One More Thing...

...about that little whisker faced 4 year old girl in the post below. She and Lily were playing out front, where I could see them through the kitchen window. I saw two little boys about her age approach them and they appeared to be shouting at them and just acting like little children sometimes do...mean, but not in a dangerous way, just a little boy way. Anjolie and Lily, after getting their "ear-full" turned on their heels and ran up the sidewalk to the door where I met them-smiling at what I would probably hear about those "mean boys" ;). Anjolie looked up into my expectant eyes and said, "Mommy, they are being mean, but they don't know better, they just don't know the Lord." (def. of mean=calling them "poopy heads")I told her how proud I was that she recognized that, kissed her little head and advised her to play out back...my heart swelled. Thank you Lord, for those little glimpses into her heart made new by You.

"ONO COW COW"

That little *ahem* ...kitty....

there (who found some MaryKay eyeliner and put it to good use early one morning...yes, those are supposed to be whiskers..lol), just keeps us smiling.

We love to eat at a restaurant here called ONO COW COW, and we have no idea what in the world that means. But, anyway, we see the words, Cow Cow, quite frequently here, as far as business names go. Brianna and Anjolie noticed it too, and they discussed it in the back of the van this past weekend, while we were running errands, with great interest...

Brianna: Well, there, *pointing* it says "COW COW", but there is no "ONO" with it.

Anjolie, in a very analytical and serious tone: Maybe they named it "ONO COW COW" because it means like "Oh No, there goes my Cow Cow"...

Brian and I started giggling, and they, of course, came up with all kind of crazy ideas just to keep us laughing..."Oh, No, I need to milk my Cow" etc... okay, I guess you had to be there to really be amused ;) Then again, it doesn't take much to amuse me! Good times.

Babysitting Kitty

Have you ever agreed to something without completely thinking it through? "SURE, I will watch a little kitten for a week so it can be a surprise for your son...of course, NO PROBLEM!", that was me, two days ago. I had forgotten how crazed my children get when it comes to animals. I have been refreshed overnight....ahhhhhh!!!!! Just kidding.

The morning the kitten arrived, my girls' kitty sonar must have detected an inbound target. Well, that is the only explanation I can come up with for all three of them pouring out of the house in pjs to welcome their furry house guest before she even got out of my friend's car early Saturday morning. I had forgotten all about it and was quite the morning beauty in my husbands PT sweats and bed head hair. The little squealing group ushered my friend and the kitten into the house and that is about all I remember. Now, we have a kitten...for a week ;) You would have thought I brought a new baby home what with all the squeals, ahhhs and ohhhs. Even Ayden is in love with the fuzzy little thing. The little thing is cute and is being spoiled to death. I guess you could say we are breaking it in for the family it will go to on Christmas morning...he he he...they have 5 children to love and smother it with kisses. :)

Delivered- From the Power of the Lions

Dan 6:26-27
"I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he [is] the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.
He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."

I am not in any physical danger...no one physically seeks to harm me, but at times, in the midst of spiritual warfare I sometimes feel as though I were in danger. My thoughts are anxious ones, my body tenses, my heart feels strained, and my emotions follow my undisciplined thoughts down steep and treacherous slopes.

We are a simple family just trying train our children up in the Lord, serve faithfully in our church and walk closer to the Lord every day. We struggle and we fail sometimes, but we, by the Grace of God are moving forward never satisfied to sit still in our walk. There are times when trials come and, if I am not where I should be, it feels as if the flames of hell lick at my very soul tempting me to throw up my hands in frustration. Then I further complicate the situation when I discard the my sword of Truth and lash out instead with angry thoughts, words and actions. My tears of anger bear witness to a defeated spirit after the dust settles. Then, ashamed, as I cry out to God, I remember that these trials, these ravenous lions, don't define who I am in Christ. I was tricked...again. My response was the key to what was going on in my heart and told where my real faith stood. Try as I might, I will be defeated- in myself and, if I don't repent I am left open and vulnerable to a continued attack. It is during these times that I know my walk with God, my testimony, my ability to be used is in danger. If I am not filled with His Spirit daily I will not be victorious in my walk with or without trial.

The Lions come when I am right where I should be in my walk as well. The end result is much different when the Lord fights...He's already won and His Holy Spirit keeps me close to His victorious path. Sometimes the attack seems relentless and I fret wondering if perhaps I have erred in some way. Before I despair, I must remember that I am 100% justified, so why wouldn't there be lions sent from the evil one? Their very presence should cause me to rejoice in the Redeemer that lives in me. He has already witnessed the final defeat of the evil one. It is never flesh and blood that I am wrestling against, but the principalities of darkness, the Bible says. That is a horrifying fact for those who are not Saved! To those of us in Christ, it means that we must choose to respond to the Lions in our life victoriously! We must respond IN CHRIST -filled with HIS Spirit.

