Uncle "Gosh"

My dad got to come home from the hospital today. What a relief it is to know he is on the road to recovery albeit a very long road to recovery. Please continue to pray for his healing and for his new walk with the Lord. And pray for my mom as well.

The girls with their Uncle "Gosh"

Josh and me

Josh and my mom

And we can't forget Buster.

Rejoice Rejoice

Well it’s been eight days since I received the call every daddy’s girl dreads. The call that her dad had a massive heart attack and no one knows if he is going to survive. Praise God daddy did survive and will likely be home by the end of the week. We’ve had a prayer chain a mile long praying for him…both for his health and for his salvation. Well, the Lord heard our prayers and he answered them too! The most exciting thing thus far is my father has accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior tonight. This is so exciting for me! I am in tears as I write this note to all of you. My dad will not be left behind ~ he has accepted Christ and he’s forgiven. Thank you Lord for allowing me to see the day that both of my parents are now believers. I pray you all too will know that there is hope for your loved ones you are praying for and waiting for them to receive Christ.
I want to this document with all of you because I think it might be helpful to remember these things. I was given this sheet in a new believers class I took 15 years ago. I love to pull it out and meditate on these verses every once in a while. Tonight sounds like a good night to do so.

In Christ I Am
Accepted, Secure, Significant
I Am Accepted

I am a child of God: John 1:12

I am Jesus' chosen friend: John 15:15

I am holy and acceptable to God (justified): Romans 5:1

I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him: 1 Corinthian 3:16

I have been bought with a price. I belong to God: 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
I am a part of Christ's Body, part of His family: 1 Corinthians 12:27

I am a saint, a holy one: Ephesians 1:1
I have been adopted as Christ's child: Ephesians 1:5

I have been bought back (redeemed) and forgiven of all my sins: Colossians 1:14
I am complete in Christ: Colossians 2:10

I Am Secure

I am free forever from punishment: Romans 8:1,2

I am sure all things work together for good: Romans 8:28
I am free from any condemning charges against me: Romans 8:31

I cannot be separated from the love of God: Romans 8:35

I am hidden with Christ in God: Colossians 3:3

I am sure that the good work God has started in me will be finished: Philippians 1:6

I am a citizen of heaven with the rest of God's family: Ephesians 2:19

I can find grace and mercy in times of need: Hebrews 4:16

I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me: 1 John 5:18

I Am Significant

I am salt and light for everyone around me: Matthew 5:13,14

I'm a part of the true vine, joined to Christ & able to produce much fruit: John 15:1,5

I am hand-picked by Jesus to bear fruit: John 15:16

I am a Spirit-empowered witness of Christ: Acts 1:8

I am a temple where the Holy Spirit lives: 1 Corinthians 3:16 1 Corinthians 6:19

I am a peace with God and He has given me the work of making peace between Himself and other people: 2 Corinthians 5:

I am God's co-worker: 2 Corinthians 6:1

I am seated with Christ in heaven: Ephesians 2:6

I am God's building project, His handiwork, created to do His work: Ephesians 2:10

