Isaiah 1:18

"Though our sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow."

The benefits of memorizing verses with Kj. I can type it on this blog and not have to look it up.

Well, it is an Isaiah 1:18 day. Last week ended with some nice warm melty weather, which accentuated the yucky looking black snow. And today, we get a snow refresher--covering it all up again. WHITE!! Beautiful.

Another beautiful thing about today...well, L is taking a longer than one hour nap. I have been enjoying the longest dual naptime that I have had in months...2+ hours!! L did not want to be laid down today, and so I got her out of the crib once to feed her a bottle and then put her back to cry a bit more and then fall asleep...and guess who's up first...Kj!! I better go and check on L. It was a lovely dual naptime...I might try the pre-nap bottle again, to see if it works the same way...imagine the possibility!!

More Doctors...

Another doctor's appointment tomorrow. Another who-knows-what, probably not treatable, digestive system something or other. I will not be defeated! I feel defeated, but I will not be! No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 3:37 I feel better already.

Retreat Weekend

With the girls away at Nana's this weekend we are filling our time with as much fun as possible! Last night started with a pick-up from work, meander through Lowe's, half price dinner for 2 at a nice restaurant, walk through a thrift store (which I've always heard about but never been to...it was ok, but overwhelming how much they had), and then home for smoothie and a movie.

And today...packed as well...Bible Study, guitar playing, sewing, ebow testing, Chinese food, buying salad fixings for Supper 6 tonight, shoveling, mixing, buying gas for the trip to pick up the girls... Thank you so much to Mama #2, for agreeing to this lovely arrangement.

Well, I don't think I covered what I wanted but...just thought I'd check in, no more time to "waste" on the computer, but I'll leave you with this:

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 1 John 3:16

The was the verse read and elaborated on at the sewing get together. The night before I was wrestling with whether or not to go, or to just do "my own" sewing. :) Well, there is my answer. There will be more opportunities (besides I learned a new super easy dress pattern-pictures to come).

Surprise for Kevin!

So, this week was hard and midway through I thought I should ask Kevin's parents if they would like the girls for a weekend. Not thinking it would be so soon, but just asking for the near future. But when this weekend was suggested, I had to take them up on the offer and then since it was such short notice, I had to keep it a surprise. I only told L! Kj found out after our morning commitment today.

The sad part is that Nana, Kj, L and I went on an errand after lunch and L fell asleep so I couldn't tell her goodbye. I will just have to pray that she won't feel abandoned, because that is what I felt like I did to her. One moment she is in the shopping cart staring at Mama and then she falls asleep and wakes up at Nana's house. Good thing they were able to spend a little time together while I made lunch!!

Have a wonderful night girls...you might get a Skype call from your parents...who knows!?!

Why?

Kevin brought this up today, that I should count the number of "Why?"s I hear...so, I decided to start with a dozen since Kj had already been up for about 30 minutes. I thought of typing them all to you, but then I would be on the computer all day. Although as I am counting them, I am realizing that there are breaks in the "Why?"s, long breaks, then they just pour out of her!! Some are easily answered by my knowledge of the world, some are satisfied with a "because mama told you to", and still others are answered by the asker herself! Ok, so at 12:57 the talley is 40 "Why?"s...oh and add 3 more to that for just while I was typing...oh, one more...

Another fun thing she said/sang (about Aunt A. I believe): She's coming around the corner with her shoes...We all go out to meet her a'cuz she comes alone... All to the tune of She'll be coming 'round the corner when she comes...

Added note: 62 = the approximate number of times Kj said "Why?" today. :) So, she was awake from 7AM-8PM minus 3 hours of naptime...that makes a rate of about 6.2 times per hour.

Max

I've been reading this week about a family that we know that is adopting a boy from China. Brings me to tears every day reading about how their Gotcha Day went and the days following. They were able to visit the orphanage that he came from and see where he was left to be found. They were even given the clothes that he was found in. I'm just learning about how after only 2 days a 17 month old's personality just bubbles out! If you would like to read their adoption story, it is amazing.

Max's Story

Can't wait to meet him! He'll be right in between Kj and L!

Trauma Defusion

"As a mother, my job is to take care of what is possible and trust God with the impossible."
~Ruth Bell Graham

I just got through a crazy morning and am now trying to relax the tightness in my chest that it has caused! Sitting listening to the radio, reading blogs that are filled with encouragement and truth. There are so many things I could be doing and a few that maybe I should be doing, but this morning after talking to my good friend, she gave me permission to leave some of those things behind and get refocused.

Isaiah 45:3
And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness-secret riches.
I will do this so that you may know that I am the LORD.
The God of Israel.
The one who calls you by name.

