Motherhood Photo Contest Entry

I just found the site I Heart Faces on their Facebook page, and I'm excited about their tutorials!  I couldn't resist this week's competition theme of Motherhood though!  Credit to my sneaky husband Scott for snapping the pic of me and newborn S2 w/ my camera!

Click the button below to see some more contest entries!

Gitcher Boots! It's Time!

Something in me gets excited during the beginning of January.  No, it's not the dawn of the new year, and it's definitely not the dreary, cold, and rainy weather that inevitably comes during the second week of January. 

It's the thought of pulling on some cowboy boots with a destination in mind, and in a weird sort of way, it's also the memories of a specific smell.  Etched in my mind's nose (?) is a combination bovine, porcine, ovine, galline, caprine, equine aroma complete with their feed and other (generally unpleasant yet strangely comforting) smells.

It's time for the Junior Livestock Show!!!

Having raised lambs for show and sale in middle school, I can't help but get excited about taking my own kiddos to experience the sights, sounds, and smells up close.  While there's part of me that loves the city, I don't ever want to lose my country roots! 

When He Whispers

Things have been really tight.  My political/economical soapbox will not make an appearance here, but let's just say that we're feeling the squeeze much like many others are.

We've experienced this in the past once or a couple of times, with unwise spending or with medical bills, but when you know you've practiced self control and it still happens, there's a helpless feeling that can be difficult to shake.

I had to make a conscious decision the other day not to wallow or despair.  That's when a little verse popped into my mind... I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content... (something something something) in abundance and in need, I can do all things through Christ...

Wild how the Holy Spirit can whisper a verse back into your mind that you memorized a long time ago, even though it is against your very nature to be in automatic Spiritual Response mode.

So, I dragged myself to the Word and decided that I needed to get some context on that verse.  Over time, I've learned a couple of things about God's Word:

• All Scripture is straight from God, and it's useful in every aspect of life.  
• Every part of Scripture is a message originally written to a specific audience for a specific purpose.  The undergirding principles in that message are of ultimate importance for me today, regardless of whether the original audience is "outdated" or the situation is foreign to me.
• If I don't read before and after a verse, I might misunderstand it.
• If I don't get that surrounding context, I might be tempted to twist it to apply to my situation, when it really doesn't.

Here's what I read:

written by Paul to the group of believers in Philippi (modern day Greece near Turkey)  
Philippians chapter 4, verse 4 and following

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Ouch.  I wasn't rejoicing always.  I was being unreasonable and anxious.  However, WOW.  The Lord is at hand.  I can take my concerns to Him instead of being anxious.  Because Christ has redeemed me, He gives me unfathomable peace in exchange, which will guide my heart and mind.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Ok.  That's what I need to be thinking about instead of having a pity party. This will be so much more easy with that unfathomable peace that guards my mind.  God is with me.

God's Provision

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Financial abundance does not necessarily indicate God's approval or blessing, nor does lack of money mean that God disapproves.  Paul had seasons of both as he faithfully lived out God's call on his life. 

14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Verses from the ESV Study Bible

That's it.  Because I'm in Christ, my needs will be taken care of.  For His glory.

I wanted to believe that.  I do believe that, in an abstract way.  I choose to trust.


Then He whispered again.

Something I had done a few days prior that popped back up again without warning.  I discovered our neighbors' 3 schnauzers out one afternoon because their garage door was left open by accident when they left for work.  We don't know our neighbors well, but I wrangled the dogs back into the garage, and managed to shut the door without them getting out.  I told them that evening about putting their dogs back, but that I wasn't sure if their belongings in the garage had been affected or taken during the time period before I came home.  (They have a really nice car that was in the garage also and was still there). The neighbor thanked me profusely for helping rescue the dogs.  I went home.

Within half an hour of reading Philippians (above) and deciding I would choose to be a doer of what I read instead of reading and forgetting, there was a knock on the door.  I don't like answering the door when Scott's not home, but when they wouldn't go away, I answered.  It was my neighbor and her husband.  This is why they came over:

A week's worth of groceries and a toy dog for my kids in thanks for something I thought was inconsequential and just something neighbors do for each other.  It was my turn for profuse thanksgiving, both to the neighbors...

and to my Lord, who whispered a tiny little concrete reminder that The God of Peace is near to those who follow Him.

