Idols

I am going through this Beth Moore study called Breaking Free. At first I was a little skeptical about it all and really wondered if it was for me, because I don't have major addictions. But I have found that you don't have to have major addictions to be in bondage. Today I was doing my lessons on Idols and the Exodus 20 passage. I paused to ask the Lord if I had any idols, and if He would reveal them to me. A few came to mind: Obssesion to have a clean and picked up house, and feeling like a failure if I don't, My weight (upset if I weigh 1 or 2 pounds over what I would like to weigh and weighing myself everyday), Worrying and fearing...which would be the idol of control and trying to take care of everything on my own. I have been really trying to work on that one, because I have know my weakness to it for a long time. I hope that the Lord is growing me up in the area, and it is not just a delusion of mine. One reason why I think He is working on me in this area, is because yesterday I was praying and laying at his feet the many thinks I was feeling burdened about (i.e. summer finances since I might not have as many studnets, and other upcoming expenses) I was so excited because I felt like I was really letting go, and getting excited about seeing how the Lord was going to show Himself faithful! I still start to worry, but I am trying to turn right around and give it over to the Lord. So anyway, I want to live an abundant life full of joy, and turning things over to the Lord is a good start for me!

Well, I did it again...I got my ears peirced! I first had them done when I was about 13. Everything went great, and I was enjoying feeling pretty with earings. Then I went to florida, was purchased some cheap earings (even thought I thought they were wonderful). They were wonderful since they came from my aunt, but they were not very good for my ears. Those earings, combined with salt water added up to very infected ears. I didn't know this until a week ago. I only knew that ever since that trip I had trouble with my ears, until last year when I gave up wearing earings because I couldn't stand the feeling of repeircing my ears every time I tried to put them in. So for a year I went without until I was desperate to feel fiminine again. Having short hair, and just having had a baby, I was searching for things to make me feel like a woman. So I tried out the most modern clip-ons that I could find. I enjoyed those for awhile, until I got tired of the small collection from which to choose. So last Friday, I decided to ask if there was a chance I could get my ears repeirced without there being a problem. That is when I found out that the salt water probably started to erode the cheap earing causing an infection in my ear. So with a 14 karat gold earing, it would probably work. So I decided to take the plunge. I don't think I have been that nervous since I had a baby! What was making me the most nervous was know how much I was going to spend, when it might not work. But Joel was all for it, and the odds were good, so I did it. So far so good. I am a week into it, and they are still a little sore, but I read they could be up to 2 or 3 weeks. Anyway...I feel pretty, and so I am enjoying this while it lasts (hopefully that will be a long time).

Matchy matchy

I didn't think that I would be the type of mother who would match with my kids or make my kids match with each other. But I have come to find out that sometimes that happens and it is not on purpose. You know how sometimes you just "feel" like a certain color, or wearing a certain color? Well I do, and since I pick out Izzy's clothes I sometimes pick out clothes with the colors I feel like that day. Make sense? So somedays we are both wearing brown, somedays it is read, or....purple! Sunday I wanted to wear my new purple shirt that I got from the Gap with a gift card that my wonderful husband got for me! But at first I wasn't going to wear it until that night. But since I had purple on my mind, I picked out a purple shirt for Izzy to wear that morning. But then I decided to go ahead and wear my new shirt that morning, making it so that Izzy and I matched...not on purpose, I promise! But we did look pretty cute, so we took some pictures.

Enjoying the now

Sometimes you learn something monumental, and you think "ah, I have it now." But the truth is, you may have learned it then, but you will need to be reminded over and over again to continue living it out. Summer of 2008 I learned that I needed to enjoy the now, and not get caught up in living for the future. Because I was continually discontent and most the time just looking forward to what was coming next. Lately, I have been looking forward to Israel crawling. Now before you start preaching to me to enjoy the time that I can leave him somewhere and when I get back he is still there...I know all that. I know that right now is very convenient in that I don't have to chase him around the house...yet. I know that there will be more discipline, and more tears, and more "Israel, where are you?" going on. But on the flip side of the coin, right now Izzy will get from a sitting position to his knees, then flop to his tummy, then he gets frustrated because he hasn't figured out the crawl yet, therefore he can't get to where he wanted to go. So I am constantly saving a crying frustrated baby from being stuck on his tummy. Sometimes he will return to a sitting position, but not always. Anyway...am sitting here on my living room floor watching him move around, and realized how he has progressed and that he is so close! But instead of rejoicing and marveling at what he CAN do, I have been wishing for something he CAN'T do yet. So I am just letting know, that I have been reminded, and I am going to enjoy watching him do what he can do but also look forward to watching the new unfold.

Valentine's Day!

I really wanted to do valentine goody bags for my nieces and nephews this year and for my sisters, and mom (okay, everyone) so I was just going to go pick up some conversation hearts and tie them up all cute in a plastic bag. But then I had a better idea. I would use the sugar cookie dough that was taking up space in my fridge to make cute little heart cookies that I could ice and put sprinkles on and it would be more fun, and a lot cuter. (I know...that is not a word). Sunday morning (valentine's day) Israel had a cold, it was snowing, so we thought it was a perfect day to stay home from church, so I decided to make my cookies. I had so much fun but wished all the while that Izzy was helping me, tasting the dough, and licking the spoons full of icing! I look forward to next year when he will be able to help me cut out the cookies and put the sprinkles on and add his little touch to the whole project. They turned out great and here is a picture to prove it!

