LEAP DAY

We are going to a Leap Day birthday party tonight.

One of the girls' friends birthday is today.

She should be 4 today if you go by how many "birthdays" she has had.

Funny, isn't it?

Our very first soccer practice has been canceled due to the extremely wet field. The girls are bummed because they were looking forward to tomorrow morning.

Shelby is on the Blizzards and Abby is on the Bears. Woo-hoo!! I don't think either one of these teams will be wearing the coveted pink jerseys. I think the parents of the boys on their teams may have a slight problem with it. And~the boys, too!

WINTER WEATHER INTERLUDE

We have snow here all day. It has been pretty and the kids played in it this morning.

We haven't had any accumulation but it has still been nice to look out the window and watch it come down.

Mike still had to go to school:~( and Trevor went to work. The girls and I have been warm and cozy in the house all day. We have read books, done school work, and just puttered around the house.

Mike found this game at a thrift store this weekend and we paid $3.99 for it. We have gotten our money's worth. We have played this game 3 times since Saturday. The only thing missing in this game was the directions. Mike just got online and looked them up, printed them off, and we were good to go.

This game is worth $20 online but the family time is priceless. We have laughed our heads off and we realized that we have some Disney movies to put on our Netflix queue.

REFLECTION

Today was a good day for reflection. It is real dark here and dreary. I have three hours on Tuesday mornings to myself and I usually do my Bible study in the car.

I was reading Matthew 5~The Sermon on the Mount because our pastor is doing a sermon series about this chapter on Sunday nights. He asked us to read it each week and ask ourselves a couple questions~

• What is the Lord trying to teach me?

• Why did You lay this on Pastor Gladson's heart?

I have read that chapter before. I have had that chapter preached to me before.

Today it was like Jesus was sitting in the seat beside me talking to me. I am so honored to be able to hold the words of my dear Savior in my hands.

I have been weighted down by some things recently and I felt a huge weight just lift off my shoulders as I sought to get closer to Jesus through the sermon He spoke.

Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day, without Him I would fall.
When I am sad, to Him I go, no other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, He makes me glad, He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, my Friend in trials sore;
I go to Him for blessings, and He gives them over and o’er.
He sends the sunshine and the rain, He sends the harvest’s golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain, He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, and true to Him I’ll be;
O how could I this Friend deny, when He’s so true to me?
Following Him I know I’m right, He watches o’er me day and night;
Following Him by day and night, He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, I want no better Friend;
I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when life’s fleeting days shall end.
Beautiful life with such a Friend, beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy, He’s my Friend.

---

YUMMY GOODNESS!!!

I forgot to tell ya'll I had cereal for lunch on Friday!! I sure did.

I also ate some Saturday, Sunday, and today!! Woo-hoo!!!

On Saturday Trevor went on a youth group outing to the local climbing place where they climb walls for fun. He was there for two hours and could barely move after he left.

Mike and I took the girls to get their soccer gear. Again, they were more worried about the color of their ball and cleats than their playing ability. Mike talked them into getting the standard black and white ball because it was two bucks cheaper than the pink and white ball.

He did relent, however, on the shoes. Shelby got these and Abby got these. Abby didn't like the ones Shelby got because they lace on the side and that was just too weird for her.

This morning has been filled with dentist appts., taking Mike to school, and Trevor to work. Trevor drove to his work and when he got out Abby said, " Mommy, you didn't yell when Trevor was driving!!" I busted out laughing!! Apparently I yell a lot when Trevor drives. Who knew?

MY CONVICTIONS ARE MY OWN

I have been thinking a lot about writing this post. Probably too much. After I read a post about it at one of my favorite blogs, I felt like the Lord was nudging me to write it. I have typed it up on Word and left it there to see if the nudging would go away.

It hasn’t.

Mike and I made a decision that we would let the Lord decide the size of our family~ a “quiverfull family”. Some of my family and friends know this but most don’t.

