My name is Shelly, and I'm a scrap-aholic. Or obsessed with finishing a project, whichever way you want to look at it. I had several pages for my daughter's scrapbook done except for the journaling. Yesterday after school, I took them and my pens to the playground and journaled on the picnic table while my children played...for TWO hours! I know. I have a problem, but I got 10 pages finished and in the book over the last two days! In the book she is now 18 months old! I think I'm going to run out of pages before I run out of pictures, but that is a problem for another day.
Funny story...Let me preface this with this fact. If you haven't seen SweetDoll in a while (or ever), she is not very tall, even for her age. She and SweetTate are mistaken for twins at the grocery store all the time--they are three years apart! (He is on the taller side for his age but still.) So where some kids look older than they are, she definetly does not. Then to totally get the scene, SweetDoll has a very matter of fact attitude at times. Like "I'm 5 and am smarter than you." With the scene set, here is the funny story...SweetHeart takes her to the dentist the other day. She gets up in that big chair and the hygenist is making small talk and asks, "My goodness, how old are you? Are you 12?" SweetDoll looks her straight in the eye, furrows her brow and says, "Do I look 12?" That is so SweetDoll! We have seen those furrowed eyebrows from day one!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
My Boys and ice cream
We all have a thing for a little Blue Bell, but for my boys it seems to be a little more. At SweetBoy's first birthday, we were serving cake and ice cream. I asked, "Does anyone want some ice cream?" He raised his little finger as if to call a waiter and said, "Some!" Then when he was about 2, we were driving home from my parents and we told him we would be stopping at Braum's for lunch. A few miles later, kind of out of the blue, he says, "I'm thinking they have ice cream there." We just laughed and said, "I think you're right!"
Last night ice cream was the dessert of choice after supper. SweetTate had eaten his and asked for more. He didn't have enough of his supper for seconds on dessert, but I offered to help him scrape the bowl. I'm pretty good at getting the last drop, especially ice cream. I told him that it was all gone, but he looked at the bowl and said (now imagine this in your best toddler speak), "I think there's a little more in there." So I scraped the last 1/2 drops until it was completely and totally empty!
We have a friend that it does not matter what time you get to his house, 3:00 in the afternoon or 2:00 in the morning, he says, "I think it is time for some Blue Bell." My boys have not met Mr. Pratt, but I have a feeling they would LOVE going to his house!
Last night ice cream was the dessert of choice after supper. SweetTate had eaten his and asked for more. He didn't have enough of his supper for seconds on dessert, but I offered to help him scrape the bowl. I'm pretty good at getting the last drop, especially ice cream. I told him that it was all gone, but he looked at the bowl and said (now imagine this in your best toddler speak), "I think there's a little more in there." So I scraped the last 1/2 drops until it was completely and totally empty!
We have a friend that it does not matter what time you get to his house, 3:00 in the afternoon or 2:00 in the morning, he says, "I think it is time for some Blue Bell." My boys have not met Mr. Pratt, but I have a feeling they would LOVE going to his house!
Friday, February 20, 2009
The things they say...
SweetTate is in that oh-so-cute phase of mispronouncing things. He has a fire truck shirt and I keep trying to get him to say fire engine, because I'm sure you have already guessed what it sounds like! Many words he uses f instead of t. But then SweetDoll had a tamberine and he said it was a tenerine. He got the t right! One of my personal favorites is when I give him something he will say, "Thanks me, Mom." He hasn't quite gotten the personal pronouns down yet! Tonight before bed, SweetTate was going around the house with his little microphone singing, "Jesus is love me. Jesus is love me." How much I need that reminder that Jesus is loving me! He is love to me! He is love! So precious! I love this part of this stage!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
New to the Blog-sphere
Hey, Just wanted to introduce some friends of mine. They are 2Moms, or Mom-and Loving It! Ministries, aka Sharon and Laurie. They are sisters who have gotten together to write some music (and some with their big Brother Chris) for their CD "Hold you, Mommy" --anybody else have a "Jungle Baby"? Or have your kids reached up and said "Hold you." Or maybe need a reminder that "These days are here. These days are now. Help me treasure them." They have also written two books, and are entertaining speakers. They are real life moms with real life families and real life faith. I'm not getting a dime to promote them. I just happen to be friends with them and have been encouraged by what they are doing and hope the get to do it a lot more. They just started blogging and I can't wait to read the encouraging words they will share. I added their blog to my sidebar or here is a link to their website. Enjoy!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
My Blessing Day
Here is what I wrote at the end of my blessing day...