I'm thankful for this time of frugality.  This required simplicity will teach me to not be attached to material things.  It has already opened a door to get to know our neighbors better.  I choose to rejoice and eagerly learn whatever else the Lord will teach us during this season of our lives.

In the interest of full disclosure...

This...

is why I should not be blogging right now.

Just keepin' it real.

In Stitches

I have a little thing I've been working on... my embroidery machine!

I received it as a birthday gift from my parents one year, and I've taken to tinkering with it recently...

It's fun to see how a computer graphic or professional embroidery design can become a tangible embellishment with relative ease.  I've resurrected the little "business" that I started back in Missouri with my friend Alisa, and now Little Lamm Designs is a little embroidery and gift boutique online via Facebook and the indie crafters marketplace Etsy.

If you're curious, here are some examples of designs I can sew:

You can find a pretty thorough catalog of my designs here, and there are a few products for sale here.  The coolest part is that I can digitize most computer graphics as well as add text and monograms on anything that can fit in my embroidery hoops.

On a side note, I'm looking into making embroidered patches as well! 

D to the C, part deux

(Click for a full-size version of the picture)
I LOVE when we fly somewhere and I can see and identify the scenery below! As we skirted the DC area on our way to Baltimore, I was able to snap this pic.
Look center-left for the Washington Monument, go horizontally to the right along the Mall, and you can see the Capitol Building and Dome about 2/3 of the way across the pic on the right.



We took Anna's "Little Monkey" with us and sent the kids some photo-texts throughout our trip to keep them involved. Here is Little Monkey on our Peanuts Flight (the seatbelts light was off...)
From Baltimore, we caught an Amtrak train.

The train system is pretty efficient here, but for some reason our train was delayed for nearly an hour! We didn't mind waiting, though, because after 90+ degree Texas weather, the 75+ degree Baltimore breeziness was quite a delight! The quick 30 min train ride seemed so much shorter after the wait.
(The other alternatives were the regional train- not as reliable or fast -, the taxi - expensive and slower, rented car - ditto, or the superfast Acela train, which was a GREAT option had we not been on a budget)

We arrived at Union Station to meet our friend Nate. I LOVE the architecture of this building.

Union Station has a lot of great shoppes and a pretty decent food court, so we grabbed a bite to eat before Nate took us for a drive.

D to the C, part 1

Knowing that our anniversary would take place close to my travel restriction point of pregnancy, we scheduled a fun trip for a few weeks prior.

Scott knew that I would love to visit our nation's Capitol, and since he had only been there once before (and hadn't paid a lot of attention, hee hee), he suggested that we go there on our trip. I heartily agreed! What a great suggestion!

We flew "for peanuts" to Baltimore, caught a train, then met our good friend Nate, who generously had us stay with him and his family in a D.C. suburb.

The best part of the trip (for me) was that, having visited there before, we were not under time pressure to see everything that there was to see quickly. We got to take our time, meet up with people, and just enjoy ourselves. (Scott would tell you he's glad that I was 6 1/2 months pregnant, since it slowed me down a little) :)

Scott's favorite part of the trip (first impression-wise) was the Dyson Air Blade hand dryer we encountered while enjoying a delicious meal in Chinatown one night. Yes, that's right, a hand dryer. Wanna see it?
On a way less superficial level, I think he'd tell you honestly that he thoroughly enjoyed the trip for the same reasons I did, but I will tell you he researched the Air Blade possibilities for our church when he came back! :)

We definitely decided that we'd have to do the trip again before long, and would love to take our kiddos with us the next time around! Huge thanks to Mimi for keeping them that week!

In future installments of D to the C, I'll show you some cool pics of things we saw!

Another reason why I'm Pro-Life...

For the non-ultrasound-aware, view the pic above with this in mind: imagine the baby lying on its back with the head on your right and feet on your left, looking up and to your left. The feet are not really visible in this shot, but the large semi-white oval at mid-left is the belly. The bright white portions of the face are (l-r) the facial bones of the jaw area, the nose, and the forehead.

We are blessed to announce (to the blogosphere, at least, since many of you already know) that God has given us an addition to our family! I am 14 weeks pregnant and am already planning ways to beat the heat of summer here as we eagerly await our end of August due date!