I am able to do all things through Christ who give me strength: Philippians 4:13

Rejoicing in Him!
Jenn

16 years

Matt and I started dating (officially...as in he asked me if I wanted to start dating him...as if that wasn't what we had been doing since December of 1992 but ok...) on February 13, 1993. This song was sung at our wedding by our good friend and Matt's lifelong friend Keith Levin. The picture was taken 16 years ago in May of 1993. I loved my swimmers legs back then. Nothin' but muscle baby; 16 years later nothin' but cottage cheese.
That should weed out all the lurkers on this blog.
This post is dedicated to my one and only Sweety, Peachy, Pumpkin Pie.
I love you because you:
1) make me laugh
2) work hard to provide for me and the kids
3) always compliment my cooking
4) tell me I look beautiful, even when I don’t
5) support me in everything I do
6) take an interest in the things I enjoy
7) are a true gentleman
8) make it possible for me to stay home with the children
9) fix all the stuff that breaks
10) are always willing to make a chocolate run for me even if its 11:00 at night
11) are very very VERY patient
12) never complain when the house is a mess
13) understand when I don’t get the laundry done, and you run out of socks and underwear
14) changed your fair share of poopy diapers
15) tolerate me even though I am incredibly hard to live with
16) worry about my health and happiness
17) put my needs before your own
18) stick up for me
19) gave me the kind of life I always wanted
20) care about being a good father
21) love God
22) don’t gawk at other women
23) keep your heart at home
24) take pride in my accomplishments
25) are responsible with money, so I don’t have to worry about it
26) don’t spend all weekend watching sports
27) love your children and spend time with them
28) keep the yard looking beautiful at all times
29) dream big dreams with me
30) know what’s really important
31) aren’t afraid to cry in front of me
32) buy feminine products for me without complaint
33) taught me to love to play games with your family
34) like the way I make potato salad
35) are unbelievably smart and industrious
36) don’t know how handsome you are
37) listen to me when I rant and rave and complain
38) still take my breath away when you kiss me. After all these years.
39) still think my body is beautiful even though it’s not
40) hold my feet in your lap while we watch TV
41) think deeply about things
42) have a genuine desire to help people in need
43) willingly do the disgusting tasks, like picking up dog poo, and cleaning up the pukes when the kids get sick

44) still have boyish enthusiasm for things like monster movies and forts in the back yard
45) eat whatever I put in front of you, without comment or complaint
46) don’t allow the kids to be disrespectful of me
47) are kind to and considerate of my parents
48) make a real effort to be a person who pleases God
49) still give me butterflies in my stomach when you walk into a room
50) are the perfect husband for me

I love you baby and I'm so glad you are mine

Baby it’s cold out side!

The Good Lord made yesterday just for Abby & Bree and most likely all children under 4 feet 2 inches. It was a day full of fun and adventure and new experiences…which lead to a very tired and grumpy mommy at the end of the day…but that is another post entirely. So did all you chinobillies enjoy the snow? I did…for 4 minutes…the girls did much-much better. (Josh, if you are reading this you might want to cover your eyes during this next segment. I know you get way more snow than we do up there in Washington and I hear you saying suck it up I do, I really do. As your older sister I say, give me some grace.)

Our back patio where just last week we were basking in the sun and enjoying 65 degree weather.

K- Josh you can open your eyes now! :)

MeMa came to the house to baby-sit while I went to the doctor in the morning. I was a bit worried about her coming to baby-sit for me due to the weather so I told the girls that MeMa might not be able to come. To which Abigail replied “No mama, she’s comin’; she weely (really) misses me”.

Then we were off to Mrs. Darlene’s story-time/Valentines party at the library. The girls had been living for this day since LAST Tuesday so we couldn’t miss it. I only slid through 1 stop sign trying to get them there thank goodness! What chaos, what fun, what a stressful hour, what memories! Mrs. Darlene sang songs, read stories; we played games, exchanged valentines, and ate Sugar Cookies.

The kids are about to sing songs.

The kids during Mrs. Darlene's story.

Games...

And more games...

And MORE games!

After the library fiasco, I mean party, I carted the kids home to build a snowman (as promised). Note to mothers be careful what you promise. You know that doctors appointment I just mentioned? Yeah it was a follow up appointment for a back injury from a couple of Sundays ago. And ok I forgot how heavy snow is. Hence the very poor engineering of our chinobilly snowman. While, I was trying to regain an upright position and not cry in front of the children I let them decorate the snowman. Didn’t they do a great job?

I’m questioning the placement of the pom-poms. Bree said they were for her boo-boos (which is what she calls her boobies). And the dish gloves are just in case she has to do the dishes. I’ll blame that one on her father and I promise I'll have a little talk with him on that one!

2 hours later the poor gals head fell off!

Abby

Bree

Abby making snow angels.

