Baby #4

Sorry the pictures are a little blurry, but I think the point comes across pretty clearly.

Twiggy saw the picture and exclaimed in horror, "She looks like a duck!"

The Power of the Cross

I have been coveting a certain CD ever since it came out, which wasn't really very long ago, but thanks to Jason and Andrea (thank you!) I now have it. I love the words one song in particular, but by the looks of it, all the songs are wonderful. Enough of my typing, I'll let their words speak for themselves:

The Power of the Cross by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

(Refrain)
This, the power of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath--
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Every bitter thought,
Every evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees:
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life:
"Finished!" the victory cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

(Final refrain)
This, the power of the cross:
Son of God--slain for us
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross!

God In Good and Bad

Many of you "Camp Chetekies" may remember Pastor Leigh Crockett from camp, and I'm sure that many of you have also heard this story. I love stories like this where even doctors will say that this is nothing short of a miracle. One thing is for sure, we have an amazing Creator! I pray that I will continue to praise Him, not only on the mountain tops, but also in the valleys.

"...but He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Fot the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

We love you, Daddy!

Okay, I know their season is long past, but I had to post this while Paul was unsuspecting.



Just for the record, Twiggy said, "Let's take a picture for Daddy!"

We love you, Daddy!

Rocky the Cowboy

This is how Rocky rides horseback (or Daddy-back in this case).

A Must Read!

I highly recommend the book, "The Heart of Anger" by Lou Priolo to anyone who has children-- regardless of age--or is planning on having children, or if you know of any children who could use some biblical discipline (excluding mine because I'm already reading the book : )). I am reading it right now and...well, for lack of better words, "it will lay you flat" as a parent. The book centers around Ephesians 6:4 where God commands, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." The author addresses the "thoughts and intents of the heart," not only of angry children, but also of their parents.

It's chapters include:

Angry Kids
Provocative Parents
Angry Attitudes
Discipline: What It Really Means
Practical Biblical Communication
Journaling: A Helpful Tool
What's at the Heart of Anger?
Getting Anger Problems Right
Disrespect and Manipulation
Conquering Disrespect and Manipulation
The Think Room
The Appeal Process
A Good Investment

Lest I say too much, I'm signing out now. Enjoy the book (okay, maybe enjoy is not the right word)!

This and That

Here's some pics of the children from this, the first day of February. I love February because it's one month closer to warm weather. Anyhoo, the kids are really big into wrestling these days, especially with Daddy, but when he's not here they are more than willing to tackle each other.

Here's Twiggy giving you her best smile.

That's all for now.
BTW, my husband has offically entered the blogging world
with his first post below.

 

Proverbs As Told By Children

I found this online and read it to the teens in our church last night. Bill Cosby must have spent some time talking to these kids!

A first grade teacher collected old, well known proverbs. She gave each kid in her class the first half of a proverb, and had them come up with the rest. Here's a sampling:

As you shall make your bed so shall you...mess it up.

Better to be safe than...punch a 5th grader.

It's always darkest before...daylight savings time.

You can lead a horse to water but...how?

Don't bite the hand that...looks dirty.

A miss is as good as a...Mr.

You can't teach an old dog new...math.

An idle mind is...the best way to relax.

Where there's smoke there's...pollution.

If at first you don't succeed...get new batteries.

You get out of something what...you see pictured on the box.

I'm It!!

I've been tagged by fannie (by the way, you need to go read her Jan. 28th post--hilarious)!!

...sooo, five little known facts about me...hmmm....

1. I used to cry when my twin brother was getting his immunization shots, not because I felt bad for him, but because
I knew I was next.

2. I HATE to be tickled!!! Paul asks me, "Then why do you laugh?" Can you not laugh when your being tickled??? He now knows that if he tickles me, my wrath is upon him. He doesn't want to see that.

3. I used to pick gum up off the mall floor and eat it (hey, when you're little, gum is a treat and you get it any way you can--at least I did)!

4. When I was in junior high I loved the name "Kiki" and was determined that it would be the name of one of my daughters some day.

5. I love the taste and smell of bubblegum-flavored Amoxicillin (not to worry, I have not taken any from my kids nor have I stolen any from work).

There's the fun and exciting list. If I can catch them, I tag Jen, Banana, Michells2000 and Stacy O.