As early as 3 weeks after I officially found out we were expecting, our first ultrasound showed a tiny little heart beating. Many moms-to-be don't even realize they are pregnant at this point, and already the heart is pumping blood throughout the developing baby! At the time of the above ultrasound, our baby was 11 weeks old and already at least 1.5 inches from top of the head to rump, and baby's little fingers and toes were already fully formed. We actually caught BabyMac sucking on a thumb or finger.

We hope, if BabyMac isn't too modest, to find out what we're having in just a few weeks! Yippee!
I plan to add a cute ticker soon to the blog and will keep you informed as we have more info!

--------------------------------------------------

**Note, my laptop has met an untimely end! Thanks to our dear (and recently married) friend, Barron, I look forward to recuperating my files from it, but I've been away for too long. I'm commandeering Scott's work laptop for now, but I plan on catching up soon! Look forward to more pics, biopics, McDonaldSpot acoustics, perhaps some aesthetics, and only a little politics soon!

Tag or Treat?

I've been tagged by Jodi, and I thought as a fall treat that I'd participate. :) Here we go:

Rules: Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people & posts their names, then goes to their blog & leaves them a comment letting them know that they have been tagged & asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.

10 YEARS AGO I...
1. was getting ready to student teach Kinder and 4th grade
2. was counting down 7 months until our wedding.
3. was likely at an Aggie Football game during a great year for the Aggies. We had just defeated number 1 Nebraska at home.
4. was very involved serving at my church.
5. had my little sis and my friend Brooke as roomies.


5 THINGS ON TODAY'S TO DO LIST...
1. Go to the gym!
2. Catch up on laundry.
3. Spend a little time at the church to make sure things are ready for the weekend.
4. Clean a little.
5. Take Tigger and SpiderMan to Mimi and Pawpaw's to avoid local trick-or-treaters and have some fun in the country.


5 THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE...
1. Give to our church and to several other ministries I wish I could support.
2. Dump a ton into college funds for the kiddos
3. Pay off our mortgage. ick.
4. Replace our flooring.
5. Take a real vacation.


5 PLACES I HAVE LIVED...
1. Corpus Christi, TX
2. College Station, TX
3. Carrollton, TX
4. Dallas, TX
5. Ozark, Missouri


5 JOBS I HAVE HAD...
1. Tractor Driver/ Heavy Machinery operator / Farm Office Manager
2. I worked in the media center some in college – responsible for setting up microphones, projectors, etc. for professors. Boy, technology has changed in the last 13 years.
3. Taught school: 4th grade, ESL Pre-K (8 languages represented!?! Good thing I only had to understand English), Kindergarten
4. Preschool Ministry Assistant (Assistant Regional Manager -- NO, Assistant (to the) Regional Manager)
5. My fave…a Mommy!!!


Okay, now I’m tagging 5 people…Stacey, Tiffany, Brittany, Kristen, and Mandi

*nine*

Here I am, two months behind on posting, but I couldn't pass up the momentous occasion that happened on our road trip:

Our 9 year anniversary!

Scott and I got to celebrate by spending the day in Tyler while Nanny and Dandy kept the kids. (This was prior to heading to Missouri). We got to eat good Mexican food at Mercados, and oddly enough, we went shopping so I could have something to wear for the Missouri wedding. How patient of Scott to (suggest that we) spend our time away doing one of the things he least enjoys! I'm grateful! :)

I thank the Lord always for His provision of a husband who has devoted his life to glorify God. He does so in the way he leads our family, the way he parents our kiddos, the way he loves me, and the way he is teachable when the Lord is working on an area of his life. I'm grateful that the Lord is daily shaping us for ministry. I'm looking forward to the many years ahead in which I'm privileged to serve alongside, support, and show love to Scott!

Here are some pre-1999 old-school pics to bring back some memories...

Constant Awe, Weighty Responsibility

I can't fully express the awe, excitement, joy, and gratitude I feel when I get yet another glimpse of how from the beginning of time, God has had a purpose in everything and how everything in Scripture points to Jesus and our need for Him. Whether that be the need for a Savior to restore what was lost when Adam and Eve sinned, the prophecy statements in Isaiah that Jesus fulfilled to the "t", or the symbolic example set by Jonah -- three days in the depths, then coming back to live anew, every story whispers His name.

I love the big picture of God's plan. I've recently studied about the Promised Land (linked to in previous post), and I read through Deuteronomy to get some context. There were the Hebrew people, poised (for the second time) to enter the land God had promised them . They had been there once before, but because they didn't have the faith to enter the wonderful land due to its formidable people, they were punished with years of wandering.

