The View Out My Window

Anytime I look out the windows facing the back of our house, or coming down the street from taking the kids to school, I see the good old American flag waving above the houses. I can't help but think of my grandpa who was in WWII and my dad who was in Vietnam/Korea/Thailand, and the husband of my friend Tracey, who is on his way to war in Iraq. Whenever I try to talk to Tracey about it, I end up sounding like a blubbering fool. I just can't find the right words to express my thanks and gratitude and indebtedness for the sacrifice she and her husband are making for me and my family. Tracey, I'm praying for you, your kids, and your beloved sergeant. Many many prayers, not just from our family, but from millions of people all across the country, are going with him!

If Cartoons Got Saved

After reading Sarah's post over at Life in the Parsonage where she mentioned her son prays for his favorite cartoons, I thought of this really cute song and just thought I'd share it, heehee!

Little Bunny Foo-Foo

Okay, most of us grew up learning that song in elementary school. You know how it goes, Little B-F-F goes hopping along, scoops up field mice and bops them on the head. Little bully. But down comes the fairy and she says, "Little Bunny Foo-Foo I don't want to see you scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head. I'll give you two more chances, and if you don't stop, I'll turn you into a GOON!"

Okay, so that last part with the chances and turning into a goon, there are probably all kinds of variations of that part. But I wanted to share with you what I just now heard Ethan singing while he was sitting at the table eating some little foil-covered chocolate bunnies, marching them across the table. His exact words:

"Little Bunny Foo-Foo Hopping through the forest, scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head. Along came the fairy and she said, 'WHAT?! You're still doing that??? If you keep it up you're going to JAIL!"

And then Ethan gobbled up the unwrapped bunny he was marching across the table.

Somebody Got Stuck In The Toy Box

Heehee!

Another Question Answered!

I always get kind of nervous posting Biblical/Scriptural/God stuff because I'm still learning and still have a LOT to learn, but I get those "a-ha! moments" and think it's just so wonderful that I want to tell the world about it! So, if I misunderstand something, or say it wrong, I'd love to be gently corrected!

Anyway...

I love love love when this happens. Another question answered! For the past couple weeks (really since I've started that Isaiah Bible study) I've been thinking about holiness. I see a lot of Mennonite and Amish women here, and I do admire that they don't conform to the world. And I had been wondering if they are holier than me. I've been wondering what it means/looks like to be holy. I know "holy" means to be "set apart." So that's why I was wondering if those ladies were holier, because they are definitely setting themselves apart. Just this morning I was even talking to Heth about it.

Well, right now I'm doing my Isaiah homework, and I tell you what, Kay Arthur took us to Colossians 3:5. (Remember I'm studying ISAIAH, not Colossians)

BINGO!!! The whole chapter is about holy living!!! I LOVE it when that happens!

As I sit here trying to type out vs. 5 I realize that the whole chapter, chapter 3, says it all. Not just verse 5. I'll list it out. Put to death whatever belongs to my earthly nature (oh man!) like: sexual immorality; impurity; lust; evil desires and greed; anger; rage; malice; slander; filthy language; lying to each other; since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed inknowledge in the image of its Creator. There is no Grekk or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. (that was a sort of summary of verses 5-11).

But I really love this part (quoting the rest of Colossians 3:12-17 and by the way those italics are my own emphasis because those are parts that really really speak to me),

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Oh man, I need to read all that every day many many times a day. Maybe I should copy it down and tape it all over the house, like on my bathroom mirror, near the kitchen sink, on the T.V. and computer for sure.

Anyway, I just love it when God answers my questions like that.

So going back to those Amish and Mennonite women. Are they holier than me? Only God knows what's in their hearts. I need to quit comparing myself to them and listen to what God is telling me and DO IT. Oh man I know I'll mess up, and I'm so thankful that my salvation does not depend on living a perfect life. But how awesome it is to hear the Word, believe it, and let it change my life. I hope I said that right, I hope that makes sense...I hope you know what I mean.

Easter Excitement!

I'm so excited! Tomorrow is Easter! I've been whistling "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" all day today. And "Praise Adonai" too. But anyway, I just got back from the store. I bought all the groceries for Easter dinner tomorrow. Remember when I made my first Thanksgiving dinner last fall? I'm rearin' to go for Easter. Going to try a couple new things like cherry sauce with our ham and a sweet potato dish with apples baked in it. Yum!

