I Haven't Heard That Song In a While

You know, that song about waiting. What does that mean? Is the wait about to come to an end? Or am I just never in the car at the right moment? I of course don't place my trust in a song, but I'm just thinking about how God has used it and other things to speak to me. And when I realized I hadn't heard it in a while I got a little excited. Now I just need to hear a song entitled: Job, There You are! Anyone know who sings that one?

I've started a new Bible study, which is equaling the awesomeness of my last Bible study. The gist of the study is this: Whatever God says do, do it. I'm learning, or being reminded, of some great things:

• Instead of merely walking through the motions of life, pursue the adventure of the moment-by-moment divine lessons and appointments God has in store for me.
• Pray every morning to see God, hear God, know God, follow God, and say yes to Him, even before I know what I will face.
• Each day counts, and every action and reaction matters.
• Saying yes to God isn't about perfect performance, but rather perfect surrender to the Lord day by day.

Thank goodness I don't have to be perfect! I'm so far from it! I mess up so often that it's embarrassing. I find myself thinking that I'll just try to get through this day, or this week, or this month. I miss out on the divine appointments that God has for me on an ordinary day. I'm afraid I miss out on God a lot of days. I'm striving to pray that prayer about seeing, hearing, knowing, following, and saying yes to God every day. Saying yes before I know what I will face. I'm working really hard to remember that not just my actions, but my reactions matter. Those reactions sometimes fly out faster than I can control! But really, I feel pretty bad after I get upset with Spence for peeing on the back of the toilet instead of in the bowl.

Why am I writing all this? Sometimes I have post after post of pictures of the kids, fun little outings we've taken, and funny things the kids are saying. That's all great, but that's not a real picture of my life. Sure, I don't have to share personal details of my life here, and I have no problem with people who don't, but I choose to because I want people to see that my life, even though I am a Christian, is not perfect. I don't have it all together. But through hard times, my faith is in God. I am not in control. I've given that over to Him. If He's telling me to keep waiting, then I'm going to keep waiting. Knowing all along that He has it figured out.

Maybe I'm writing all this also because I love to write. And I know you'll read it! I'm not all that comfortable talking face to face with people. But when I write, I really feel like I can get across what I'm trying to say. I always hope that I don't seem like a different person on this blog than I am "in person." It's me. I promise!

One last thing while I have you here. Sunday, our pastor gave us an assignment. He asked us to think about how our circumstances are affecting unbelievers and believers for the cause of Christ (from Phil. 1:12-18). I want people to see the hope that I have in God, and that I am praising Him through everything. I want others to be encouraged by my faith, and know they can depend on God and have a positive attitude in difficult situations. I really hope I am being successful in this, because if I'm not, then I'm wasting or missing some great opportunities.

Thank you for coming here, for letting me share with you. I enjoy it so, so much. Come back soon, and I might have some more cute pictures to share!

Some Odd Pictures

This week I was trying to get some cute pictures of the kids. Well, this is what I got:

Group picture? Not happenin'!

Spence and his "rock star hair"

She's Queen of the castle!

Crawling through the tunnel

From bow to toe, I'm Miss Pink

Coleman and Mommy's game of chess. I have never had any desire to play chess, but Coleman finally talked me into playing, and with this No Stress Chess I'm really getting into it! You have cards that show you how each different piece can move. I doubt many 5 year olds are into chess, but this is a great one for beginners!

And my favorite picture of the week:

One can never be too careful when playing with Big Brother

A Trip to the Livestock Show

Thursday Nana and Poppa took us to the Houston Livestock Show. We got there bright and early to watch Uncle Bo show a horse.

Uncle Bo with one of his horses

Allie loved watching the horses

Then the kids walked through the petting zoo.

Can you believe how tall Coleman is?

The boys' favorite thing is still the tractors! Allie looks like a fan also!

I wish they were always this sweet to each other!

This little girl is 9 months old now!

And finally the moment they had waited for all day: the carnival!

Spence was brave to go by himself!

And Coleman only chose this one because I wouldn't let him ride the Gravitron! His middle name is Adventure!

Thanks for a fun day Nana and Poppa!

Breakthrough and Big Explanation

Allie finally has a tooth! I figured I should record it here. One day when I have a chance I might work on her baby book again, and I'll have to search through this blog to remember all her milestones.

I probably wouldn't have even noticed the tooth if I hadn't felt it bite me! Just one sharp edge has broken through her gums, and it's kind of hard to see. But it's a tooth!

I discovered her tooth today, and Coleman discovered how she is "different" than him and Spence when he saw her in the tub tonight. (I actually can't believe this was the first time he's noticed.) He sounded shocked as he talked about what she was missing. But Spence was convinced that it was just hiding.

You just never know what's going to happen around here in a given day!

Grandma Got Me Thinking

When Grandma saw the picture of Allie in the swing yesterday, she commented that it seems like it was just a few months ago that Coleman was that age and swinging. I remembered that I had a picture of Coleman at around 9 months old swinging at a park in Montana. I decided to look through my picture folders and see if I had one of a 9 month old Spence swinging. I found one from when he was 10 months old, so close enough! Grandma, here are all your babies at around the same age having fun in a swing!