Stage 2

Today, I graduated Izzy to his big boy seat. It is easier to get him in and out, but it was super sad to now be using the car seat that we brought him home in. He is getting so big!

Worth celebrating

Yesterday Joel and I celebrated our 3thd wedding anniversary. It was a fun day. We met at Starbucks for a quick coffee lunch, and then He sent me flowers...in the mail!!!! I have never received flowers like that before. Then we cooked dinner together and watched a movie.

It has been a wonderful three years, and we look forward to seeing what God is going to do in the many years to come! In honor of this occasion I thought I would post some pictures ...a little trip down memory lane.

 

  

  

 

  

 

  

  

It was a wonderful day!!

Sneaky...like a fish

Last Friday I sat Israel down to eat some lunch. He has been doing pretty good with eating food, but for the past few days he has acted disinterested. So I was trying to feed him some green beans and some stew. Well, he didn't want anything to do with it. The more I said to open his mouth the more he pressed his lips closed. So finally I got him out of his chair thinking that he just might not be hungry. A few min. later I decided to try again. Same thing. So instead of giving up, because he was probably hungry and just not liking the food I was feeding him. So I pulled out the yogurt. He LOVES yogurt! I put a little bit of green beans on the spoon and then a tiny bit of yogurt on the end so that would be the first thing that he tasted. It worked!!!! He ate it. I would feed it to him that way, and then try some beans by themselves and he would start to cry. Distgusting? Yes, but it got some veggies in him!

Misc. Items

Don't you hate putting stuff in the misc. item category? I like it when everything has its place and is in its own special category, but the misc. items are just the odd ones out. Well, I couldn't figure out a title for this blog because it is going to about all sorts of misc. things. Things I want to remember, and things I want to share with you. First things first...Israel is eating solids now!!! I am so happy, because this little big boy was consuming lots of formula. I thank the Lord though that he doesn't need some expensive like of formula, so it could be worse. But none the less I am excited. I was driving in my care today thinking about this, and just so happy with the way the last couple of days have gone, with Israel eating, and playing, and growing so well, that I was just about to burst! But I also felt guilty for being so happy when things are going so well, like I shouldn't get my hopes up or something. I said a quick prayer asking the Lord to help me have a good attitude even when things are NOT going so well, and resolved that it was perfectly fine to be rejoicing in the present and rejoice in THIS day because the Lord had given it to me. I can take one day at a time and be thankful for the easy ones!
         Second misc item...I got a new phone! It is a hand-me-down, (I almost spelled it like "hammydown" because that is how I pronounce it) but nonetheless it is new to me, and it is a much better phone than I had before. Joel let Israel slobber on his one too many times, and so he was needing one, found a guy on Craigs list that was selling 2 for one price, so we both got one! I was completely frustrated with my other one because it kept dropping calls. It was especially embarrassing when I was on a professional call and I had to call the person back and apologize for my stupid phone, in the meanwhile they are thinking I hung up on them!
          Third....Today I was teaching my sister piano lessons and Joe my brother has taken it upon himself to watch Izzy while I do this. I look over today and see him going over his missionary story with Israel that he was going to be sharing today in Good News club! Izzy was just sitting there looking at books while Joe was sharing the gospel! Oh Lord may your truth never return void, and may your word sink into this little 7 month old head! Then I look later and Izzy is completely relaxed leaning on Joe, while they read books together! Priceless!
         Fourth...It was time for Izzy's nap. I sang to him, prayed that he would take a good nap, and put him to bed. A few min. later he decided that he didn't want to go to bed so he started crying. After a few min. I went in a gave him his paci, but the crying didn't stop. I was teaching at the time, so after I was finished I went back in and told him it was time for bed and he still didn't quiet down! This went on for 30 min.! He was screaming! Finally I went in there got him up and gave him some Ibuprofen thinking maybe his teeth were bothering him, and then I decided to pray. I prayed that the Lord would bind the evil one from causing this little one to be at unrest. I prayed that He would calm his spirit and help him to calm down, and be obedient and take his nap. By this time Israel was trying to make some cute sounds after he had screamed my head off, but I didn't let him win! I stood up and walked over to the bed calmly telling him that it was time for a nap and that he needed to calm down and go to sleep. He started crying again like he understood me perfectly! I laid him down, gave him is paci, and left the room. I didn't hear another sound! I praised the Lord for intervening and causing my little one to be at peace. It is scary to think that the evil one is out to get even our little babies, but the power of prayer and the truth that God is bigger and has the victory is such a comfort! Thank you God for revealing yourself to me today!

 
     

"Did you practice this week?"

      I was teaching today, and I decided to write down the phrases that I say ALL THE TIME! Here they are..."Did you practice this week?" "Let's pray." "Oops! What note is that?" "Watch your steps and skips." "Good!" "what do you think you could work on?" "Count out loud." "Where's your 2 finger?" And I am sure there are many more. I tend to get really annoied with these phrases since I hear them so often. My students shouldn't have to be told more than once to do this or that, right? Then I noticed some parallelisms. I am all the time causing God to ask me "Did you practice this week on what I convicted you about?" "Let's pray." "Oops! You sinned again!" "What note (command) is that?" "Watch your steps and your skips as you follow Me." "Good job!" "What do you think you could work on today?" "Speak My word out loud so you can hear yourself and not get ahead of what I want you to do." I am in constant need of reminders and I am sure that he tires of telling me the same thing again. Yet He does it so patiently and lovinging. This is motiviation for me to treat my students with understanding and patience and to lovingly remind them again what is so obvious to me.