On the drive home from the store I got to thinking about how our families are so far away, and we'd be celebrating without them. They'd be celebrating without us. I started feeling a little homesick but then caught myself imagining Emily being old enough to help me with the cooking. I can't wait for that, me and Emmy in the kitchen together. Now my boys are old enough and could help me, too. That'd be just as precious. But they'd rather play than cook. And that's okay. Maybe Emmy won't want to help in the kitchen, either. I sure didn't when I was a kid. I would have rather been out shooting baskets or something.

So tomorrow we'll go to church at the E Free church we've been visiting. It's the same one I've been going to for precepts. It's huge, over a thousand people, so I imagine the music will be quite spectacular. I always get emotional over the music. It's just the way I respond. Some people raise their hands, others call out "Amen!" but me, tears. I always try to hide them though, because I don't want people to think something's wrong. It just comes over me. But in a congregation of well over 1,000 people, I can't imagine anyone noticing. That's when it's nice to just blend in with the crowd.

I hope you all have a beautiful Easter Sunday tomorrow, filled with thanks and awe for all Jesus has done for us!

Sunshiny Day

It's a bright sun-shiny day today, and as you can see we are still in our jammies. I love days like that. The kids have been out of school most of the week for Spring Break, and so we've been keeping busy with the Wii, building forts, playing with the neighbor boy, and Ethan even made it to a birthday party last night. Right now, the boys are chiseling away at a hunk of fossilized dinosaur poo from a dinosaur kit of Owen's.




It's not real poo. I imagine that would be very hard to find. Here are a few treasures they dug up.


And here's what I'll be doing today...

*sigh* I've been putting it off all week since Eric has been out of town. He comes home tonight, so I better get busy...

Emily Leaves Her Mark

Ethan thinks it's funny to put his finger in Emily's mouth so she'll bite it. Today he learned his lesson. He was playing with her on the floor, and she reached over and bit him on the cheek. I was telling Heth about it, and she directed me to this really cute video. I hope I got it to work!

Taming My Tongue

I joined a Bible study, and I'm really excited about it. It's a precepts study by Kay Arthur, and it's on the book of Isaiah. Each day I do as much cleaning as I can in the morning, because after I take Ethan to afternoon kindergarten, I put Emily down for a nap. And then, it's just me and God. I love it and really look forward to my quiet time with Him.

Yesterday my lesson really spoke to me. I'm on Isaiah 6, the chapter where Isaiah sees God sitting on a throne with the train of His robe filling the temple. Isaiah says, "Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."

That unclean lips part really hit me. And I learned a lot about what my lips have to do with sin. I learned that out of the overflow of my heart my mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34b). The things that come from my mouth come from my heart (Matthew 15:18). Anytime I gossip, exaggerate the truth, use a nasty tone with my kids or husband, what does that say about my heart? And what does that say about how I feel about God?

Now, Isaiah had seen the Lord. He knew that because of his sin he should die. But Isaiah recognized his sin and confessed it, so God forgave him.

God knows that I am not perfect. His Word says, "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check (James 3:2)." I recognize that the things I say and the way that I say them reflects what's in my heart and can be hurtful to others. I want Jesus to live in me and the words I say to be good and bring life. So I ask the Lord to forgive me, to come into my heart, and help me tame my tongue. I have a feeling He is saying, "Why Andrea, I'd be delighted!." Because I also learned that I'm His beloved.

Wow I love this Bible study!

Woohoo!

Emily went to sleep WITHOUT THE BINKY! (pacifier)

*happy dance*

Colors

This was fun! I saw it on PJ's blog.



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Happy Birthday Ethan!

My baby boy turned six today!

Per Eric's begging and pleading, we celebrated at Chuck E. Cheese's...

A little boy named Chris hopped over to our table to ask Ethan and Owen to play. When I explained that Ethan was about to open his presents, Chris asked if he could watch. I thought it was sweet. Even though they had only met four seconds prior to present time, Ethan was able to have a friend celebrate with him. The boys played with Chris the rest of the time we were there. What a sweetie.

Happy Birthday, Ethan! I love you, my precious boy!

I'd like to introduce you to a new friend...

If you are like me and prefer that your coffee not taste like coffee, then I highly recommend this! It tastes like a cherry-flavored tootsie pop! Yum!

Good Ol' Dad

Owen and Emily are both sick. Owen's doing much better now with the antibiotics, and I'm keeping a close watch on Emily. The moment she gets a fever I'll take her in. But maybe it won't get to that point.

But anyway, after supper tonite I was thinking that I wanted to take the kids' temps before bed. I still have a mercury thermometer which I feel is more accurate than our ear thermometer. I use that on Owen because he's old enough to hold it under his tongue and not break it. But for Emily and Ethan I use the ear one.