Yeah, I am called by name! And am gaining secret riches through the daily yuckiness!!

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

I am knowledgeable.

Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

I am filled.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I am forgiven! I will live forever!

Ephesians 8:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I am the way I am on purpose!

Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am justified by faith...not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Romans 3:22-...
The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God...

I am righteous even though I've fallen again and again!

Isaiah 1:18
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.

I am purified!

Hmm...just going to enjoy this bit of peacefulness. I do feel like the radio is blaring in my ears, but I'm not prepared for the waking of a sleeping girl, because of the noise change. I'll probably head down and work on that laundry...part of the yuckiness I mentioned earlier. You see, I had a restless night last night. I have also realized that if I sit down on the couch and read a book in the first two hours after Kevin has gone to work, I WILL fall asleep. I try to tell that to Kj that fact every morning when she wants me to read her a book. Well, I did it anyways, and had a peaceful 10 minute nap. Then... Ahhh!! Why did I wake up!? Or, maybe I should blame it on the falling asleep in the first place. Well, I guess I am going to leave you all in suspense, because I am just feeling all that relaxation leaving my body....back to the refocusing.

Next thing on the refocus list: Find a good babysitter! I think we need a little retreat.

A "New" Dress

Here is another craftiness project that I had in mind for quite a while, but only now had time to get it done. It has just been the last month that I have felt more able to do a few fun things for me. Kj plays with quietly and independently at times and L can move around a little. I think I did most of the sewing on this dress while L was sleeping and the finishing touches I brought down to the basement while Kj was playing in her kitchen. I used a 3/4 sleeve shirt that my sister had given me a few years ago. I did really like it, but it just didn't fit right post-babies. So, instead of just getting rid of it, I thought I would make it into a fun stripy dress. I used the original hem and part of the neckline, making pleats in the front center, back center and side seams. The arm holes are not finished off, and the sleeves are still saved, but I matched them up to add back on and it is a little too stripy for a little girl. :)

The Last Installment (for now)

977-1000

1. like-new pants from C!! Thank you, thank you, it is a blessing to have them.
2. projects and the completion of projects
3. a plant in the bathroom on the new shelf that we got for nearly free today...it's already installed too
   
4. phone calls
5. taking down the tree...it was nice to have up but now that L is moving and grooving, it will be nice to have the extra space!
6. a house
7. free haircuts for Kevin
8. manual sewing machines that can be bought for others through Gospel for Asia
9. balancing the checkbook...I do like it
10. stove top hot chocolate
11. into the 5000s for his school loan
12. Kevin's haircut..."Daddy, where'd your curls go?" said Kj after she woke up from her nap.
13. bonus points at the hardware store
14. a new light for my "chandelier"
15. clean dishes - thanks to Kevin
16. new and different fruits and veggies to try - tomorrow will be attempt #2 to find a suitable eggplant to try...mostly for baby food, but partially for the rest of us
17. pictures colored by Kj
    
18. reading a book to my burrito baby, Kj
    
19. time spent with just Kevin in the evening
20. Kj buying her first book - We went to the hardware store and a craft store today and I gave Kj a dollar from her kitty bank (a Christmas present from Bumpa) and told her that things were too expensive at the craft store but that if she found something she wanted she could buy it at the hardware store. So, walking through the craft store she found some yarn and wanted to buy it. "How much is it?" "$7, which is more $1 or $7?" "7" "You only have $1, can you buy it?" ... "No, 1 is more." (she changed her mind)
21. a clean cleared off table
    
22. the checklist accomplished
    
23. quiet moments to think and pray and dream (...while crocheting...)
    

1000. On to my life-size version of the doll attire (see previous entry)

Doll Attire

I was asked again to make some photography props for a friend. She chose a diaper cover and hat. So, I decided to take the yarn and crochet hooks that I had and do a test run. Well, I found out that the pattern, when made with a much smaller hook, makes great doll clothes. It was a fun little project to get me back into the swing of craftiness. Also, glad for a diaper pattern for all these babies lying around.

956-976

1. ahh...
2. library books
3. my preacher girl
4. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes..." read on for more reasons not to worry...ex. we are more valuable than the ravens...Luke 12:22+
5. bright pink paper
6. the fact that my squash is still good...I cubed most of it for L to steam, but Kj wanted to try some "carrots"...so, she ate raw squash and asked for more! L liked it too, only she had the cooked version. I didn't try either. Now, hoping my pumpkin is still fresh enough for baby food.
7. pumpkin
8. whales
9. a food mill
10. silicon steamer basket
11. last minute ideas, that will maybe turn into last minute plans
12. babbling of a 10 month old and that it might end up being competition for a very verbal 2 year old!
13. Kj trying to teach L their Aunt R's name...with a little incorrect pronunciation
14. Kj's diaper pail in her kitchen is a mayonnaise jar - see it back in that corner!?
    