I have felt the Holy Spirit prompting since I read a book by Vickie and Jayme Farris, “A Mom like you”. My former pastor’s wife lent me the book and I read it twice before giving it back. That was almost 6 years ago. Mike thought I was crazy and said, “No”.

I said, “Okay!!” I felt like I had been absolved from having to worry about it. Mike was the head of our household right? And if he said no that was what I had to live with. Still, the Holy Spirit kept bringing it to my mind.

When we moved so Mike could go to college for pastoral training I thought that I wouldn’t be bothered by this anymore. The Lord knew we had no extra money. He also knew we had no health insurance and we would ‘unwise’ to have a baby at this time.

Mike had not changed his mind either. UNTIL~ he had a professor at the college that talked about letting the Lord decide the size of your family. He came home and we talked about it. Still he wasn’t fully convinced. I was more convinced but not sold on the idea.

We mulled over it for a long time, reading scripture, praying about it, talking about it, and reading about it.

Needless to say, in March of 2006, I threw my BC pills away.

I know that the Lord opens and closes the womb because I have evidence in my own life. I know that whether we have 5 more, no more, or adopt, God is in control of our family size.

I know that some people get defensive when this is discussed. I am only telling our story and feel you should really seek the Lord on this decision. I know that I was thinking selfishly before the Holy Spirit convicted me on this subject.

I kept thinking that I wanted to be done with raising children. In fact, in my early twenties I had told people that if I didn’t get pregnant before I turned 25 I didn’t want anymore.

My girls were born when I was 27 and 29 respectively. I am sure the Lord chuckled at that one.

We lost a baby this past November and I know how real that heartache is. If we have more or not we know that our hearts are ‘quiverfull’ and that we are allowing God to have His will with the size of our family.

THAT IS A LONG TIME TO HAVE A CASSETTE

The girls have a cassette.

It is a cassette that their Daddy made years and years ago.

It has him talking and saying all kinds of goofy teen stuff.

They ABSOLUTELY love to put it in and listen to it. Isn't it funny that we probably would have pitched it a long time ago if we had really known what was on it?

The label on the outside says that it contains, "She's A Good Skate, Charlie Brown!" but that is not what you hear when you put it in the tape player.

And let me tell you~~Trevor sounds just like his Dad did when he was that age. It is very strange to hear Mike talking on that tape because it sounds just like Trevor does now.

The girls will play it, rewind it, play it again, turn it over, and play it over and over.

It is quite comical and his sister adds her share of antics on there.

That tape would not mean much to many people but it is a little treasure at our house for now.

WEDNESDAY~~NOT FRIDAY?????

We have no cereal.

We only have a half gallon of milk (which is okay because again, NO CEREAL!!!)

Mike forgot a book last night that he needed to study for a quiz.

We have only one car working right now so Trevor will be late to work this morning.

We have no cereal (did I mention I LOVE cereal!)

We didn't get to eat supper last night til after 8pm because I miss judged cooking time for a whole chicken. (AND, because I didn't realize what time it was!)

I just ate leftover spaghetti for breakfast because THERE IS NO CEREAL!!!!!

I won't have cereal til Friday because that is grocery day and we don't go to the store "just to pick up cereal" because we end up "just picking up" more than we should.

I wish we were having cereal at the Wednesday night supper at our church.

It is supposed to be taco salad with all the fixin's but I would just love some shredded wheat!!

Can someone in Va or NC be so kind to send me a nice care package with some cereal in it? I love you!!

I wish it were Friday.

I THINK I HAVE PASSED IT ON

The kids and I went to Goodwill today because we had an hour or so to kill before picking Mike up from school.

I was disappointed in the book selection and I didn't find anything worth buying~~~but Trevor did. He bought another Samsonite suitcase and a framed U2 poster that came from Deck the Walls in the mall.

The suitcase was for his friend Sarah because she loved the one he has.

I think the frame is worth more than the poster but it was half priced and something he wanted.

I like looking for good deals and I know that when I can't find one I should just walk away. That is exactly what I did today:~)

A note for myself~My friend Ginger conquered her fear this weekend~an answer to prayer!!!

US SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER

We had a good time at the Space and Rocket Center!!

I love this picture of my Honey and his two girls. They love their Daddy.

There were lots of cool rockets to see and the weather was just right.

They had rides and the girls loved this one. I wish you could hear Abby squealing her head off. They were giggling and laughing through the whole ride.

Mike took this picture and I thought it was neat.

We stayed for two nights instead of one. Trevor stayed home and enjoyed some time with his friends. The girls missed him terribly and called him to tell him EVERYTHING that was going on. I can't believe he will be 18 in just a little over a year. (WOW!!!!!)

The church Mike preached at was very nice and gracious. We were only going to spend Saturday night and come home last night. The Pastor there was very considerate and got the hotel room for two nights so that we could go back and rest after lunch. We decided to stay til this morning and we got up at 4am and drove home so Mike could go to class at 8am.

It was a nice little getaway.

SWEET HOME ALABAMA

Although Alabama is not my home we will be visiting her today:~)

Mike is going down to preach at his professor's church. We are also going to visit the Space Center thingy down in Huntsville. You know what that means, we are counting this day as a school day!!(Jessie, Theresa, and Julie~you all are feeling me on this one, aren't you?)

So, I will be out of town the rest of the weekend but pictures will be forthcoming on Monday.

One more quick note~ my sister is visiting for the week and we went out last night and had ourselves some girl time. I took her to some really swanky stores that we could hardly afford to buy a pencil in:~) We had a good time and ate burgers and fries.

Oh, and one more thing, the secret just can't be let out yet. (Becky~I told said person that you guessed so you are off the hook for knowing~~but keep it under your hat!! SSHHHH!!!!)

WHERE THE TELESCOPE ENDS, THE MICROSCOPE BEGINS AND WHO CAN SAY WHICH HAS THE WIDER VISION!!!*

*quote by Victor Hugo

We are ready to learn, learn, learn!!!!

We met some new friends~Jack, Charlie, Harry, and George. They were brothers and fun to be with!!

We looked at so many cool things!! The professor was wonderful to take time out of his busy schedule to teach our group lots of interesting facts for free. There were over 20 parents and kids and he was so patient~even with the little toddlers. It was a treat and my girls LOVED it. They were able to touch all the microscopes and feel free to experiment with the magnification. It was a great field trip.

HAPPY LOVE DAY!!!

Here is how we are spending this day of love:




I decorated with things we already had, and so, my expenses for Valentine's Day were low.

I only spent $8.00 and that was for candy for the girls' parties at Tutorial.

I found the tablecloth with Winnie the Pooh and Friends in a bag I got from a store that was going out of business. (It's a piece of fabric, it works!!)

The pan for the cupcakes I got here.

I like to use books that we already had to decorate the mantel. I sometimes use books from the library. I think I got the idea from here.

I got some sweet stuff from my Honey.

It has been a "lovely" day.

SNOW

We got snow this morning and now it is gone!

But, not before my kids went out and got wet and cold.

We were supposed to go on a field trip to learn about George Washington but it was called off.

Bummer!!

We have another field trip scheduled for Friday. You know~~the microscope field trip.

We will be very disappointed if this one doesn't happen. We had another microscope session this morning with Daddy.

SWEET THINGS

Here are two sweet things that made me smile today:

My youngest daughter in pink striped tights. I could absolutely eat her up in them!!!

The braids my oldest daughter asked me to put in her hair. I like to do her hair when she asks me to do it!!!

The weather has been quite yucky today but these two sweet things helped the day look brighter. I love having daughters!! (and a son:~)

IT LOOKS LIKE LITTLE SPIDERS

The girls and I are going on a field trip Wednesday. We will be learning about microscopes from a professor at a local well known University. Ahem~~ anyway, I have put books on hold at the library and talked about microscopes. Trevor in his ever consuming teenage world did not know about this field trip nor our study of them.

