Sydaleigh prayed to Jesus that,
"mommies eyes would feel better," and
"mommy would feel better," and
"mommy would always give us hugs, and give Marvelly hugs, and Daddy hugs, and all kinds of people hugs."
*a smile melts across my face*
He is molding some kind of amazing heart in that child of mine.
Come on in...
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Hurry up and write
Not much time for blogging these days. Which bums me out a bit because I do some love to write down our memories around here. But, the meaty stuff has to wait, because I have but fleeting moments that make up my spare time right now...so here is a quick run down of what I'm juggling....
I am processing four senior portrait sessions and trying to have them complete before we head out of town on Thursday....
I am trying to finish our adoption profile, which has been at a stand still since I have to finish these portraits....
Squeezing in time to wrap up The Forgotten God in my bible study and start prep for our next series which we start in two days....
I haven't had a chance to put away my equipment from last Saturday, so it's floating around the house clogging up the "office", the living room, the garage, but that will all have to wait until the portraits are done and the letter is finished....
My house has never looked worse in between all the equipment laying around everywhere, the heaping piles of toys, shoes, clothes, every pillow and blanket laying on the floor of the living room which is currently a "playground" (according to Sydaleigh)...and that too will all have to wait until I finish the above mentioned....
I have another photo session tomorrow morning and one on Sunday when we return from KC.
Did I mention we are going out of town in four days to stay with these awesome people?
Because we are...so I have to pack, and shop, and wrap up all the odds and ends that I am juggling at the moment.
But I never juggle the girls. My time with them during the day comes first, so I juggle the rest. And I'm okay with that.
So, craziness as usual.
(and that's just me, I don't have time to get into Isaak)
....but it feels good, even in the midst of the chaos and pandemonium that is my life sometimes....just knowing that it is full. And even if it all went away....I would still be full.
And that's it, times up...gotta juggle....
I am processing four senior portrait sessions and trying to have them complete before we head out of town on Thursday....
I am trying to finish our adoption profile, which has been at a stand still since I have to finish these portraits....
Squeezing in time to wrap up The Forgotten God in my bible study and start prep for our next series which we start in two days....
I haven't had a chance to put away my equipment from last Saturday, so it's floating around the house clogging up the "office", the living room, the garage, but that will all have to wait until the portraits are done and the letter is finished....
My house has never looked worse in between all the equipment laying around everywhere, the heaping piles of toys, shoes, clothes, every pillow and blanket laying on the floor of the living room which is currently a "playground" (according to Sydaleigh)...and that too will all have to wait until I finish the above mentioned....
I have another photo session tomorrow morning and one on Sunday when we return from KC.
Did I mention we are going out of town in four days to stay with these awesome people?
Because we are...so I have to pack, and shop, and wrap up all the odds and ends that I am juggling at the moment.
But I never juggle the girls. My time with them during the day comes first, so I juggle the rest. And I'm okay with that.
So, craziness as usual.
(and that's just me, I don't have time to get into Isaak)
....but it feels good, even in the midst of the chaos and pandemonium that is my life sometimes....just knowing that it is full. And even if it all went away....I would still be full.
And that's it, times up...gotta juggle....
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
What do you get when....
you combine a bottle
a washcloth
a rubberband
soap
and the nicest day we've had in weeks...
a serious bubble frenzy.
a washcloth
a rubberband
soap
and the nicest day we've had in weeks...
a serious bubble frenzy.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Returned check
Three weeks ago we sent in our final request for background checks to the Broward County Sheriff's office in Florida.
Two days ago, we got our letter back in the mail along with the $10 check we included for the cost.
Written on the bottom of the letter was,
Pls send $ .30 to BSO for your mail requests.
Wait, is that 30 additional cents, or just $. 30 total?
So I call the office today and am told I only need to send them $ .30 for the processed background checks.
As in a quarter and a nickle, in an envelope.
They actually want me to send them that. Just a quarter and a nickle, tossed into an envelop and mailed to Florida.
This made me giggle.
I LOVE that it is ONLY $ .30, seriously! But how funny to literally be sending a quarter and a nickle in an envelope and the stamp to send it costs more than that. :)
Two days ago, we got our letter back in the mail along with the $10 check we included for the cost.
Written on the bottom of the letter was,
Pls send $ .30 to BSO for your mail requests.
Wait, is that 30 additional cents, or just $. 30 total?
So I call the office today and am told I only need to send them $ .30 for the processed background checks.
As in a quarter and a nickle, in an envelope.
They actually want me to send them that. Just a quarter and a nickle, tossed into an envelop and mailed to Florida.
This made me giggle.
I LOVE that it is ONLY $ .30, seriously! But how funny to literally be sending a quarter and a nickle in an envelope and the stamp to send it costs more than that. :)
Monday, May 10, 2010
Battle of the wills
Mother's day would not be complete in my book without me doing what I do best...
being a Mommy.