Thinking about all that triggered the memory of a story my mom told about my dad from when my brother and I were little kids. Dad is just like me, a chapstick addict. He must have been out of chapstick and used the Vaseline as a substitute. Do you see where this is going?

One day he came walking out to the room Mom was in as he was carrying the little jar of Vaseline. I can totally see my dad holding the jar and rubbing the Vaseline on his lips as he asks, "Why are there so many little holes in the Vaseline?" And my mom's reply?

"I always dip the thermometer in the Vaseline before I take the kids' temperatures." (We were little, Mom took our temp rectally because they hadn't invented digital thermometers yet.)

Imagine Dad's reaction to the knowledge that before the thermometer was placed in our little rears, it was plunged into that very jar of Vaseline he was smothering all over his lips. Of course, Mom thoroughly cleaned and sterilized the thermometer each time with alcohol after taking our temps, but still it is kind of gross. I suppose she didn't use that Vaseline for anything else, and she probably didn't even think about poor dad using it as lip balm.

It STILL makes me laugh!

Small World

It's such a small world. I love it when things like this happen. Owen has strep throat again (that's not the cool part). He had all his "signature symptoms" and so I took him in. When the doctor was ready to write the prescription I explained that Owen does better with pills rather than liquids or chewies (for some reason they make him gag and then he throws up. Poor buddy!).

Anyway, the doctor prescribed amoxicillin caplets and explained the dosage which I was pretty familiar with. The only thing is, I did not agree with the prescription this time. It seemed way way too high. I explained that and then when it was all said and done decided to just trust the doctor because I am not a doctor myself. But when I got home, I still called my mom, left a message with Patty, and researched on the internet. It just wasn't settling with me. The internet was telling me this doctor's dosage was way way way too high, like double that of an adult.

Here's the cool part.

I decided to call the clinic where my kids went to before all this moving started. I loved that doctor and her nurse, I trust them completely and miss them TERRIBLY. But I wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do, since my kids haven't been patients there for two years, well, one year and 3 months. But I still called.

I explained my dilemma to the receptionist and even asked her if it was appropriate for me to call since we aren't patients anymore, but she said she'd try and see if anyone was available. I was put on hold, and then someone picked up the line. I asked if she was a nurse. She said she was a registered nurse. I explained that my name is (first name last name) and my son Owen was a patient there until we moved.

She interrupted me and asked if I was the same (first name last name) that taught at (name of school). I said, 'Yessss...." And she said, "I'm (name of daughter)'s mom! You had my daughter in second grade, as a matter of fact in the very same year you had Owen!!" I completely remembered her!

It was so cool! What a small world! It was so nice to talk to her. I had her daughter when she was in second grade. Now she is in TENTH grade! Oh man that makes me feel old. Not really.

But anyway, what a cool deal. And, I found out that even though this whole prescription thing was not how our former doctor would have done it, it still won't hurt Owen. Whew!

The really best part is that by this time tomorrow, my Owen will be feeling a gazillion times better.

Pampered Chef Saves The Day

Yay! You know those brown scrapers that come with any Pampered Chef stoneware? Well, I used on of those on the plasticky stuff stuck to my stove top. It did the trick! :)

Big Mistake

I messed up. I have a smooth-top stove and set a plastic measuring cup on one of the burners while it was still hot. Some of the plastic melted onto the burner and has hardened now that the burner is cooled. Is there any way to get the hardened plastic off? Or is it now a permanent part of my stove? I'm afraid to use that burner in case the plastic melts again. Any ideas or suggestions?

It's the Phone

I was on the phone with Patty and Emily was whiny, so I grabbed a cookie and gave her a bite. As she walked away from me, I just kind of ate the rest of the cookie. Soon she was back, whining. I was still on the phone so I grabbed another cookie, gave her a bite, and off she went. Of course I finished that cookie, too. Do you know that during my telephone conversation with Patty I ended up eating SEVEN cookies from Emily's whine-take a bite-wander off routine? But it was great talking to Patty!

Which reminds me, I was having a nice conversation with Vicki yesterday while driving to town to do some shopping. It's a good 30-minute drive, and the last time I tried to drive it by myself I got miserably lost. And I was even paying very good attention. Well, I'm happy to say that this time I did not get lost at all! I reached my destination smoothly and in great time, even while talking on my cell phone and not really paying attention to where I was going.

Did they pass that law here that says you get a ticket with a really high fine if caught talking on your cell while driving? I better find out...