Yesterday (Tuesday) I was in such a bad mood that I couldn’t even finish my Bible study. I read it, but it was not getting anywhere. All day God kept chipping away at the wall I was building in my heart, and giving me a little grace here and there to not say what I was thinking. This morning (Wednesday) I woke up with hope that today was going to be better, but there was still a tidge of bad attitude ready to take over. I was reading in my Bible study, yesterday’s lesson, about having a blast in Jesus and really delighting in His blessing. Because He is full of blessing and He gives them to us one after another. “From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.” (John 1:16 BTW this is my new memory verse I'm learning.) (Beth Moore’s John: 90 Days with the Beloved Disciple, Day 36) To fully set the scene, I’m memorizing Colossians 3:1-2, the set your hearts and minds verse, and a friend is reading a joy study I put together and we have talked about it recently, so I had been thinking about experiencing God’s joy and being in His presence…today would be better. The phone rings. SweetHeart calls to tell me that the big freezer in the garage—the freezer that housed, among other things too, the roast, steak and hamburger mom and dad just stocked for us—that freezer door was open all night. And everything was defrosted. Thankfully it is winter and everything was still cold. But thanks was not my initial response! Here is the prayer I wrote in my journal this morning.
God, today is better than yesterday, but I am struggling with being joyful. I know Your love for me is very great and right this moment I am loved, but life is happening and I am down—I'm frustrated with someone I love, money is tight, the fence blew down in the storm last night, the freezer door was left open, the dishwasher is out, SweetHeart's job is stressful for everyone, I have lazy kids because I'm not teaching them right, SweetTate is being 2, I’m tired and have a sinus infection…Lord, I need Your joy just to get through today! I want it to be more than that, for You to be a blast to me, but this is where I am.
So here is my blessing day…I decided I wanted this to be a blessing instead of a chore. How? I knew our youth pastor’s wife was on a mission trip to Africa, so I invited he and his girls to dinner. I needed to make a roast and some steak, and there would be MORE than plenty so I invited our music director and his family too. (The pastor and his wife couldn’t make it.) I figured Wednesday nights were hectic to get a meal in for them, and that was evidently my job for the day so why not! Was it easy? I defrosted the freezer, cooked 3 pounds of hamburger patties, browned 6 pounds of hamburger to freeze, made a roast and steak for supper to feed 12, the dog pooped in the house, the dog started tearing up the carpet, my son scratched a borrowed DVD, my daughter spilled oranges all over the kitchen, did I mention the fence was down…chased the dog, did I mention the dishwasher was out…washed dishes, pick up the house for company…um, no, it was not easy. Here are the blessings, one after another. Because my focus was on God, I told my daughter that she left the freezer door open, she said she was sorry, I gave her a hug and that was the end of it. I did have to explain later in the day that I couldn’t help her pick up the toys because I was busy in the kitchen—there were consequences all day. But at the end of the day, she knew I loved her, no matter the mistakes. That is not necessarily my nature, that is God working, that is a blessing today! My son thought we were having a party because friends came over—that is a blessing. Fellowship with friends, somewhat hurried because of busy schedules, but I pray it was a blessing to them too. We only lost a couple of pizzas and a package of chicken, and those I bought on sale with a coupon! That is a blessing! I was able to give a friend some of the steak. At some point in the day I asked God that if He was giving me one blessing after another, that I needed strength for this day. I was on my feet all day, and here I am at the end of the day, very tired, but my feet don’t hurt (that is rare). That is a blessing!