It's just that in some cases, having to be the mom kind of puts a damper on the party.
Oh well I say.
Last night during dinner Sydaleigh refused to eat a bite of potatoes.
In all fairness, she has never, ever, ever liked potatoes, even as a baby.
But, me being the mom, still require her to at least try all her food if she wants a treat.
And seriously, that is so reasonable!
That is light compared to some other mommies I know!
So, I finally get her to take one bite (and we're talking small) and she proceeds to vomit it back up on the table.
Over a potato.
I thought she was just going to gag, and hold it down, but no luck, it came back up.
There is nothing this kid hates more than potatoes...
but again....I say oh well.
I'm not trying to force her into liking something, just teaching her to try.
So, she tries to finagle her way into getting a treat because she tried it, hoping I'd forget that she threw it up. And when I didn't came a full blown tantrum, no doubt feeling the world was treating her completely unfairly.
Hard life lessons in this house I tell ya.
Isaak does his best upstairs to calm her down, and convince her to try again so she can enjoy eating dessert with us...but she refused.
She did however convince Isaak that she would forgo dessert tonight and just have cake and ice cream tomorrow after lunch instead.
That's what both Isaak and Sydaleigh told me when they came back downstairs.
Wait, What?!
Oh.I.Don't.Think.So.
Oh...she's good.
I mean, coming to the conclusion in her head that she will suffer through not eating dessert tonight, and waiting until tomorrow after lunch...so that she doesn't have to be obedient today.
Wow.
And she convinced Isaak it was a good idea.
I'm gonna have to watch these girls like a hawk with Isaak. They just have to bat their pretty eyes and he melts like a puddle. Good thing they have a mommy, who's a girl, and sees right past what they're doing!
She was none to happy when I squashed her plan. And told her she will not get any of that tasty cake and ice cream until she chooses to follow directions and be obedient.
A little tiny piece of potato and she went and planted her heels so far in the ground so would not be moved for nothin!
I'm praying her stubborn rebellion right now turns into a fierce conviction later on in her teen years...when she's faced with peer pressure and will.not.budge. from what she knows is right. I pray she plants her heels so far in that ground no boy or friend will be able to convince her to follow them into sin.
She'll get there, even if she never develops a liking for potatoes. And after talking to my mom today I may save her a piece of cake after all, and let her eat it in a few days, to show her some grace. My Mom was quick to remind me that even God doesn't hold us to all the consequences we deserve as a result of our stubborn wills. Ahhh, spoken like a true and wise Grandma!
being a Mommy.
It's just that in some cases, having to be the mom kind of puts a damper on the party.
Oh well I say.
Last night during dinner Sydaleigh refused to eat a bite of potatoes.
In all fairness, she has never, ever, ever liked potatoes, even as a baby.
But, me being the mom, still require her to at least try all her food if she wants a treat.
And seriously, that is so reasonable!
That is light compared to some other mommies I know!
So, I finally get her to take one bite (and we're talking small) and she proceeds to vomit it back up on the table.
Over a potato.
I thought she was just going to gag, and hold it down, but no luck, it came back up.
There is nothing this kid hates more than potatoes...
but again....I say oh well.
I'm not trying to force her into liking something, just teaching her to try.
So, she tries to finagle her way into getting a treat because she tried it, hoping I'd forget that she threw it up. And when I didn't came a full blown tantrum, no doubt feeling the world was treating her completely unfairly.
Hard life lessons in this house I tell ya.
Isaak does his best upstairs to calm her down, and convince her to try again so she can enjoy eating dessert with us...but she refused.
She did however convince Isaak that she would forgo dessert tonight and just have cake and ice cream tomorrow after lunch instead.
That's what both Isaak and Sydaleigh told me when they came back downstairs.
Wait, What?!
Oh.I.Don't.Think.So.
Oh...she's good.
I mean, coming to the conclusion in her head that she will suffer through not eating dessert tonight, and waiting until tomorrow after lunch...so that she doesn't have to be obedient today.
Wow.
And she convinced Isaak it was a good idea.
I'm gonna have to watch these girls like a hawk with Isaak. They just have to bat their pretty eyes and he melts like a puddle. Good thing they have a mommy, who's a girl, and sees right past what they're doing!
She was none to happy when I squashed her plan. And told her she will not get any of that tasty cake and ice cream until she chooses to follow directions and be obedient.
A little tiny piece of potato and she went and planted her heels so far in the ground so would not be moved for nothin!
I'm praying her stubborn rebellion right now turns into a fierce conviction later on in her teen years...when she's faced with peer pressure and will.not.budge. from what she knows is right. I pray she plants her heels so far in that ground no boy or friend will be able to convince her to follow them into sin.
