Wall Art

A few days ago Gracie was down in the basement scrap booking by herself.  A little while later she came up and told me she was done downstairs.  I asked her, "Did you clean up your mess?"  She told me she had.  A day later, I went downstairs to get something and I find her "masterpiece."  She had colored pictures with her markers, put scrap book adhesive on the back of the pictures and stuck the pictures to the wall in our den.  I tried not to loose it.  I said nicely to her, "Gracie, didn't you think to yourself while you were sticking those to the wall that your mom wouldn't want you to do that?"  I might have also said something like "Look how ugly my wall is now!"  So I ripped off the big pieces of paper, but the pieces with the adhesive on them are VERY stuck to the paint.  Here's what my wall looks like after I ripped off what I could...

I should have taken a before and after.  You know, so you could see the masterpiece.  

I told her I was really not happy about how my wall looked.  She said to me, "Well, it would have looked a lot prettier if you had left my pictures up!!!"  *sigh*  Mr. Clean Magic Eraser anyone?!  Does it "erase" scrap book adhesive???

My Picky Eater, Pickles and Pistachios

My picky eater has found some new foods she likes.  Pickles and pistachios.  Ha!  It's so random the things that kid will eat.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that they are learning the letter P at school this week?  She told Hubby and me that she likes pickles (Clausen's garlic slices) because they taste like sugar???  Faulty taste bud to blame???  Kid won't eat a pea to save her life, but she likes garlic pickles.  Whatever, Gracie, pickles it is!  And pistachios are healthy, so I can add two more healthy "snacks" to our rotation.  I can't even tell you how excited she was when she saw the big bag of pistachios I brought home from Hy-Vee.  Today she got an icky burnt pistachio and was totally disgusted.  "What happened to that pistachio?!"  Now every time she's about to pop one in her mouth she sticks it in my face and asks me, "Mom, is this a burned one?!"  

Laundry Fun?!

Well, Ella may be sick, but she still knows how to have a good time!  Last night I asked Gracie to help me with the laundry.  Her job was to take the clothes out of the dryer, put them in the laundry basket, drag the basket to our guest bed, and dump them out so I can fold them, later.  Half-way across the kitchen floor her basket got about 23 pounds heavier.  Ella had climbed in while it was in motion.  That girl could be a stunt woman someday.  She laid that pretty little (albeit not her best hair day, but give a girl a break, she was sick) down on the warm laundry and played "nigh-nigh."  They both got some good laughs out of it, and the chores got done.  I love Ella's ensemble, a shirt, sweater, socks and an apron.  Funny girls...

Ella didn't do much better last night.  She slept in her bed from 9:30 to 12 am, and then with us the rest of the night.  She kept kicking and hitting and tossing and turning and crying.  Seriously, I don't know how anyone can sleep through that, buy Hubby can.  For me, two nights without sleep, yuck.  I'm reflecting back to what I learned from Gary Smalley at the simulcast.  I told God this morning, "Lord, I'm helpless, HELP ME!"  Give me what I need for this day.  Thank you, LORD, that you provide all we need.

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.  She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.'  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates."  Proverbs 31:25-31 ESV

Sickness Strikes Again-Update

When we got home from Yankton, peanut felt really warm again.  I checked her temp and it was up over 100.  More motrin, and now she's napping.  I'm hoping for a good three hours friends!  Thanks for praying for her!

Sickness Strikes Again

Yesterday afternoon little peanut threw up twice and started running a fever of over 102.  That might be a record for her.  She was C.R.A.N.K.Y.  Fortunately, it started getting really bad right about the time Hubby got home.  Yay, another set of  hands!  Last night was a blur of diapers, bottles, temp taking, and motrin/tylenol giving.  Sleep was non-existent, but by this morning her temp was down to 98.9.  She ate a little bit and seems to be in a much better mood.  Because I'm crazy, I'm still planning on taking G to Yankton for her dance class.  She seems to be feeling fine for the moment.  Please pray for  E today as she continues to get well.

In the Boat With Drake...

That would be the boat labeled "Bad Hair Cuts."  Oh, the trauma of a bad hair cut.  I keep telling myself it will grow, eventually, and my hair isn't what makes me beautiful, that would be, oh, what does the song say, oh yeah, His glory, "His glory made me, made me beautiful."  So lesson learned, I can't pull off a hair cut THIS short.  Okay, I can't talk about it anymore, too much trauma.  

LPM Scripture Memory Verse #5 and Focus on Marriage

This would be a good time for me to see if I can type #1-4 from memory!  Here it goes...

1. "And He will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure."  Isaiah 33:6 ESV

2. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency is all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."  2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

3. "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4 ESV

4. "Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another.  The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed His name." Malachi 3:16 ESV

and our new one...

5. "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised."  Hebrews 10:35-36 ESV

My family got on the road at 4am yesterday to come take care of the girls so Mark and I could go to the Focus on Marriage simulcast.  It was awesome.  All of the speakers' messages were excellent, Gary Thomas, Gary Smalley, Del Tackett, my girl Beth Moore, and John Trent.  Some of the highlights....

Gary Thomas talked about people viewing their spouses the way God does, as HIS children. Husbands, treat your wife the way you would want someone to treat your daughter, because your wife is GOD'S daughter.  

Gary Smalley talked about the fact that we CAN NOT change our spouse.  We can't do it and it's not our job to do it.  We need to focus on ourselves and our own hearts.  As branches alone we are helpless and fruitless, but when we are connected to the Vine we can produce good fruit and thrive.  

Beth Moore shared her story of marriage.  She also talked about expectations and letting good be good, instead of focusing of good not being great.  She pleaded with couples to stick it out, hang on tight.  She shared about moments in her life, the weddings of her and Keith's children and the births of their grandchildren, that make all the work worthwhile.

Del Tackett focused on creation, and marriage from the perspective of creation.  He compared the family to the trinity.  VERY GOOD.  His theme was relationships, that relationships are everything.  In the garden, before they took Jesus away, He prayed for the Father to take this cup from him if it be his will.  Del shared that he thinks the reason for Jesus' agony was the broken relationship, the separation from God the Father and the Holy Spirit, he would have to take on during the crucifixion in order for the wrath of God to be satisfied. 

John Trent talked about the 2 degree difference.  How we can make small changes that have big results.  

I forgot to bring my camera so I could share pics with you.  Focus on the Family announced that they will be doing a similar simulcast on Nov. 7 called Focus on Parenting.