God, My Father, I am so overwhelmed! A day that every turn had another mess to deal with, and You were busy blessing me and others! You are so worth it! You can take a terrible day and turn it into good! I see other families that I admire turn mistakes into blessings and wondered how they did that. Today You showed me. I have to put You first and keep my eyes on You, not on whatever is happening around me. Thank you for my blessing day! I’m looking forward to tomorrow! I know You really love me, and I love You too. In Jesus’ precious name…amen.
Psalm 25:5 (current memory verse--another blessing!)
Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. ALL DAY LONG I put my hope in You.
Yesterday (Tuesday) I was in such a bad mood that I couldn’t even finish my Bible study. I read it, but it was not getting anywhere. All day God kept chipping away at the wall I was building in my heart, and giving me a little grace here and there to not say what I was thinking. This morning (Wednesday) I woke up with hope that today was going to be better, but there was still a tidge of bad attitude ready to take over. I was reading in my Bible study, yesterday’s lesson, about having a blast in Jesus and really delighting in His blessing. Because He is full of blessing and He gives them to us one after another. “From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.” (John 1:16 BTW this is my new memory verse I'm learning.) (Beth Moore’s John: 90 Days with the Beloved Disciple, Day 36) To fully set the scene, I’m memorizing Colossians 3:1-2, the set your hearts and minds verse, and a friend is reading a joy study I put together and we have talked about it recently, so I had been thinking about experiencing God’s joy and being in His presence…today would be better. The phone rings. SweetHeart calls to tell me that the big freezer in the garage—the freezer that housed, among other things too, the roast, steak and hamburger mom and dad just stocked for us—that freezer door was open all night. And everything was defrosted. Thankfully it is winter and everything was still cold. But thanks was not my initial response! Here is the prayer I wrote in my journal this morning.
God, today is better than yesterday, but I am struggling with being joyful. I know Your love for me is very great and right this moment I am loved, but life is happening and I am down—I'm frustrated with someone I love, money is tight, the fence blew down in the storm last night, the freezer door was left open, the dishwasher is out, SweetHeart's job is stressful for everyone, I have lazy kids because I'm not teaching them right, SweetTate is being 2, I’m tired and have a sinus infection…Lord, I need Your joy just to get through today! I want it to be more than that, for You to be a blast to me, but this is where I am.
So here is my blessing day…I decided I wanted this to be a blessing instead of a chore. How? I knew our youth pastor’s wife was on a mission trip to Africa, so I invited he and his girls to dinner. I needed to make a roast and some steak, and there would be MORE than plenty so I invited our music director and his family too. (The pastor and his wife couldn’t make it.) I figured Wednesday nights were hectic to get a meal in for them, and that was evidently my job for the day so why not! Was it easy? I defrosted the freezer, cooked 3 pounds of hamburger patties, browned 6 pounds of hamburger to freeze, made a roast and steak for supper to feed 12, the dog pooped in the house, the dog started tearing up the carpet, my son scratched a borrowed DVD, my daughter spilled oranges all over the kitchen, did I mention the fence was down…chased the dog, did I mention the dishwasher was out…washed dishes, pick up the house for company…um, no, it was not easy. Here are the blessings, one after another. Because my focus was on God, I told my daughter that she left the freezer door open, she said she was sorry, I gave her a hug and that was the end of it. I did have to explain later in the day that I couldn’t help her pick up the toys because I was busy in the kitchen—there were consequences all day. But at the end of the day, she knew I loved her, no matter the mistakes. That is not necessarily my nature, that is God working, that is a blessing today! My son thought we were having a party because friends came over—that is a blessing. Fellowship with friends, somewhat hurried because of busy schedules, but I pray it was a blessing to them too. We only lost a couple of pizzas and a package of chicken, and those I bought on sale with a coupon! That is a blessing! I was able to give a friend some of the steak. At some point in the day I asked God that if He was giving me one blessing after another, that I needed strength for this day. I was on my feet all day, and here I am at the end of the day, very tired, but my feet don’t hurt (that is rare). That is a blessing!