15. our basement swing and the smiles it makes
    
16. 
17. Kj, I'm going upstairs to have some Mama time. (all go upstairs - and after a few minutes we start building with blocks) Oh, Kj I was going to have some Mama time. "You not need Mama time. This is Mama time. Building blocks." Hmm...
18. kids CDs
19. a movie to watch tonight
20. our girls not being able to tell time for now because we'll probably try to send them to bed early

938-955

1. the car
2. no accidents
3. the heat of the sunshine
4. friends to see
5. malls to walk in
6. questions to answer
7. sleeping girls
8. science experiments
9. the ability to "chat"
10. a baby sleeping in the dining room, so I guess I can't wash dishes right now...but I can go hang up diapers...see ya!
11. mending project #6 - done - and on to a fun project
12. a really great garbage/recycle man who goes to the side of the garage to collect our trash, because AGAIN we forgot to put it on the driveway
13. a cuddly baby
14. why-o-win and panio = violin and piano
15. Kevin taking over driving tonight
16. the nursery
17. dinner prepared for us

921-937

1. mending accomplishments - not 1, not 2, not 3, but 5
   
2. giving
3. anticipation of Aunt C's homecoming
4. a new year
5. a fresh start
6. beautiful snow!!!
7. Nana-canned goodness
8. books to read
9. "Mama, let's read my new book, 'Cuz I Love Ya." (Because I Love You, by Max Lucado)
10. the method of darning as taught by my father and useful on more clothing items than just socks
11. a funny memory
12. an embroidery hoop to use to help with my mending
13. that this was not my Christmas visitor...but isn't this such a great picture
14. my sister, who sent the above picture of her Christmas squatter, thanks for giving me more reason for thankfulness!
    

888-920

1. outing with the girls
2. L's first sled ride
3. a little bit of hard work (shoveling - not too much because it is still snowing)
4. Kevin's snowpants (maybe someday soon I can find my own - my mom's were really nice when I tried them, maybe I can find those somewhere)
5. pictures of the girls in their colorful snow outfits
6. baby snow angels
7. FF starting again tonight with all our friends!
8. the girls playing so nicely together, downstairs while I make lunch
9. "Are you my mother?"
10. talking to my dad on the phone during lunch
11. finding someone to pass on baby clothes to
12. not having to have my teeth pulled
13. sleeping girls
14. motivation
15. the second load of laundry almost done in the washer
16. all the clean clothes folded and put away
17. time
18. new books (new to us books)
19. rediscovering old books from my childhood
20. more snow - the tire tracks that I shoveled before lunch are completely covered
21. more shoveling - I was only going to do the tire tracks again and ended up doing the whole driveway, while the girls played in the living room
22. looking in the front window and finding happy girls
23. meeting new families
24. spare sets of clothes in the diaper bag
25. jumpers
26. phone calls with friends
27. renewed phone time
28. money for airfare
29. friends that are very, very, very worth seeing!
30. the way L lifts her head, scrunches her face and smiles! So, cute, hope I never forget it. It will have to go in the mental picture file though, because I don't think I'll be able to catch it!
31. sorting
32. third load of laundry in the washer and ready for the dryer in the morning
    

861-887

1. babysitting for friends with a newborn boy!! We were the privileged first babysitters
2. (over)paid with a yummy pie
3. meandering through shopping centers with just looking without children
4. having friends over during supper and sharing the leftover pie with them, while the kids unknowingly played very nicely downstairs :)
5. sharing
6. the tea set that we found to order for Kj's 3rd birthday!! - after looking at several stores in town, I decided (while I was holding a sleeping child and really couldn't do anything else) to look online. Yeah, yeah, yeah! You'll see it when you see it.
   