Coleman - October 2005

Spence - September 2007

Allie - March 2010

Caption Contest Winner!

I've added my favorite caption to the picture! Scroll down to the original post to see who won. And what did she win? The satisfaction of knowing I thought her comment was clever and funny! And maybe I'll ask her advice in the future if I'm stumped for a caption.

Lovin' This Park Weather!

Allie loves to swing!

Coleman loves to push her!

Spence loves to swing with Daddy...

...and rock those awesome boots!

Caption Contest!

You only wish rolls looked this good on you!

That's the winning caption submitted by Donna!

Check. Out. Those. Rolls. I want to see if one of my readers can come up with the perfect caption for this picture! My idea was, "My baby has more arm rolls than your baby." That's a little harsh though. Give me your ideas!

Waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

(While I'm Waiting, by John Waller)

About two weeks ago my Bible study was about waiting. Then I got in the car and heard the song "While I'm Waiting" (lyrics above). I realized God was telling me to wait. He cares about us and has a plan, but we have to wait for His perfect timing. As I was listening to the song, I remembered that my friend Jennifer had posted last year how that song spoke to her while she waited to get pregnant. She talked about how it's easy to live month to month waiting for that positive pregnancy test, but that song reminded her to keep living for God and serving Him while she waited for her prayer to be answered. (Click here to visit her blog and see her little answered prayer!) Since that song spoke to me about two weeks ago, I've heard it countless times. God's little reminder to me that this is what He is calling us to do now: wait. Continue to serve and worship Him, but wait.

This week, my Bible study encouraged me to remember my experiences with God and pass them along to my children and also to share with my children what I have been learning about God. As we were leaving the church today, I turned on the car and my song was on. I thanked God for His reminder. Then Coleman said, "What is he singing about?" Here was my opportunity to share with my children what God is doing in our lives. As I tried to explain the song to Coleman and Spence, I could only get a few words out at a time. I had to choke back the tears. I asked Coleman, "What are we waiting for? What is Daddy waiting for?" He answered, "A job." He understands! I told him that while we wait for God to answer our prayer and provide the perfect job for Daddy that God wants us to keep praying and singing songs to Him and living for Him.

I am so amazed at the love God has for me. That He would care enough to keep playing this song for me. That He would have sermons and Bible studies and songs on the radio all speak to me about what He is doing behind the scenes in my life. And to top it all off, that He would stir a curiosity in my child about this song that means so much to me, so that I can share with Him what God is doing for us now, while we wait.

Things You Must Do On a Beautiful Day

Run down a hill

Sit in the sun

Stare at a windmill

Talk to your brother...

...through a cement culvert

Catch a ride...

...on your sister's stroller

Take a new picture for your Mommy's blog!

What's Wrong with This Picture?

This week Allie learned how to pull herself up. The first time I saw her do it, she had pulled herself up and was leaning on a tub of spackle. We've got several house projects going on, so that's really not as strange as it sounds.

Here she is showing off her new skill! Her concentration level is right up there with top athletes.

Making the reach for a bucket of G.I. Joe toys

One day I'll get the girl toy with my own Happy Meal. One day.

G.I. Joe? Space stations? Bat Caves? Don't these people have any dolls?

Check out the chubby thighs and ankles (or lack of ankles)! Apparently no girl likes to be called chubby.

And there are multiple things wrong with this picture. Let me just say that this is what one might look like after being dragged to the potty every 20 minutes and wetting his pants and one sock. Yes, just one sock. There is no picture of Mommy because after a day of potty training, the trainer looks worse than the trainee!

As for potty training (evil, evil words), Spence has gone poop 7 days in a row with no accidents. He even told his teacher and went at school! He is completely opposite than Coleman. It took forever for me to get Coleman to go poop in the potty. I had to resort to embarrassing the mess out of him (literally). I would refuse to change him when we were out in public and he would get upset that other kids could smell him. Spence, I'm afraid, has no shame. Poop could be smeared across his face and he'd still be running around roaring at other kids. Oh well. Today the timer is set for 25 minutes. Baby steps.

I've been meaning to write about some of the funny things the boys have said this week. I'm not sure why I haven't gotten to it. Oh yeah, I've been in the bathroom every 20 minutes!

Driving to the park the other day, we passed some guys mowing. The air was on recirculate, so the smell of fresh-cut grass filled the car.

Mommy: I like the smell of fresh-mowed grass!
Coleman: Ewww, I don't! I like gassy smells that come from trucks!
Spence: I like turkey smells!

Spence: I wish we had a helicopter.
Mommy: Where would we park a helicopter?
Spence: We should get a landing pad.
Of course! He's thought of everything! Well, almost everything. There's the lack of funds, space issues, and the fact that none of us knows how to fly a helicopter. Minor details.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Kid Pictures

Allie enjoying her first time at the mall play area

Spence looking all relaxed

Just being silly!