She'll get there, even if she never develops a liking for potatoes. And after talking to my mom today I may save her a piece of cake after all, and let her eat it in a few days, to show her some grace. My Mom was quick to remind me that even God doesn't hold us to all the consequences we deserve as a result of our stubborn wills. Ahhh, spoken like a true and wise Grandma!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Spring Event 2010
Last Tuesday was Brookside's annual spring ladies event. The tables at this event are always stellar, which is half the reason I love to go, the other half being, to get uplifted and encouraged!
The event this year sold out in 8 hours (insane!) with 800 women in attendance.
And Nicole Johnson was there as the guest speaker (she's a best selling author (The Invisible Woman), actor, motivational speaker, tours with Women of Faith, and one of the most sought after creative communicators in America, in addition to being a mom and wife. Wow. I loved her!)
My bible study group hosted a table and our theme was the Holy Spirit, Liz's awesome idea since we're studying The Forgotten God- it took a lot of brainstorming but we worked it out! ( I still think Beccy's idea of a hole'y tablecloth would have been funny! )
I designed 8 paper cut out doves from a bruised and battered bible Sydaleigh tore apart years ago. The doves, representing the Holy Spirit obviously, made out of the bible, to represent the living Word, 8 of them, (because there were 8 gals at out table) and to represent the Spirit's awesome power to be present in each one our lives. Our bible verse was 2 Corinthians 3:17, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." And to tie that in even more Liz bought a creamy colored bird cage and we arranged the doves outside of it to signify freedom and God's desire to guide us and lead us. For kicks Liz bought us each some Dove body soap, tied it up in left over bible pages, and threw down some red wrapped Dove chocolates. Oh, and the red napkins and place mats to signify fire.
It may not have been the most elaborate table setting there but it was so meaningful, and everything about our setting was intentional. I think it turned out sweet!
Nicole's message was spot on. She talked about being invisible. Not a trait that many people desire to be if we're being honest!
And how as woman (seriously, people in general!) have this desire to be noticed,
and recognized,
and affirmed.
And when we're not, we let it go straight to our heart.
We get resentful.
And we get proud.
As moms, we're constantly taking care of others. Picking up clothes. Making dinner. Cleaning up. And yet, at the end of the day, there are no "thank you's". No gestures of any kind to show gratitude. No nothin'. Most of the time the work we do goes unnoticed. Our work is invisible. And as a result of that we start to feel invisible.
So, she talked about finding delight and contenment to work for an audience of One. Because...
His eyes are the only ones that matter.
His eyes don't overlook us.
His eyes see everything we do.
His eyes see every sock we fold,
glass we clean,
meal we make,
tired breath we sigh.
He. sees. it all.
And there is joy in that truth.
There is freedom from resentment in this truth.
And there is freedom from pride in this truth.
God does things every day that go unnoticed.
People give credit for His works to everything and everyone under the sun but Him.
He is overlooked.
And He is under appreciated.
And yet, He keeps loving.
He keeps giving.
He keeps working on our behalf.
Even when we don't see Him.
Even when we don't thank Him.
Even when we don't acknowledge His existence.
So now that is my prayer each morning...to be content and joyful working for his audience of One. Because it's enough.
The event this year sold out in 8 hours (insane!) with 800 women in attendance.
And Nicole Johnson was there as the guest speaker (she's a best selling author (The Invisible Woman), actor, motivational speaker, tours with Women of Faith, and one of the most sought after creative communicators in America, in addition to being a mom and wife. Wow. I loved her!)
My bible study group hosted a table and our theme was the Holy Spirit, Liz's awesome idea since we're studying The Forgotten God- it took a lot of brainstorming but we worked it out! ( I still think Beccy's idea of a hole'y tablecloth would have been funny! )
I designed 8 paper cut out doves from a bruised and battered bible Sydaleigh tore apart years ago. The doves, representing the Holy Spirit obviously, made out of the bible, to represent the living Word, 8 of them, (because there were 8 gals at out table) and to represent the Spirit's awesome power to be present in each one our lives. Our bible verse was 2 Corinthians 3:17, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." And to tie that in even more Liz bought a creamy colored bird cage and we arranged the doves outside of it to signify freedom and God's desire to guide us and lead us. For kicks Liz bought us each some Dove body soap, tied it up in left over bible pages, and threw down some red wrapped Dove chocolates. Oh, and the red napkins and place mats to signify fire.
It may not have been the most elaborate table setting there but it was so meaningful, and everything about our setting was intentional. I think it turned out sweet!
Nicole's message was spot on. She talked about being invisible. Not a trait that many people desire to be if we're being honest!
And how as woman (seriously, people in general!) have this desire to be noticed,
and recognized,
and affirmed.
And when we're not, we let it go straight to our heart.
We get resentful.
And we get proud.