Does my response to trial consistantly reflect a solid belief that God is indeed my Lord and Saviour capable of victory in all circumstances? More often than I would like to confess, my response reflects a sense of doubt and impatience with the ways of the Lord which leads to defeat. In light of this, I am meditating upon these verses from Daniel today, as I sit here home from church with two children, sick *again* *sigh*. I want to be frustrated and downcast-in my flesh...for various reasons other than the two little sicklings, BUT, He has shut the mouth of the Lions! They are present, yes, intimidating, yes, but they have no power over me-the believer -hidden in Christ.

"He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." I love how this is worded...He DELIVERETH and RESCUETH...and in the Believers life...we, like Daniel have been DELIVERED and RESCUED from the jaws of the Lions. Past tense...my battles are all won in Christ..all of them, but I must choose to WALK in that TRUTH. I must walk in a way that gives testimony to this fact. Thank you God for delivering me from the power of the lions...may I ever rejoice in my trials because you have already delivered and rescued me from their grip. Hallelujah, God is so good!

BORAX Snowfakes

The whole process takes about 2.5 hours-or you can let it sit over night as indicated in the directions.. I LOOVE THESE :)

Borax Crystal Snowflake
You will need:
-string
-wide mouth pint jar
-white pipe cleaners
-blue food coloring (optional)
-boiling water (with adult help)
-borax (available at grocery stores in the laundry soap section, as 20 Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster - NOT Boraxo soap)
pencil Directions:
Cut a white pipe cleaner into 3 equal sections. Twist the sections together in the center so that you have a "six-sided" star shape.
Pipe cleaners and string form a snowflake base for the crystals to grow on.If your points are not even, trim the pipe-cleaner sections to the same length. Now attach string along the outer edges to form a snowflake pattern. Attach a piece of string to the top of one of the pipe cleaners and tie the other end to a pencil (this is to hang it from). Fill a widemouth jar with boiling water. Mix borax into the water one tablespoon at a time. Use 3 tablespoons of borax per cup of water. Stir until dissolved, (don't worry if there is powder settling on the bottom of the jar). If you want you can add a little blue food coloring now to give the snowflake a bluish hue. Insert your pipe cleaner snowflake into the jar so that the pencil is resting on the lip of the jar and the snowflake is freely suspended in the borax solution. Wait overnight and by morning the snowflake will be covered with shiny crystals. Hang in a window as a sun-catcher or use as a winter time decoration.

A Christmas Day Is Every Day

by Robert M Wilson

A Christmas day is every day, not one date in December,

A special birth, haloed in light, which some choose to remember.

Just once a year neglects the truth that birthing never ceases,

So seen by those who see, in which the living world increases.

As well, the birthdays we observe for family and friends

Should not suggest forgetting other times what life intends.

Each waking is a childbirth,

as sure as sleep is death,

A momentary passing

on the rhythmic wind of breath.

For presents-

only one cries out,

the one that's most ignored,

A gift unprized because it's free,

yet easiest to hoard,

Requiring neither ribbons nor a package for its worth--

The present of full presence

at our ever-present birth.

No days, no night, just flowing streams

and shades of constant light

Need constant celebration

just as long as there is sight.

Tee Hee

I just had to share this pic my Dad sent me...it doesn't match the normal tone of my blog ...but as a Marine wife and anti-feminist...this little pic struck my funny bone and just *cracked* me up.


(Pam, will this get me kicked off your trusted blog- blog roll? ;) )

M.I.A. Mom FOUND Buried Under a Pile of Laundry ;)

Sorry!! We had revival last week, and THIS week is recovery from revival week ;) I just feel soooo busy right now with Brianna's schoolwork, Anjolie's schoolwork, piano lessons, visitation responsibilities, church, and the biggest reason I have had to stay away from the computer is....AYDEN, he really needs a whole crew of people to watch him...he is BUUUUsY. Just a few days ago my cordless phone and a pair of Lily's shoes fell prey to his antics and found themselves in a deadly toilet bath. He has figured out how to *pluck* the keys off our new laptop...because it's fun to watch mommy try to figure out where they go....and Lily only encourages the entertaining mischief. *sigh* Soon enough they will be grown. I know it will go quickly, but I must say, these past 9 months have been some of THE most challenging for me. I hate yelling at the kids, and I have found myself resorting to this more often than not when they fight or create a huge mess for me while I'm making lunch or dinner. So, my number one lesson, that I have learned when training up my 4 children- that the Lord saw fit to add to my life within 4 years and 10mo ;) (that should like, be a record or something)....is to get up EARLY- well before the kids and getup and get the bulk of the days prep done. This was not possible before with a nursing baby who got up at all hours of the night. Now, they all get up at a decent time to allow me to have at least a couple of hours to myself in the morning.

So, if I want to have a normal busy day instead of a chaotic day, my morning must consist of survival prep....getting myself ready, get the kid's clothes laid out, morning chores done, dinner prep(if crock pot meal), PRAYER and Bible reading ...there is just no way around it for me. So, ...I didn't intend to ramble on so with all that, but there you have it. In a very large nutshell ;) . Life for me is very very busy at the moment. I look forward to catching up with you!!....and you are never going to believe this....the phone rang and woke up 3 out of the 4...so, I'm hittin' the ground running !!!! Note to self...turn OFF the ringer.