Yes or No?

This actually happened a couple of nights ago when the teens in our church took Paul's challenge and memorized the passage of scripture he had given them. Each teen took a turn shaving a part of his head (of course, I forgot my camera for the actual head-shaving process). So here is the end result...is it a look he should keep?

 

Computers

We got a new computer!! It came today....stay tuned.... ; )

Barber shop

What an eventful morning we've had! While I was sick and in the bathroom, Daisy was busy playing barber shop! The long strand you see on the left used to belong to Twiggy and the jumbled up hairball was once attached to the top of Daisy's head...couldn't collect enough of Rocky's as it was scattered all over the room.

 

Seven years ago today...

...I married the man I love. I remember that the temperature was in th 70's and I was so nervous until my dad spanked me on the rear in front of 200+ people! I am so thankful that the Lord has given us seven very good years together. I'm thankful now for the many "discussions" we have had that the Lord has used to draw us closer to eachother and closer to Him. I am thankful for the three children (plus the one on the way ; ) ) that the Lord has blessed us with. I love you, Paul, and there is no one I'd rather spend my life with than you!


 

Oh BROTHER!!!

Why is it that no one had to teach Rocky how to do this???

Snow Day

This morning we looked out the window to find that snow was not only falling to the ground, but sticking there. So we took a recess from school to go out and enjoy the snow (Recess is very important, or so Twiggy tells me nearly every day). We are not quite yet prepared for snow so we made due with what we had; Daisy wore mittens that were too big for her, Rocky wore socks for mittens, and all three kids wore their tennis shoes. Pictured below is Twiggy with a good friend while Daisy is "looking on" (hee hee) in the background (I've always wanted to write that).

Rocky is such a little outdoorsmen. He often stands at the back door saying, "'side!....'side!..." because he wants to be outside almost all the time--no matter what the weather.

I love how kids appreciate the things in life that we as adults take for granted. I am reminded that the excitement and awe my children show about God's creation is the excitement and awe He desires from His children when we see and know Him!

Birthdays!

Here's to a Happy 76th birthday to my grandpa.
Here is a picture of him now...

...and below is a picture of him when he was in his twenties.
He hasn't changed a whole lot has he?

Also, happy birthday to my future sister-in-law, Andrea!
Hope you have a wonderful day,
I'm just sorry you have to share it with a chicken!!!

I love you both!

Longing

The woman in our Bible study today echoed what I am feeling...I'm looking forward to having a new body that is not marred by sin in heaven, but I so much long for the day when my heart is totally pure! I'm looking forward to the day that I no longer have the feelings of jealousy, anger, spite, hatred, self-righteousness, etc, etc, etc...

Things I've done...

I got this off of Froggy's bloggy. I tried to do this when I got home from work at 3 o' clock this morning, but I was laughing so hard, I decided to wait until I had had a little sleep--now I have no idea what I found so funny! *Arg!* Well, if there is anyone out there who has not done this, just cut and paste and don't laugh too hard!

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe: I was in Europe and had a backpack with me.
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites: in Spain
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie: does the one where I died "falling" down the hill count???
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently: EYYY YOU!!!!!!!!
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children - still raising!
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking: every day--my poor children
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart: Not something I'm proud of!
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach: accidentally
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

"Taste of the 50's"

Last night was "Taste of the 50's" night at our church so we decided to dress for the decade. The girls loved their poodle skirts that I made for them (they look pretty good if you don't get too close) because they twirl out so far when you spin. The gym was set up to be "Mel's diner" where a waiter or waitress would come to our table and take our order for supper.


We also enjoyed a talent show after dinner. Twiggy, Daisy, and cousin Bird were the "Teacups" singing, "I'm a Little Teapot"--sorry--no pictures are available of their act bacause the camera batteries went dead on us. But you can see from the pictures below that even the kids thoroughly enjoyed the show. NC said that Rocky clapped the hardest when the quartet that I was in sang, "Chapel of Love". I guess we have one fan anyways!



We had a really good time last evening! It brought back memories of the New Year's Eve talent show we had at church when I was junior high! 

Remembering...

To my friends Sarah and Jeremy

We are remembering Nathan today and praying for you!

I love you!