song is entitled, "Let's spend the day together". Throughout the song it repeats her name.

Let's spend the day together
Isabel I like playing with you

Well yesterday Isabel was being really nice to Emma, so instead of singing her name, she would insert Emma's name in all the parts of the song.
Also at dinner, she was feeding Emma macrononi and cheese it was too cute.

She's so thoughtful.

Dec 13 - Test Date

The Richardson Fire Department has announced that the test day for the Promotional exaime will be December 13. Please continuously pray that Eddie will have the time to study, have the ability to retain all of the knowledge, and will be able to pull that knowledge from his brain to get a perfect score on the test.

Moving on up

Isabel has moved out of the toddler bed and into the futon.
Although it looks big for her room, because of all the other furniture, it's great. It's low to the ground, firm mattress and she loves it.
Hopefully for her birthday we can get her a twin bed so that we can put the futon back upstairs.

My heart breaks

Lord I pray that you will reunite these children with their families.

Photos of more than two dozen children found in Louisiana were posted on the organization's Web site (http://www.missingkids.com/), together with sometimes scanty information available about them. There was also an entry for one child without a picture.

One entry about a little boy apparently too small to speak properly reads: "His name may be Neiamaya or Jeremiah. His date of birth is unknown; however, he is believed to be about 2 years old."

A five-month-old baby, named Jordan Barnes, was also among the children. He was transferred from a hospital in New Orleans to Baton Rouge General Hospital due to Katrina but his mother's whereabouts were unknown

Work as if unto the Lord

Ok,

Last week, my boss Jeff gave everyone a book to read "The Five Disfunction of a Team", which I'm still in the process of reading.
This morning I have listened to two sermons concerning work and your job.

Ok God, I hear you. If I haven't told you in a while, I so appreciate the job you have given me. I will strive to work and do my best like if I'm working for you. I will make every minute of my day here a work glorify you. You are the CEO of my life. Thank you for a boss who genuinely care for his employees and is fair.
Ok, gotta get back to work now.

I'm the map, I'm the map

Eddie has learned the entire map of Richardson, and can draw it.
He's been studing, because hopefully within the next week or so the fire department will annouce the test date for promotions. Eddie says he's heard that they want to have the test in December before Christmas. As a firefighter, he will promote to Driver Engineer. That is the one who's main job is to drive the fire engine and control all the pumps. Anyways I know he's going to get it. Basically there are 4 spots open and the 4 who score the highest on the written test and the map combined get the job.

This is a major prayer request. Please be praying for Eddie for the next few months that he will learn all the material, and will score 100 on his test.

No more diapers

Isabel is on day 2 of "No more diapers". She didn't even want me to put a pull up on her at night. But I had to tell her that they were her night night panties. I don't want her wetting the bed just yet. After a couple of weeks when I know she's got the hang of going to the potty, we'll try to do the no pull ups at night.
My little girl is growing up..

Renquist Dies..

Wow, I just found out. I've been out of the news loop for the past couple of days. I haven't even seen anything on TV, but then I haven't watched much TV. I wonder who the next nominee will be. Can't wait to find out.

I'm crying too.

Today I began really potting training Isabel. No diapers. Not because I wanted to, but because she wanted to. She found the little book that goes with her Potty Elmo and I read it to her. She said "Elmo Potty". I went into the storage and found her potty Elmo doll and his potty. All morning and afternoon, she would take Elmo to potty and would sit on her porta-potty too. After she awoke from her nap I said you want to go potty? I think I scare her, because she began to whine. She sat on the potty, but didn't go, she hadn't gone all day. I picked her up off of the potty and held her in my arms. Emma on the other hand was in kitchen whining as well. I told Isabel, "I've got to go get Emma because she's crying"... Isable replied "I'm crying too".. I said "yes you are", so I held her a little longer until she was distracted by Elmo again.

10 minutes later she used the bathroom in her panties. Just an accident, since they were wet, she couldn't put them back on... She's sitting on the potty now, trying to poo-poo.. Hopefully she'll go...