God, My Father, I am so overwhelmed! A day that every turn had another mess to deal with, and You were busy blessing me and others! You are so worth it! You can take a terrible day and turn it into good! I see other families that I admire turn mistakes into blessings and wondered how they did that. Today You showed me. I have to put You first and keep my eyes on You, not on whatever is happening around me. Thank you for my blessing day! I’m looking forward to tomorrow! I know You really love me, and I love You too. In Jesus’ precious name…amen.
Psalm 25:5 (current memory verse--another blessing!)
Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. ALL DAY LONG I put my hope in You.
My Top 10
Jen, over at Talking Hairdryer, tagged me for this meme. My top ten reasons I haven't blogged in a while (in no particular order). I could have said SweetTate (age 2), SweetDoll (age 5), SweetBoy (age 8), SweetHeart, new dog--Daisy, laundry, dishes, company, projects, life...but that would not be very interesting. True, but not interesting. So here is some of what we have been up to lately.
1. I tend to be a one project at a time kind of girl. (I have visions of completed projects that rarely actually happen!) So when I get on a project, I get a little obsessed. My project lately is the kids' scrapbooks. When I started scrapbooking, SweetBoy was about 18 months old. I thought the book I started would be his. A few pages into it I decided it was too much work for that and it would be our family album. Then I saved pictures for the kids, and have now decided to make them each a book too. Well, a few weeks ago, Mom took my little ones home for a few days, and I had all day while SweetBoy was at school to myself! I got the house all clean and scrapped the rest of the time! It was S-W-E-E-T! I got SweetTate's caught up to the point I have pictures developed...um, last May... but it is close! Now I've started on SweetDoll's. I have her home from the hospital. Yep, I have a long way to go, but I am enjoying seeing their baby pictures and watching them grow up. It really does fly by! I can't believe she will start school next year!
2. We have had the sinus junk with this crazy weather but thankfully have not had the really yuck bug that has been going around.
3. My birthday was a few weeks ago. I've reached the point of life when no one mentions your age. They will tell you happy birthday, but no one says which one it is! A few years ago my mom told me, "It is bad when you stop lying about your own age, and start lying about your kid's age!" Yep, I'm that age!
4. I mentioned The Truth Project a few posts ago. I have also been watching the Wising Up video series by Beth Moore. SO GOOD! She started it by saying, "We are not here to just learn about wisdom. We are here to get some!" And let me tell you, she opened up the Word and there was wisdom for the taking in every area of life! I love it!
5. In my personal Bible study I'm doing the John: 90 Days with the Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore. I have really enjoyed her studies in this format when I'm not involved in a group Bible study. Anyway, this study has really hit home. I never really stopped and thought about the person of John and his life. I can really relate to him.
6. On another spiritual note...I've been memorizing Scripture. Seriously, taking it to heart and applying it to life. That has been a neat thing. And good to keep my mind from wandering to negative things.
7. We are in the blessed "between" season--between football and baseball! SweetHeart is not all that into basketball or hockey. He will watch it now and then, especially March Madness, but it is not an obsession in the house quite like football or baseball. But...baseball will be here before you know it. SweetBoy AND SweetDoll are signed up to play this spring. It will be our first time to juggle two in sports and any words of wisdom are welcome! SweetDoll is so excited to move from cheerleader on the sidelines for big brother, to player on the field.
