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.