Now, at the Jordan River opposite Jericho, Moses stopped the people for some important words. The book of Deuteronomy (Greek deuteronomium = second law) is named for what Moses did there: he recounted the law God had given their parents' generation and reminded them of everything the Lord had done for their people. The new generation that would be entering the land (minus their faith-less parents who died during the wandering) must know Who gave them the land, His love for them as His chosen people, the necessity of obedience to His laws, and the consequences that would definitely come if they disobeyed. It was really a first-things-first situation. They had to be reminded in order to fully appreciate what was about to happen: God's faithfulness, provision, and protection.

The Hebrews went on to conquer the very peoples that their parents' generation had feared. Many of the battles were won without much effort on their part, because God led the way and showed His glory. Obedience led to victory and blessing. Disobedience led to failure and deaths at the worst, and assimilation in to a culture that worshiped other gods at the least (maybe that was the worst). The book of Joshua recounts this process of the Israelites possessing the land.

The people had been faithful to the Lord for the time of Joshua's leadership and the elders' leadership during that time. Then we reach the book of Judges.

In the first chapter we see that the tribe of Benjamin refuses to drive out the people in their territory. Assimilation begins. In chapter 2, we learn that enough time has passed for that faithful generation to pass away. Here's the disheartening part:

2:10

And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.

2:11

And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals.

2:12

And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger.

The remainder of the account in Judges shows the downward spiral of God's people, as God brought a Judge to bring them out of disobedience to faithfulness, they obeyed for a while and prospered, and then they began to worship other gods again.

What caused this?

There arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work He had done for Israel.

Thus the weighty responsibility:
to teach our children faithfully. To recount to them how God has moved throughout history and also personally in our lives. That's a hard thing to do! It doesn't come naturally to me to speak of spiritual things face-to-face with people. Is it the fear of being hyper-spiritual? Is it lack of gratitude or recognition of God working in everything? I hope not! But how convicting that blogging is another situation entirely for some reason. I pray that the Lord will guide me in making daily talk about Him a more consistent part of our family's life together. I pray that He'll give me boldness to make every moment a teachable one, that perhaps the Holy Spirit will use me to awaken their hearts to the One who can free them from the entrapment and despair of our sinfulness.

but there's a tangent to that...
to share Truth with others. After all, we can see evidences now that faith is much less important these days. Scratch that... religion and "spirituality" are important, but very relative and often composed of a mish-mash of different belief systems. I'm praying that I'll be bold enough to speak openly of the difference Christ makes. Not to make converts; rather, so that no one has to live life without a relationship with the One who made them, that life can be more than just "hopeful". Instead it can be one of true hope: a guaranteed hope you can "take to the bank." The promise is that we can be freed of our inability to measure up to God's standard if we'll accept that Christ sacrificed himself to pay our penalty for sin -- that giving our lives over to Him is actually freeing and allows us to live abundantly and bring Him glory. I worry sometimes that when I am bold enough, I don't communicate effectively. Yet the urgency of making sure that current generations know the Lord makes me want to combat that worry and trust that the Lord can use even my flawed communication for His glory.

I'm tempted to apologize for a lengthy post, but I'll stop myself and be reminded that to be more comfortable speaking of Christ is exactly what I'm needing.

Want some parenting resources to help you accomplish teaching your children as well? How about Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp, Teach them Diligently by Lou Priolo, and the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. I love these, and though I'm not proficient at what I've learned from them, I'm working on it! Another, which I haven't read but looks promising, is Parenting with Scripture by Kara Durbin.

How about music? We LOVE Hide 'Em In Your Heart vol. 1-3 by Steve Green and Seeds Family Worship (4 CDs) All-Scripture-lyrics make it easy for the kids (AND ME!) to memorize and internalize God's Word so we can apply it to our lives.

Oh no! I've been tagged!

I realize that could mean many things: it could be (South TX style) that graffiti artists attacked some of our property... no, that's not it. It could be that Anna has learned a new playground game...no, that's not it either.

I've been blog-tagged. That just means that my dear friend Alisa posted a few notable facts on herself, and now it's my turn! While I did list a few recently, I'll try to come up with a few more.

Here's how it works:
-You have to tag 5 people (you can't tag the person that tagged you)
-You leave them a comment on their blog (‘you’re tagged’ and ‘why’)
-Direct them to your blog for instructions…when you get tagged, you post ten fun facts about yourself!