8. My dishwasher is out, so I'm probably doing dishes instead of blogging!
9. We do the Blockbuster movie in the mail thing. We have watched the recent ones and have started digging into the oldies. Last night the kids and I watched "Bye Bye Birdie." In high school we did that musical when I was a sophomore. I got out the photo album and showed them the pictures of me in the musical. What a riot! That movie was so corny! I don't remember the play being like that! The kids asked which part I played. I told them I was one of the girls that fainted! Nothing like a trip down memory lane! In the dancing scenes they asked what they were doing. "Dancing, you know, like they did the basketball dance in High School Musical." They didn't quite get the 60's dance. Thankfully I can say that was before my time!
10. This one is a teaser...we have had a very long week for many reasons. One being the day that I called my blessing day. It is a post of its own, so you will have to come back later for that one! ;)
So, now it is your turn. What have you been up to?
1. I tend to be a one project at a time kind of girl. (I have visions of completed projects that rarely actually happen!) So when I get on a project, I get a little obsessed. My project lately is the kids' scrapbooks. When I started scrapbooking, SweetBoy was about 18 months old. I thought the book I started would be his. A few pages into it I decided it was too much work for that and it would be our family album. Then I saved pictures for the kids, and have now decided to make them each a book too. Well, a few weeks ago, Mom took my little ones home for a few days, and I had all day while SweetBoy was at school to myself! I got the house all clean and scrapped the rest of the time! It was S-W-E-E-T! I got SweetTate's caught up to the point I have pictures developed...um, last May... but it is close! Now I've started on SweetDoll's. I have her home from the hospital. Yep, I have a long way to go, but I am enjoying seeing their baby pictures and watching them grow up. It really does fly by! I can't believe she will start school next year!
2. We have had the sinus junk with this crazy weather but thankfully have not had the really yuck bug that has been going around.
3. My birthday was a few weeks ago. I've reached the point of life when no one mentions your age. They will tell you happy birthday, but no one says which one it is! A few years ago my mom told me, "It is bad when you stop lying about your own age, and start lying about your kid's age!" Yep, I'm that age!
4. I mentioned The Truth Project a few posts ago. I have also been watching the Wising Up video series by Beth Moore. SO GOOD! She started it by saying, "We are not here to just learn about wisdom. We are here to get some!" And let me tell you, she opened up the Word and there was wisdom for the taking in every area of life! I love it!
5. In my personal Bible study I'm doing the John: 90 Days with the Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore. I have really enjoyed her studies in this format when I'm not involved in a group Bible study. Anyway, this study has really hit home. I never really stopped and thought about the person of John and his life. I can really relate to him.
6. On another spiritual note...I've been memorizing Scripture. Seriously, taking it to heart and applying it to life. That has been a neat thing. And good to keep my mind from wandering to negative things.
7. We are in the blessed "between" season--between football and baseball! SweetHeart is not all that into basketball or hockey. He will watch it now and then, especially March Madness, but it is not an obsession in the house quite like football or baseball. But...baseball will be here before you know it. SweetBoy AND SweetDoll are signed up to play this spring. It will be our first time to juggle two in sports and any words of wisdom are welcome! SweetDoll is so excited to move from cheerleader on the sidelines for big brother, to player on the field.
8. My dishwasher is out, so I'm probably doing dishes instead of blogging!
9. We do the Blockbuster movie in the mail thing. We have watched the recent ones and have started digging into the oldies. Last night the kids and I watched "Bye Bye Birdie." In high school we did that musical when I was a sophomore. I got out the photo album and showed them the pictures of me in the musical. What a riot! That movie was so corny! I don't remember the play being like that! The kids asked which part I played. I told them I was one of the girls that fainted! Nothing like a trip down memory lane! In the dancing scenes they asked what they were doing. "Dancing, you know, like they did the basketball dance in High School Musical." They didn't quite get the 60's dance. Thankfully I can say that was before my time!
10. This one is a teaser...we have had a very long week for many reasons. One being the day that I called my blessing day. It is a post of its own, so you will have to come back later for that one! ;)
So, now it is your turn. What have you been up to?
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