It's been awhile

I know I've been gone for a while. I've been really busy with work. Anyways here goes.

New: I started working from home on the days that my husband is on shift. Yeah

Good: Pastor went to MD Anderson and will have surgery to remove tumor from kidney on July 10th

Bad/Good: We have to pay the IRS $1,600 by July 11th, and we just found out 2 weeks ago. (we'll have the money thank God)

Humor: What's the difference between a rectal themometer and an oral themometer? the taste

Think On It: Children need to know they have secure love. Sometimes our love is incomplete because our children feel they constantly have to compete for it. We tell them we love them and then they watch us make decisions regarding our careers, our friends, or our pastimes that directly undermine our ability to invest the time in them that love requires. For example:
We might declare that we have HAVE to work as much as we do because of bills, but then they see us deliberately making poor financial choices.
They don't question that we love them; they simply feel that we love other things more.

Catch Up

It's been a while so here goes.

Humor: The other day Emma looked down my shirt at my chest and said "Oooh mommy, you got big muscles like Daddy. (Those aren't muscles)

Prayer: My pastor just found out that he has a cancerous tumor in his kidneys. Pray that they can take it out and that it hasn't spread.

New: Our company moved to a new building. I've got a new desk. Building is great. The only complaint is that you can hear airplanes flying overhead all day long

Finally: Isabel's ballet/tap recital is tomorrow. Yeah!

Wisdom: The more we count the blessings we have the less we crave the luxuries we haven't

2 Kings 6:16

Don't

be afraid

the prophet answered

those who are with us are more

than those who are with them. 2 Kings 6:16

It is not the darkness that blocks your vision so much as what is between you and God.

This will remind me of the importance of proper spiritual focus in my walk with God

Legacy - My Goal

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...

Music Video:LEGACY (by Nichole Nordeman)

Music Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

Hint Hint

Disney Album

Are you planning a Disney vacation this summer? You won’t want to miss your chance to become a Disney Scrapateer for a day! Join us as we create a fun 20-page Disney-themed album that’s loaded with fun embellishments. Just add photos, and you’ll have your album completed in a single day. You’ll even get to make a set of autograph tags to take to Disney for Mickey and his gang to sign! $100
June 16th or July 14th from 9a-4p

What a great Anniversary Present, since we are planning to go to Disney World next year.

Family Day

Yesterday, we hosted Family Day at our house. Our church came over and we had a ton of fun. We started off with games and then we ate fajitas, rice, beans and tortillas. For desert we had Arroz con leche (a favorite of mine). Durning the game segment, I got out the water gun and went on a shooting spree. Then my sneaky pastor went into my kids playroom stole a bucket, filled it with water, and threw it over my head. The war was on. I took his wife hostage and she became the next victim. By the end of the day everyone was attacked, we had no mercy on anyone. My sister even locked herself into my bedroom, but we managed to breakin and pull her out. She put up a good fight, but we got anyway. After everyone left a few of us hung out made nachos and watched Apocolypto. Let's just say that I didn't want to wake up this morning. I slept in which is like 6:45 for me, and then took my time leaving the house. It was a fun-filled day yesterday.

More Re-Organizaing

Here was what I tackled today. See my church is coming over tomorrow, so I wanted the house to look it's best. I organized the office, which is a project and Eddie and I started last weekend. Then this morning I brought in my wicker furniture from outside, painted it white, brought some new pillows and put it in the area of the kitchen where a dinette set would go. I gave up on buying a dinnette set, I just buy some bar stools next month and eat breakfast on the island.


Cleaner Office

New Sitting Area

Our Schedule - to be modified as weather permits

For two days out of the week this is what I have planned for the girls while I work.

6:30 – 7:30 – Sign in and work uninterruped
7:30 – 8:00 – Make and Eat Breakfast (no work)
8:00 – 8:30 – Dora the Explorer Show
8:30 – 9:00 – Free play in play room
9:00 – 9:30 – Learing crafts and activities
10:00 – 10:30 – Little Einstein Show
10:30 – 11:00 – Outdoor play
11:00 – 11:30 – Eat lunch (no work)
11:30 – 2:00 – Nap Time
2:00 – 2:30 – Pool Time
2:30 – 3:30 - Movie (sign off at 3:30)

I tried this yesterday, and it worked. Not the pool time of course it rained, but everything else. I got alot accomplished and the girls had fun. Had to stay home yesterday, cause Eddie was working and Emma had a low-grade fever. You know how that goes. She slept late, took some Motrin, and played hard the rest of the day.