1. I like to do crafty things. Anything, really, including scrapbooking, building things, putting together furniture, painting, sewing, you name it.

2. I love March Madness. I watch Texas Aggie Basketball when I can, but only during March Madness do I love to watch any and every college game I can. I've got my bracket filled out. Do you?

3. I'm hooked on LOST (the tv show). It's probably not our all-time favorite, but we've never found another tv show that frustrates us so much, yet leaves us on the edge of our seats till the next week. We're convinced that any time a question is answered, two more new ones are asked.

4. I love to read, but time-wise, I don't get a lot accomplished. I have several books on my "to read" list, and several on the "not finished yet" list. I prefer spiritual growth and ministry-related books.

5. I use Google Reader to consolidate the blogs I like to read. I have several friends' blogs I enjoy, as well as several others, including The Resurgence, Church Matters (9Marks blog), Between Two Worlds, Together for the Gospel, and the Discerning Reader, which is (bytheway) an excellent site on measuring whether a book (especially Christianity-related) matches up to the Truth of Scripture.

6. I am consistently in awe of the two precious little ones God has blessed us with. I realize that simply being a parent does not make you a good one, so I have to humbly depend on the Lord for wisdom and discernment constantly. When I do, it makes a difference. When I don't, it's a disaster.

7. When I watch basketball, I wish I had the time and that I was still in good enough shape to constantly play real games. I still shoot around when I can, but I miss the full court, high-energy feel and excitement. Ok, I know it's not too late. Just trying to find the motivation and time!

8. One of the spiritual gifts I've been given is the desire to serve. I love to do anything I can to help, even if I get no credit for it later. On the flip side, sometimes it's difficult to say "no" and I overbook my schedule!!!

9. My "love language(s)" are Acts of Service (surprise surprise) and Quality Time. That means that I feel most loved when someone does even a little thing because they want to serve me, or if I get to spend quality time with someone. Sure, I still like gifts, affection, and affirmation, but the other two are tops on my list. Scott's are Words of Affirmation and Quality Time.

10. If I could have 5 tv stations only, they would probably be: Fox News, Discovery Channel, History Channel, ESPN, and Food Network.

That's it for my 10 facts! Now I tag Mandi, Brittany, Betsy, Cami, and Erin.

Little(r) did you know....

A little over a week ago, I posted some trivia about my sweet husband. As promised, I'm continuing the post with some trivia about yours truly.

Did you know?

• I was a multi-sport athlete in high school. (my thinner days) I played volleyball, basketball, ran cross-country, and participated in track and field: 100 and 350 m. hurdles (my favorite), 400 and 800m relay, 200m sprint (second favorite).
  
• Basketball was my hands-down favorite sport, and I was a shooting guard/point guard/forward. During my senior year in high school, my schedule of academic classes didn't allow me to take Girls' Athletics. However, I had an opening during 4th period, and after discussing it with the principal and guys' coach, I was allowed to take Guys' Athletics. (Obviously I used the Girls' Locker Room.) That was the best, most challenging sports experience I had.
  
• I love words and word games. In 7th grade, my class would play Boggle using an overhead projector. I didn't win all the time, but my teacher would send me on errands during the games because a couple of students complained if I ever won. :( I also cannot pass up a good pun. Scott would tease and say that only I think they're funny and I shouldn't say them, but he doesn't realize how many I don't voice! ;)
• Somewhere along the way I learned to say the alphabet backwards.
  
• I play piano and took lessons from age 4 till 18, BUT I don't play by ear or by memory very well. Give me some sheet music, however, and I'll be as pleased as punch. (whatever that means)
• I LOVE to be organized. If I ever buy something impulsively for myself, it's usually something for storage or organization. Putting it into practice, however, is not as easy as it would seem. Given the time to focus on it, I'll be organized. Otherwise, know "it's a work in progress."
• Music really affects me. The difference between crying/not crying in a movie with a sentimental scene depends on the music. My mom says simply hearing scary music on tv when I was little would affect me greatly.
• I've never had many really close friends. I'm somewhat introverted that way. In any given situation, I like being around people, but I'm reserved to a good extent. That's something I continue to try to balance out, because I value friendships and the people I've been blessed to know. Ministry life helps me monitor that! Scott pushes me to have that balance too, and I'm grateful.
• I have a peculiar habit when I eat barbecue. Sure, I could eat it normally, but when presented with the opportunity to eat brisket or sausage, etc., I prefer to take one slice of bread, slice a few pieces of meat, add a few pieces of pickle, some sauce, and perhaps some cheese or pinto beans, then fold it over for a sandwich. Mmmmm. I'm mocked by my family for this obsessive ritual, but I'm addicted to it. :)
• I LOVE computers, but technology changes so quickly that once I had kiddos, I couldn't keep track. If I had to pick a job at some point, I'd love to work with computers.
  