Dear Lord may I be so bold as to request for snow accumulation only on Saturdays and Sundays when daddy is home to build snowmen? I will be forever grateful. Amen.

Of play dates, and friends and Chinese Noodle Salad

Last Wednesday I invited my friend Debby and her brood over for lunch and a play date. Debby and I have been friends forever ~ and my kids adore her kids, especially her daughter Alyssa. The weather was gorgeous, I have a bad case of spring fever, and the kids needed to burn off some energy so it sounded like a perfect day for something different. Let me just say we had a great time. The kids played together (can you hear the angels rejoicing?)

Yes, I have proof that they DID indeed PLAY together.

Levi was feeling a bit shy. Maybe because he was the only boy.

Well the playing together part only lasts so long with my dear girl Abby.

And Deb and I got to visit for 5 minutes before the kids became hungry. Then we made PB&J's for the kids and Deb and I had yummy Chinese Noodle Salad, a recipe that my friend Jen Morse gave to me. Then my friend Kris popped in and we all got to visit a bit longer while all the kids ran amuck. We had a total of 10 children in our backyard and there wasn't a singe fight or tear shed. Hallelujah! Pure bliss I tell you! Here is the recipe for the Chinese Noodle Salad ~ posted with permission. Enjoy!

PS. If you click on the picture you should be able to actually read the recipe or you can download your very own copy here! Thanks Jen Morse for sharing the yummy goodness!

She. (Part 2)

1. She IS that cool.
2. Her favorite song is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
3. She can operate the dvd player by herself.
4. She says library time with Ms. Darlene “rocks”.
5. She loves her puppy, Oliver...only sometimes.
6. She’s her daddy’s “stinkbug”.
7. She likes to call people on the phone ~ when mommy is not in the room.
8. She hates any kind of shadows in her room so she makes us keep a light on at night.
9. Every single baby doll she owns is currently named Baby JJ (after our friends new baby).
10. She says Grammy and Poppy live in Big City (from the TV show Oswald)
11. She said she was taking her babies shopping the other day and she meant it. She went to the refrigerator and took out the eggs, coffee, ketchup and every single apple before I caught on to her.
12. She's really sensitive and it takes her a L-O-N-G time to warm up to others.
13. She tells her daddy she’s had a rough day every time he calls on the phone even if she is having a really good day.
14. She gives the BEST hugs in the whole world, seriously, and is always generous with saying “I love you mamma!”

I love you more Peaches!

She. (Part 1)

1. She likes to make faces like this for the camera.
2. Her favorite song is Jesus loves me.
3. She's already planning her birthday party, including the guest list, which is SIX months away.
4. She thinks I’m funny and says so about 40 times a day.
5. She loves her puppy, Oliver
6. She’s her daddy’s “blueberry”.
7. She screams "call Poppy" whenever she gets hurt then wants a band aid. Band aids miraculously heal the hurts.
8. She says that monsters come into her room at night and eat her fingers.
9. Every single baby doll she owns is naked.
10. She knows she lives in “Aranona” translation…Arizona
11. I heard her yellin' at all her babies that they were in the naughty spot for two minutes because they wouldn't eat their dinner.
12. She's really likes to ask "Why?" and will repeat the question over and over and over (and over) again until you come up with a satisfying answer.
13. She asks to "saweep (sleep) in my awmpits (armpits)" translation: sleep in my arms rather than taking a nap in her own bed.
14. She will say “I no love you no more you cry now” then I will cry and she will announce “I love you mamma!”

I love you too Bubba Lou!

*totally stole this idea from a really cute blog I read daily* I hope she won't mind...

Grammy's Birthday

Happy Birthday Mom!

Thanks Grammy for giving us a reason to eat the frosting off the cup cakes and blow out candles on your birthday pie!

I love the look on Bree's face as she is singing Happy Birfday to Grammy!

We had to wake Abby up to sing but she "suffered" through it since she knew she was getting cake and ice cream!