This morning he brings a box into the girl's room where I was and says nonchalantly, "Hey Mom, can I get rid of this?" I glance up from what I am doing and say, "Sure!!" Then I do a double take. There in that guy's hands was a microscope kit!!! Can I get a "God is good!!!"?

I grab that thing out of his hands and do a little hallelujah jig~~ and guess what we have been doing all morning~~looking at ear wax, snot, water, a grasshopper's abdomen, wings, and leg, cheek cells, etc.

Funny, how we forget what we have bought in the past~only to have it resurface when we need it most:~) What a blessing!!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEKEND

On Saturday, after the soccer evals, we went to Goodwill looking for some "frugal finds".

I found a cute Talbot black skirt for $3.99 and a sweet Wilton heart pan for .99. (I will be using it on Thursday for my Valentine)

Mike found two Big Bertha Callaway drivers for $2.99 a piece!! He can't wait to take them to the golf driving range.

Trevor found a set of "vintage" Samsonite luggage for $12 and a brand new Trivial Pursuit game for $3.99.

Yesterday, at church, we heard a great message from a visiting pastor. Pastor Mike is in Spain visiting our missionaries there.

Mike and I started our new positions as greeters today.

HERE WE GO~~~

*update~~We survived and the girls did pretty good during their evaluations. They were more concerned about what number would be on their jersey and what color it would be. Girls~~they are worried about the important things:~)

The girls are going to play soccer this spring. They have evaluations today.

This will be our first experience with any organized sports:~)

They have assured me they REALLY want to play. So, here we go!!

I'll let you all know how it goes;~)

JOY OF FREEDOM

I read this article by Andree Seu last night before going to bed.

It spoke to me on so many levels.

One passage that really spoke to me was~

"Plead with her from the light, and paint a picture of the joy of freedom, but she will block her ears and shut her eyes, for the light understands the darkness, but the darkness doesn't comprehend the light. But let us imagine better possibilities, things pertaining to salvation (Heb. 6:9) The woman receives unmerited favor from above. The light that has often tried to break in upon her, she one day sees and rather than refusing it again, seizes it. The hardest part is this first crossing of the great divide. She believes and surrenders to the love of the Trinitarian God. What she thought would kill her does not. "

These words were so powerful to me.

I can't say I have always painted a picture of the joy of freedom. Instead, I think I paint a picture of bondage way too often. I want to be living in the joy of freedom because I am free!! Free from all this world holds dear. Free to love without need. Christ fulfills all the needs in us if we let Him.

"Heaven has already begun. Already all our need are met, and we can love because we don't need. We can also have joy that is not hostage to another's insistence on misery. Already "the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining"(I John 2:8) Why wait another hour? " For freedom Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1)"

HALLELUJAH!! Thank you, Jesus!!!

*if you do not receive World magazine please consider subscribing. It is news through Biblical worldview and it is awesome.*

MY NEW FAVORITE GADGET

We went to a New Year's Day party at a friend's house and she had gotten a roaster for Christmas. She was cooking two chickens in it for the party. I had wondered whether it would be a good investment because, after all, I have a crock pot that I LOVE!

She said she loved her new roaster and thought it was real nice to cook in. I filed her comments in the back of my mind and went on enjoying the party.

We went to Target the next week to get the kitty litter we use.(Only Target sales it:~b) We were cruising the clearance end caps and Mike was looking at the waffle irons that we have yet to replace. Right across the aisle was the roasters. There were some on sale but none lower than $40 dollars. That was NOT in my price range.

We went around the corner and there on the end cap was a roaster with a little red tag on it. I bent down to look at it and it said $14.98!!!!! Oh my goodness, put it in the cart!! That IS in my price range!!

We took it to the register with our kitty litter and the cashier rang us up. The roaster rang up for $41.98. I pointed the clearance tag out to the clerk and said I thought that was the clearance price. She said, " That is what the tag says" and she changed the price in the register. I got that roaster for $14.98!!!

Mike and I were talking and we think someone made a mistake when they were tagging those roasters. The cashier said we get it for the price on the tag. The original price was $59.99!!!!!