As moms, we're constantly taking care of others. Picking up clothes. Making dinner. Cleaning up. And yet, at the end of the day, there are no "thank you's". No gestures of any kind to show gratitude. No nothin'. Most of the time the work we do goes unnoticed. Our work is invisible. And as a result of that we start to feel invisible.
So, she talked about finding delight and contenment to work for an audience of One. Because...
His eyes are the only ones that matter.
His eyes don't overlook us.
His eyes see everything we do.
His eyes see every sock we fold,
glass we clean,
meal we make,
tired breath we sigh.
He. sees. it all.
And there is joy in that truth.
There is freedom from resentment in this truth.
And there is freedom from pride in this truth.
God does things every day that go unnoticed.
People give credit for His works to everything and everyone under the sun but Him.
He is overlooked.
And He is under appreciated.
And yet, He keeps loving.
He keeps giving.
He keeps working on our behalf.
Even when we don't see Him.
Even when we don't thank Him.
Even when we don't acknowledge His existence.
So now that is my prayer each morning...to be content and joyful working for his audience of One. Because it's enough.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Dog shmog
Isaak, without thinking about the horrendous implications for asking such a question decided to ask Sydaleigh before he left for school....
"S0 Sydaleigh would you rather have a baby doggy, or a baby cat"
I shoot him the evil eye, and ask, "why did you ask her that!?"
"What, I'm curious..." he said.
(oh, the man has no idea what a dangerous question that is round here)
to which Sydaleigh replied, "I'd rather have a baby doggy!" (all happy, probably because she was thinking he planned to get her one.)
followed by, "can we get a baby doggy??!!?"
to which I quickly replied, "nooo, not until Chief and Nanni die."
So, in her very clever four year old way of thinking she says, "well, lets get a baby doggy and just bring Chief and Nanni back to the store"
Hey now, What?! Nanni is my cat, she's been with me for the past ten years, a whole decade...don't get any ideas!
So, I try to reminder her that, "Sydaleigh, Chief and Nanni are a part of our family, we're not going to get rid of them. Wouldn't you be sad if you couldn't see them anymore? "
"Well, we can give them to someone else," she responds without even batting an eye.
What?!
"but Sydaleigh, Chief and Nanni love you so much." (trying to lay it on thick)
"Well, we can get a baby doggy and they can love someone else," she says just dismissing them!
Dang girl!
Where is the loyalty I tell ya!
I don't know where this romantic notion comes from from owning a dog...they stink, they poop outside, you step in their poop outside, you have to pick up their poop outside...uh uh!
No thank you.
So now (like literally this very second, I'm typing as she talks) I'm hearing lots of whining talk that goes as follows,
"but Moooommmmy, I really want a doggy!"....."sorry"
"Can we get a doggy after quiet time?"...."no."
"Can we get one after nap time? "..."no."
"Can we get one tomorrow?"....."no."
" But I'm grown up, now can we have one."....."no."
"But I thought we were going to give Chief and Nanni to someone else!"....."no."
"Well after Chief and Nanni die we're going to get one!"
Curious aye, thanks a lot Isaak!
"S0 Sydaleigh would you rather have a baby doggy, or a baby cat"
I shoot him the evil eye, and ask, "why did you ask her that!?"
"What, I'm curious..." he said.
(oh, the man has no idea what a dangerous question that is round here)
to which Sydaleigh replied, "I'd rather have a baby doggy!" (all happy, probably because she was thinking he planned to get her one.)
followed by, "can we get a baby doggy??!!?"
to which I quickly replied, "nooo, not until Chief and Nanni die."
So, in her very clever four year old way of thinking she says, "well, lets get a baby doggy and just bring Chief and Nanni back to the store"
Hey now, What?! Nanni is my cat, she's been with me for the past ten years, a whole decade...don't get any ideas!
So, I try to reminder her that, "Sydaleigh, Chief and Nanni are a part of our family, we're not going to get rid of them. Wouldn't you be sad if you couldn't see them anymore? "
"Well, we can give them to someone else," she responds without even batting an eye.
What?!
"but Sydaleigh, Chief and Nanni love you so much." (trying to lay it on thick)
"Well, we can get a baby doggy and they can love someone else," she says just dismissing them!
Dang girl!
Where is the loyalty I tell ya!
I don't know where this romantic notion comes from from owning a dog...they stink, they poop outside, you step in their poop outside, you have to pick up their poop outside...uh uh!
No thank you.
So now (like literally this very second, I'm typing as she talks) I'm hearing lots of whining talk that goes as follows,
"but Moooommmmy, I really want a doggy!"....."sorry"
"Can we get a doggy after quiet time?"...."no."
"Can we get one after nap time? "..."no."
"Can we get one tomorrow?"....."no."
" But I'm grown up, now can we have one."....."no."
"But I thought we were going to give Chief and Nanni to someone else!"....."no."
"Well after Chief and Nanni die we're going to get one!"
Curious aye, thanks a lot Isaak!
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