A Shining Star

From Beth Moore:

Dearly loved one
You’ve been called by God
To shine like a star
In a dark, depraved world
Don’t blend in
Refuse the daily temptation
To be absorbed in yourself
Take interest in others
Deliberately humble yourself
And live the life of a servant
As you live in the crisis
Of “continue to”
Keep working out
What God is working in
Watch your mouth
Choose words of life
And one glorious day
You will see the face of Christ
And He will show you
Every good purpose
He fulfilled through you
And there will be delight
Even if you are despised or ignored
You are Christ’s star
Go forth and shine

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
Isaiah 60:1

Beginning the week of June 25

My new boss has allowed be to begin working from home on the days that my husband goes to work. Which is about 2 days a week. This is good, because the girls will be home all the time, and won't have to go to daycare. Granted they were only going 6-8 days a month, but they would rather stay home, and we'd rather them stay home. Being a web developer, I'm not tied to the phones, I'm just tied to my computer, so this is a possible thing to do. I've already got a schedule written out so that, I can keep the girls entertained for periods of time. This will give me plenty of time throughout the day to complete my dev tickets. Another good thing is that my company has given me a work laptop. Everyone in our department got one. It's a cute little Dell one.

In other news...
Eddie and I decided that the girls are going to be going to public school. All along we had made the decision to send them to a Christian private school. But after the parenting conference we went to and the books that we've been reading, we changed our minds.
Basically it comes down to this. We will strive to raise strong kids, not safe kids. We will do our job at home instilling the moral and ethical principals of the Bible, so that in any situation that our kids face they will be able to stand their ground and do the right thing. I would love my kids to be in a ultra-safe enviroment, learning about the word of God, but in reality we can't shelter them from life. School will be a great mission field for my girls to share their faith with lost kids. Plus over the course of 12 years for both girls we'll save $100,000. I know plenty of kids who went to public school, who are men and women of God. Your parents did a great job. My mom did a great job. We will strive to raise our girls for true greatness.

Highlight of my weekend

I get to park my car in the garage. Yes! We finally had the time to organize the garage and get everything off the floor (ok everything except the lawnmower and wagon). The Lord allowed us to do this by keeping our girls asleep on Saturday from 1 pm - 4:30 pm. Hallelulah!

Pictures from Isabel's Birthday Party

Strike a pose


Ballerina at heart


Her first pinata


Dancing Ballerinas


Sitting Pretty


Cake my mom made

Morning Conversations

While at home:
Isabel: Mommy, can we go get those little donuts?
Me: Oh, (looking at the clock knowing we don't have time). Daddy didn't leave me any money. We'll get some tomorrow.
Isabel: Why didn't Daddy leave you money?
Me: He forgot.

In the car:
Isabel: Mommy, do you have a card?
Me: (Card? Debit card?) Yes, I have a card.
Isabel: Does it have money?
Me: (clever little girl) Yes it does.
Isabel: Then get some out.
Me: (trying to change the subject) Guess what? I got you some pan dulce for breakfast.

Still in the car:
Isabel: Is it Sunday?
Me: No, it's Tuesday.
Isabel: Nu uh, I see the sun, so it's Sunday.
Me: Ok, (defeated)
Isabel: Then why did you say it was Tuesday?
Me: Cause it is Tuesday, but if you want to say it's Sunday, that's fine.

Blessed

In January I was looking for a dance school that Isabel could attend. I started calling around. My friend has her kids at "The Dance Workshop", and I knew I didn't want my kids going there. Too competitive. I've heard horror stories of her kids practicing 3 days a week right before the recital, and all the trophies that that's studio has won. My child is only 4, I want this to be fun. So on I went to look for the perfect studio for us.
I called "A Step in Time" which is in our city. They told me it was too late because costumes for the spring show had already been purchased.
I then called "Divine Arts" 20 minutes away. I asked if it was too late and they said no, not too late. Great I signed her up and she started in Feburary. Well in March there was talk about the recital in June. I asked the teacher if she was going to be able to perform and she said "no, because they had ordered costumes in October". Talk about a bubble being burst. I was disappointed. In April, I called the owner and addressed my concerns, I told her I understood why she couldn't perform, but that if there was any way she could, it would just make my day. She mentioned that there was a little girl who had purchased the costumes, but no longer attended. So she was going to double check, and maybe Isabel could have those costumes.
On Saturday, I got the 2 costumes. Yeah! She will be in the performance. This is so cool, cause it saved us the cost of the costumes, and the cost of the recital fee.
At least $160. Thank you God.

Happy Mother's Day

This is a late post, but nevertheless.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there.