I have cooked in it to take dinners to help minister to others. I have cooked in it to bless my family. Chicken and roast are delicious cooked in it and I had no idea you can bake in it. I just wanted to share this blessing I received and that I have been able to bless others with my blessing.

ALL NIGHTER

We had tornadoes ALL night last night.

I was up and down all night with tornado sirens and checking the weather. I talked to Mike at least 5 times because he has to go outside to get samples and because he is watching the weather.

Thankfully, we are all okay but our neighboring counties are not. You can read here about the closest devastation to us.

We are praying that everyone we go to Tutorial with is okay. Trevor goes to the orthodontist in Sumner County, that is how close we are. This county was just hit in '06 with a tornado and this one seems to be even worse than that one.

Please pray for the people from Memphis to East Tennessee. A lot of people have lost their loved ones. A lot of people lost their homes.

INSPIRED

One of my bestest friends from high school is getting into shape. She is doing a SUPER job.

I am so very proud of her. Through the trials she is having to face at this time she is still persevering to do what she needs to do.

WAY TO GO, BECKY!!!!

She has inspired me in so many ways. That is why I just did a 3 mile workout and I am now sitting down to eat steamed cauliflower. YUMMY!

Go tell her what a good job she is doing!!

BUT I WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL, MOM!!!

There are lots of tears here this afternoon. We have received a series of calls telling us they have called off Tutorial tomorrow.

There is a lot of sickness going around so they have decided to crush my girls by not having school:~)

Abby cried big, fat tears and said, "Why can't we go to school, Mommy? I want to go see Mrs. Caldwell." Oh, the sadness of it all.

Shelby is mad because she wanted to play with her "girls" and do more poetry.

Trevor, on the other hand, is NOT sad at all. His writing class is kicking his butt and he is glad that he will have a week of reprieve.

Anyway, I am off to dry tears and make things better with corn on the cob.(Abby's absolute favorite food in the whole entire world.)

SUNDAY

I have a little sick doodle bug. Abby has a nasty cold and she woke us up at 4 this morning. I gave her some fever reducer and rubbed Baby Vick's vapor rub on her feet. I accidentally got some between her toes because it was, after all, 4 in the morning.

She did not like this at all and has since decided to not let me come within 2 feet of her with the stuff. She says, "Mom, I do not like that stuff between my toes.

She and I stayed home from church because we are courteous that way. The whole 24 hours fever free has stuck with me from my wonderful days working daycare. Which I hated, by the way!!

This is what my daughters looked like yesterday while out doing errands. Their dad had pulled out the Disney memento tub and they wanted to wear their hats. It was funny because people thought we had just come back from Disney World and we didn't have the gumption to tell them we went almost a year ago. We just laughed to ourselves.





Which brings me to this picture. We were going to buy a picture frame at Disney to put one of our pictures in but we didn't. I had it in the back of my mind to get one sometime when we were at the Disney store but it never was a priority. I am glad we waited because my lovely husband found this one at the thrift store in mint condition for $3.99. People, this frame still had the Disney price tag on it and some poor soul paid a whopping $20.00 for it. Sad for them, happy for me that they decided to get rid of it. Maybe their trip wasn't all that remember able but our was. So thank you Mr. or Ms. Frame Donator. (BTW-donator is a word despite what my computer says!!)

I will leave you with this wonderful work of art. I found it on the camera and Shelby confessed that it was taken by Trevor. It looks like a flower to me and for some reason I like it. I am glad he took the initiative to photograph his apple peeling and apple wedging ability. Does he have too much time on his hands? No way!! His schedule is more full than mine:~) I think he just saw beauty where there was some. Shhh~~don't tell him I told you that. He might not take anymore pictures like this if I tell him it is pretty.


Oh, one more thing, this secret I mentioned here.

It's not about anyone being pregnant. It is about another life changing event but not that kind. I have to be quiet now. Very quiet.

Hope ya'lls Monday is fabuloso!!!