7. to have birthday gift shopping accomplished for my girls...on to Christmas shopping, I guess (2010 Christmas shopping that is)...our family will be having Christmas in February due to Aunt C. being out of the country these past few months
8. new perspectives
9. new ideas
10. Scripture - I don't have to come up with "great", "fancy", "interesting" words to pray, just use The Scripture
11. soccer
12. seeing cousins
13. trying something new (watching indoor soccer with 2 girls - L liked watching all the movement, and Kj did sit some but liked walking back and forth on the bleachers)
14. learning something new (2 fingers and click gets the correct spelling of a word)
15. L sleeping through the night...this is not a new accomplishment, but I was reminded of it recently!!
16. nursery workers
17. LearningLand
18. Sunday School teachers
19. our pastors
20. KC's mom, gave me my first and current Christmas tree
21. KC - she's so sweet and though we don't see each other often, we can just start up where we left off, and she's so encouraging
22. Miss T.'s phone call, I didn't expect it and it was great to hear from her again!!
23. BG - you're a wonderful mentor/friend
24. the swing
25. the kitchen made by "Bumpa" with a counter top from L&C
26. oak trees
    

843-860

1. a downstairs play area to spice up our winter
2. "cinnamon" on my peanut buttered graham cracker while eating my snack in the basement "kitchen"
3. rearranging the play area
4. (mostly) obedient children - this time obedient
5. showering and dressing without any peakers...one girl napping, one girl playing
6. feeling a little more independent and that my girls are a little more independent, therefore, maybe, I'll be able to do a little sewing soon (see previous line)
   
7. star hair bands for Kj
8. frozen fruit sticks, I'll have to make more of those soon
9. a peace-filled afternoon break
10. a new lunch idea...worked for the girls not for me, but that's ok, I can make it for them and have a sandwich, right?!
11. prayer and praise tonight, with Kevin, C. and others playing
12. babysitters so I can go to - I would consider myself their band groupie - I like for Kevin to play, but I like to be there too
13. word games
14. daily mail drop
15. new Christmas CDs
16. someone's blog that I turn to for background relaxing music
17. plans for the future

821-842

1. a new day, renewed health!!
2. a call from Aunt A. - she's in town with Nana!
3. visitors today
4. a little nap this AM and Kj playing quietly during it
5. the possibility of instituting a morning rest time for all of us...we've got a 2 day in a row start...
   
6. learning turn taking and already getting good at it - Thanks to games
7. an outing
   
8. a night out again tomorrow
9. mall walking
10. happy girls
11. dishes washed
12. rest time
13. major decisions such as whether to write a Christmas letter to go with our pictures or not :)
14. the idea of staging toys for the girls at night that I got from my mama - the dollhouse is set
15. anticipating a new arrangement of our living room after the tree gets taken down...no rush on that though, I'm still enjoying the lights in the morning and at night.
    
16. some extra spending money to buy a new pair of running/walking shoes when spring comes - I was just re-realizing today that mine just don't cut it for a good walk anymore
17. my serger - I want to try to make some baby gifts soon
18. a new sweater
19. having as much fun looking around the "toy setchion" as my 2 year old
20. ideas for 1 year old and 3 year old birthday presents
21. Aunt C. will be "home" in less than 2 months

Attempt #1

Hello Family and friends~

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2011! We got the girls in bed for the night and were wondering what to do next. Kevin said, “What are we going to do when they are off to college?” We did end up finding things to do…a little Sudoku dual, 3 hands of Canasta, and now reading/writing. Another year gone by and we’re keeping our brains fit. I’ve been learning about the girls’ love languages this week as we are coming off of lots of Curl Grandma/Nana loving. Kj, I am realizing is a quality time kind of gal, whereas L needs physical touch. I’m not really sure where this letter is going, but just giving you some realizations that I have had tonight. Do you know the love languages of those closest to you? Or are you just speaking your language to them and missing it totally? (FYI: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, physical touch are the 5 love languages) ...

Well, go to the link and do your own assesment...this letter will not be sent out...

788-820

1. ice cream patient children towards their yucky-feeling mama
   
2. me as a jungle gym
3. just enough energy
4. children's Tylenol
5. our Fischer Price doll house
6. the "programmer" - as he is now named by Kj and daddy
7. "Maybe daddy take his bike to work and we take the car to the libarry."
   
8. after finding out that it's too cold for that "Daddy, you get all your warm clothes on and you walk to work."
9. my homemade Moby Wrap
10. canned soup
11. instant rice
12. leftover biscuits
13. ER bill that is completely taken care of because we had a baby earlier this year
14. and since I mentioned that...NICU bill that was totally taken care of too for the previously mentioned reason
15. bath time as Kj's choice of fun tonight---options given: play upstairs, play downstairs, go for a drive
16. water therapy for Mama...bath water basting Kj with a former turkey baster
17. belly button medicine...using a medicine dropper and a sample shampoo bottle to put medicine on her belly button
18. stories by Kj
19. relaxing on the couch while Kj updates daddy about her bath time fun (she's still in the tub - the basement has not yet been a draw
    