Single moms
Stay-at-home moms
Working moms
Moms of infants
Moms of toddlers
Moms of teenagers
Widowed moms
Teenage moms
Moms of more than 3 kids
Grandmas

You are all very special. Thank You for all the work you do.

Patience with Imperfection

Patience with imperfection
by Jon Walker

“Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2b NLT)

Humorist Dave Barry says, “A perfect parent is a person with excellent child-rearing theories and no actual children.”

The same could be said of a perfect world or the perfect family. Created by God and guided by his perfect instructions, there’s only one way to mess things up: People!

The fact is, living with imperfect people requires patience. And I say this as a friend, but you are one of the imperfect people who require patience! Unfortunately, I keep learning that I’m an imperfect person too.

The Bible teaches that patience is the solution for living with someone else’s imperfections. This patience is to flow from the kindness God shows us, so we’re (not so simply) following God’s love.

Colossians 3:12-13 says: “As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (GW)

The word translated “patience” also could be rendered “longsuffering.” Patience means putting up with one another when we’d rather lose our temper; it means forgiving one another when we’d rather hold a grudge.

It is love in action, for “love is patient.” (1 Corinthians 13:14a NIV)

In addition, patience muzzles our mouths, stopping the murmuring and complaining that so naturally flow from the human tongue. Paul says, “Let us stop criticizing each other. Instead, we should decide never to do anything that would make other Christians have doubts or lose their faith.” (Romans 14:13 GW).

With patience ruling the day, we become stronger through our differences and we develop a godly diversity in our relationships. We no longer require that everyone act and look and think exactly the same way.

Paul saw this as an exciting model of God’s Church: “Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with – even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.” (Romans 14:1 MSG)

So what?

Patience and a critical spirit are mutually exclusive – Even when your complaints are justified, patience pushes and pulls you toward forgiving and forgetting: “A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” (Proverbs 19:11 NIV)

You are imperfect – Living with an imperfect person requires patience. You, my friend, are an imperfect person, and there are some people who require patience to live with you! (Think about who they are and thank them today.)

Let love lead – “Most of all, let love guide your life, for then the whole church will stay together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:14 LB) How open are you to other believers who don’t see things the way you do?

Interview by a Tammara

1. What is one thing you did in high school that you really, really wish you hadn't done?

I was really good in high school. I regret hanging out at the "spot". An area where everyone parked their cars, drank beer, and smoked. Why do I regret that, because later I realized it was a church parking lot. That was totally disrespectful. And for the record, I neither smoked or drank. I found those two things disgusting.

2. You can learn to do one thing - anything - expertly in one hour (like Neo in "The Matrix"). What is it?

A writer of best-selling book on parenting. So that I could write one book sell a million copies and retire.

3. By what adjective to your children occasionally call you now that they will be grateful for you being, once they are adults?

My kids are 2 and 4 so the only thing the 4 year old has called me is mean.

4. Is there a quote or saying that you live by (intentionally or not)?

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

5. If you could have a photo of some event that was not photographed, what would it be?

My 30th birthday party, I don't remember taking pictures.

Strawberry Quick

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/drugs/candymeth.asp

There is a very scary thing going on in the schools right now that all need to be aware of. There is a type of crystal meth going around that looks like strawberry pop rocks. It smells like strawberry also and it is being handed out to kids in school yards in AR. I'm sure it will make its way around the country if it hasn't already. Kids are ingesting this thinking that it is candy and being rushed off to the E.R. in dire condition.

Please instruct your children to not accept candy that looks like this even from a friend and to take any that they may have to a teacher, principal, etc.

Please pass this around it could save some family a lot of heartache! That is what they are calling strawberry meth or strawberry quick.

Thought you'd want to know.

Kathy Johnson, RN
School Nurse, McNeil Elementary
McKinney ISD

Happy Birthday Isabel

Isabel turns 4 today. As my little girl grows up, one of the things we want to instill in her is the act of giving back to others who aren't a fortunate as she is. Also that beauty is who you are on the inside, not merely what you look like on the outside.
Yesterday I thought about my friend Dixie who grows her hair long only to chop it off to donate it to Locks of Love.

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

I showed Isabel the website and the pictures of the kids with no hair. I told her this morning that since she got alot of presents for her birthday she needs to give a present to someone else. I talked to her about sharing and giving to others who don't have. My hope is that she will make the decision to give back.

Annual Wish List

Ok, with only 3 days to shop, here is my annual wish list.

1. iTunes Gift Card (to buy music)
2. Fry's Gift Card (to buy a pcmcia network card)
3. Amazon.com Gift Card (to buy books)
4. Starbucks Gift Card (to buy a Cinnamon Dolce Latte)
5. Visa Gift Card (to eat at any restaurant I want)