• I once had dreams of joining the FBI or CIA. I'd love to be an analyst or work with computers for them. However, relocating myself to Langley for training doesn't gel so well with being a full time mom and supporting my husband in ministry, which is my actual calling and is truly a joy. I wouldn't trade what I do now for anything!
  
• I like to go deer hunting. It's a tradition dating back to my infant days, and it means family time, time in the gorgeous outdoors, and roughing it (a little). I'm not trigger happy, and if we kill a deer, we eat it or give away the meat. The leases that my dad has taken us to have a biologist who manages the population for health and numbers by placing restrictions on what can be hunted. That being said, I have a nice 10 point shoulder-mount hanging in our home office.
  
• Last, but not least, I grew up a farmer's daughter. I drove tractors in the summer and worked the cotton module builders. Scott (the city boy) came to work for Dad one summer, which eventually led to us discussing dating and marriage. We left our wedding in a shiny green John Deere tractor (and drove to the limo that was waiting on the opposite end of the parking lot).
  

Blechhhhh!

(sounds like "bleck-hhhhh")
I seem to remember that is the sound Oscar the grouch would make when he was disgusted with something.

Well, I'm not a grouch, per se, but I AM disgusted.

I thought I'd do something good for myself. I know I've been sleeping less and staying busy more as of late. I glanced at the bottle of children's chewable vitamins I have for Caleb. These aren't Flintstones, mind you, but they're close. I noticed that the adult dose is the same as the child's dose. I decided to take one and figured my body would thank me.

In my haste to finish other tasks, I chewed it up quickly and moved on. BIG mistake. Have you ever swallowed a big vitamin that just tasted horrible? My prenatal vitamins for Caleb and Anna were that way. Surely the fruit flavors in these kiddo versions would be fine.

Vitamins themselves NEVER taste fine. In fact, because I didn't chase it with water, I'm suffering through the aftertaste, which is strangely similar to the way a wet dog smells.

Blechhh and double blechhhh.

I-N-S-P-E-C-T...find out what it means to me...

Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me...
...wee-oo-wee-oo wee-oo wee-Inspect! Just a little bit....just a little bit.

Ok, so maybe it's only me with the song running in my subconscious. Here's a house hunt update. We like the "house" itself that I posted before, but the inspections turned up a long list of things that need to be repaired, and the house is only 10 years old. We still have 2 days on our option period, and the owners haven't said what they're willing to complete. What to do? It's apparent that they either didn't inspect it on their own to begin with, or their inspector did a shabby job (or maybe the house has really gotten worse over the 2 years they've owned it).

So, while we await their answer, it's on with the house hunt, just in case we have to jump ship. There are not many homes with the amenities/structure we desire in (or below) our price range... they must be quick sellers...they exist, but are not for sale. Be praying that we'll be wise in our investment. (and in which house we choose! The decision on the current one has to be made tomorrow!!!)

Trip for Two

Back in August, Scott and I got to take our first-ever trip alone since Caleb was born. (Thanks Mimi and Pawpaw!) We spent two evenings in nearby San Antonio, eating some authentic mexican food and enjoying the atmosphere of the Riverwalk. I hope the pictures I took make you want to visit!

Little LAMM on Leave

Our little business venture has been on hold since the spring. Relocating to Texas has stalled things a bit, and I'm mulling over ways to better reach consumers, and possibly adding/switching products. I still want to market to moms, and for now, I want to still have paintings available. However, I want some feedback! Here are some items I'm considering: embroidered personalized burp cloths, and oilcloth (wipe-able) bibs. To all you moms out there who may be reading this, what items might you find yourself looking to buy as baby shower gifts or for your own precious one? Comment, please!

Bring the Rain?