20. fun wedding themes for my friend's wedding
21. Christmas lights
22. tent that we've had since Kj was born and just have used now.
23. bedtime stories
24. pretending there aren't any dishes to wash from supper
25. bits of things all over the floor to remind me to vacuum (I'll do that later this week...)
26. wireless internet
27. this blog
28. a digital camera
29. a framed picture of our 10 month old...although not by herself...I'll get that one later
30. Love as the reason for Christmas
31. toys to pick up...because that means they were used
32. The Christmas Story According to Luke - the children's story book
    

751-788

1. new toys
2. old toys that have been put away for a while, taken out upon request and are new again
3. peaceful play
4. the radio
5. my smile as L walks into Kj's play area (fischer price house...it's tall enough to be a stable toy to support her standing)
6. my helper, Kj
7. "I want to see my savior's face, 'cuz heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace, I wan to see my savior's face, 'cuz heaven is a wonderful place..." ~kj and on and on and on...Big Smile!
8. possibly buying plane tickets this week!!
9. for the wedding!
10. finding out what the measuring game is...Memory!
11. clean bathroom
12. L down, Kj still sleeping
    
13. shower time!! Quick, before Kevin get's home or Kj wakes up!
14. wonderful warm shower
15. a shadow coming down the stairs to meet me after I got out
16. no accident, we went back upstairs and she had already used the potty all by herself!! and was coming to find me in the basement
17. kj playing independently so I can finish getting ready for my husband's arrival home. He will be so surprised not to see the bandanna...hehehe
18. Hi-Ho Cherry-O
19. trail mix, for the times when I really need to eat! (right before a meal)
20. Kevin home late from work
    
21. so I had time to make homemade biscuits to go with our soup
22. new recipes
23. different varieties of flour
24. a "new" tent for the girls
25. help with the girls when Kevin comes home!!
26. bath night
27. clean girls
28. my 2+ year old burrito baby is back! Since I don't have to exclusively take care of my littlest
29. quiet time doing dishes
30. spare crib sheets, because L is getting lots of snot and goop on her sheets these last few days
31. thoughts of sewing which seem to be somewhat attainable as L is getting healthy and both girls can entertain each other and themselves for increasing amounts of time
32. stories of the day told backwards...I went down the stairs and saw mama...and before that?...I grabbed a blanket from my baby and went down the stairs and saw mama...and before that?...I woked up and grabbed a blanket from my baby and went down the stairs and saw mama...and what about just after you woke up?...I used the potty and grabbed...
33. time to go, my burrito baby is almost ready for me!!
34. tickle tasks
35. giggles
36. Kevin suggesting we watch Love's Long Journey
37. ice cream

701-750

1. L's cough easing up
2. medicine to help my husband get better
3. successful emergency room visits
4. a husband to get me there
5. a friend to stay with the sleeping children in the middle of the night
6. an aunt to come and take care of us all
7. and make chicken soup
8. and play with the kids
9. and let us nap
10. Gatorade
11. a recliner
    
12. being well enough to travel to our holiday destinations
13. Curl Grandmas, Nanas and Grandpas that help with childcare while one or both parents are sick or tired
14. the first New Year's Eve out since being pregnant the first time (~4 years)
15. safe travel during bad weather
16. seeing Aunt R.
17. L. meeting Aunt R.
18. The Library Lion book
19. this question: "Can you really be considered the author of a counting board book if you are not the illustrator?" (all there are is numbers on each page)
    
20. Kj reading books out loud to herself (she seldom does it when asked to)
21. multiple doctors at our clinic to get a last minute appointment
22. a rest-filled day
23. not having the car today
24. new music from Nana/Mama #2
25. huge otherwise unattainable prayer requests that God will orchestrate the answer for
26. soothing bottles
27. Boppy-like pillows
28. sweetness in a snugly 14 pound package
29. joy in a book-loving nearly 30 pound body
30. strength of my tall, dark, and handsome husband
31. free family photo shoots
32. 
33. Kj naptime so L. can discover her new toys
34. smiles despite sickness
    
35. indoor bathrooms :)
    
36. 10 months old this week!!
37. the fact that she likes to copy noises and such, so I can get her to cough by coughing myself
38. tongues...it's kind of wiggly right now...is this merely teething?
39. tough love
40. boldness
41. 2/4 health
42. God's abundant provision
43. feeling ever-increasing contentment with staying home all week
44. snugglers during naptime
45. a great 1 year old washer
46. a clean fridge...thought I would do that since there was barely anything in there, and the items in there were from last year!
47. loud nighttime breathing to know that, "yes, she is still breathing"
48. new books
49. arch books
50. Bible verses put to music for kids (and parents) to learn