Scott had another excellent post on his blog . After that post, we discovered a song that had already been playing for a while on Christian radio. It's by MercyMe, and is appropriately titled "Jesus Bring the Rain." Can I share some of the lyrics with you?

I can count a million times ~ People asking me how I

Can praise You with all that I've gone through

The question just amazes me ~ Can circumstances possibly

Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed ~ Long before these rainy days

It's never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on You oh Lord ~ My only shelter from the storm

But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace ~ Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings You glory

And I know there'll be days ~ When this life brings me pain

But if that's what it takes to praise You...

Jesus bring the rain.

I am yours regardless of ~ The dark clouds that may loom above

Because You are much greater than my pain

You who made a way for me ~ By suffering Your destiny

So tell me what's a little rain?

So I pray...

and the song continues, then ends with a prayerful, worshipful tag "Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty". (song copyrighted by MercyMe, http://www.mercyme.org/)
I can't tell you what a blessing the heart attitude and lyrics of the song have been to me. With all that we've experienced in the last year and a half (or two), and with the changes that have come as recently as June, I cling to the truth that Scripture teaches us about our Lord.
While I have not arrived or attained, and while I'm sure that my conduct during difficult times has not been spotless, I am learning through both hindsight and the continuing rain what it means to be crucified with Christ.

I'm presently doing a study on Galatians compiled by a famous Christian speaker. In it, she shares ten characteristics of the life illustrated by Galatians 2:20. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Of those ten, I'll share a few with you to encourage and challenge you, should you seek to grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord:

• Like the disciples were clueless in John 16 about the events facing Christ, few will understand if you seriously decide to live a life crucified to self and alive in Christ.
• You must be willing to drop your own personal will and plans and seek Him with all your heart in order to live out the plans God has for you according to Jer. 29:11-13.
• There will be times when your dignity is shattered, and you may not be able to prove to others that your decision to stand firm in the Lord truly was the right way to go.

But if we are to truly choose victory in our battle (daily) with sin, we have to choose to die to ourselves-- just as Christ did in fulfilling God's plan for salvation.
All that to say that we can't expect our days to be rainless if we're following Christ. It's more a matter of being sensitive to where the Lord is leading and to what the Lord wants to teach us through the stormy times. I pray that I will continue to give up myself in order to allow the Lord to work in and through me, so that others can taste and see that the Lord is good!

bring me joy, bring me peace, bring the chance to be free
bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain
but if that's what it takes to praise You, Jesus bring the rain.

Why We Do What We Do

Check out this post by our dear college friend, Christine Hoover. Christine serves with her husband, Kyle, who is college minister at Central Baptist in Bryan/College Station. Her account is humorous and germane to our own situation. (like my vocabulary? Thanks, MSWord Thesaurus!) To read her post, either click on the first link above, or click here: The Hoover Household

It was only just yesterday...

How many times could I start a post with that title? I'm discovering that the world is moving so much faster than it used to. I always heard grown-ups saying that it would, but I never fully believed it until recently. Maybe it's because I'm busier, or maybe it's because I'm waiting for something in particular to happen (or not happen), for some stage to pass, or for the next chance I have to sleep. :)

I received some valuable wisdom from Carla MacLachlan at our church in her study for young (or not) parents. She encouraged us to stop living for the moment...when potty training is achieved, or the 2s are over, or the 3s are over, or the teens are over (see, it never stops)... but instead to live in the moment: to make sure I'm in step with the Lord's will for my life so that I can treasure every moment and fulfill His purpose for me in that moment. Perhaps it is to influence someone else. Perhaps it is to be a blessing to my husband or my kids in the way I handle a situation. Perhaps it is to use what I'm going through to encourage others.

I may not even know that answer in the moment, but I do know that if I'm following the Lord and if I seek to give Him glory and credit in everything, that the reason why will be clear eventually...and I'll know that I responded accordingly instead of wishing for another moment in the future to be here quickly!

There are so many ways that I can apply that to my life right now, but today was yet another reminder of the importance of living in the moment and not for it as we attended PreSchool Orientation for Caleb. It was only just yesterday that he was Anna's size, and at the end of the month, he'll be attending preschool at our church two mornings a week. I'm excited for him, and I don't think I'll struggle with being sentimental when he goes, but I certainly don't want to dismiss moments like this as I have in the past in favor of looking toward what comes next. What a sweet boy he's become, and I'm proud of him!