Humbling...

As I prayed for bedtime with Calla and Amelia last night, I asked God to help us remember the reason we open gifts and have a celebration at all. I prayed we would "remember" Jesus and His gift to us.
When I kissed Calla goodnight, she said she already knew that Jesus was born. She already knew that he was sent to die for our sins. Why did I pray that we would remember? I tried to tell her that sometimes we forget on Christmas morning that Jesus is the reason for Christmas. There is so much going on. SHe told me, in her childlike innocence, that she "never forgets Jesus!"
Oh! that this would be true in all of us and in her life in years to come.
Merry Christmas to my blog friends. May God be glorified in our hustle and in our quiet moments. Praise Him for our most precious gift. His Son sent to die that we might be saved.

Christmas morning...

We hang the girls stockings on their beds before they wake up Christmas morning. We spend our first waking minutes in their room digging through the stockings. Amelia was so excited at each new thing she pulled out. I think her favorite was the Tigger PEZ dispenser. She also wanted every thing opened to play with or try on. Calla loves her stocking. She was so ready the night before that I went into her room and she was already tucked into her bed waiting. Bubble bath, matchbox cars, PEZ, dress-up jewelry. Stockings are fun. Now onto the tree...

New markers.Notice the Tigger behind her. She didn't let it out of her sight!
The girls' big gift this year was a dollhouse. Lots of little pieces, as we soon found out. A mom, a dad, and twin babies. It is all sprawled out on the living room floor and they are loving it. Now we get to practice cooperative play...

A rare thing...

Calla wanted to take a picture of us after she got her new pajamas on. It turned out pretty well. A picture of Cory and I alone is such a rare thing.

Christmas Eve...

We let the girls open a new pair of jammies on Christmas Eve every year.

This year they got horsie nightgowns. So pretty and soft. Off to bed for the hardest night to fall asleep. Good thing we had a church service and the Great-grandparents family gathering to fill up our evening and wear us out.

The steam train...

Ok. Here was the hype for this event. The "Santa Train" is coming to town for one morning only. Every major ticker in town told times. The local paper did a big two page write-up. The steam train. Fully restored from 1912. (Also the year our house was built, FYI) Hasn't been a steam train in town for 64 years. Be one of the first 400 kids in line and see Santa, get a free picture, and a goodie bag. 8:00. In the morning?! We got there at 8:15. The line apparently had begun to form at 7 a.m. We were about 200 people past the first 400. We stood in line for about an hour in the 23 degrees. Met some friends who also showed up too late. Took some pictures of the "great train." Took our frozen children, with their frozen toes and frozen fingers, to McDonald's playland. We saw the train and we get McDonald's breakfast. All is well.

What do you do with lots of snow?...

Since our first few snowflurries fell a couple weeks ago, Calla has been asking to go sledding. Last week, we had a consitant snowfall several days in a row. This week, the weather was sunny and in the lower 30's. Warm, by our accounts! Cory took the day off on Wednesday, and we took the girls sledding in the morning. I actually took a few trips down the hills as well. No pictures or video though.

This was Calla braving "the jump" by herself. She loves sledding. We had a great morning.

Sledding...

This is Amelia's first trip down "Cardboard Hill." She wasn't too scared, but didn't want to go down again. Her snow adventures are usually contained in our front yard. Even then, she mostly stands around and eats the snow. On the second, and last, trip down the hill, I pushed her too close to Calla and Cory. She missed Calla, but Cory had to jump over top of her sled to miss getting pummeled. That sent Amelia over a small jump and onto her face. That was the end of her sledding adventure.

This is the hill closer to our house that Cory dubbed "Hospital Hill." I told him he might want a different name, but it has stuck. Cory and Calla spent the evening before sledding down this hill for a few hours. Neil, and Abby and Zach were with them. Grandma and Grandpa even stopped by for some sledding fun.

We got Amelia to go down with Cory once. Then she was done for the day. Calla and Cory liked going down and hitting the jump. All in all, we had a fun morning.

The last video is of Cory trying to "board" down the hill. Always a kid at heart.

Our tree...

We went to pick out a Christmas tree on Saturday. We like to buy from a local guy who grows trees out in his back acreage. This year we were able to choose one and have it cut down. That was a first for me. So much fun. It was very cold, but the joy of the season was worth every second. There are a few things I like in "our tree." The shape has to be very full at the bottom. I like short needles. They hold the ornaments better. Not too bare, but at least one bare spot. It has to be realistic. And it has to be about 7 feet tall. Well. Calla picked from a few choices and she decided on this tree. It looks so great in the living room. We decorated well into bedtime. I love Christmas - even with all it's trappings. There is nothing else that compares to the fresh smell of pine when you walk downstairs first thing in the morning.

Let the choas begin...

I feel like I have so much time before Christmas to make all those handmade gifts. As soon as Thanksgiving rolls around, I feel my head start to spin. So many things I want to get done. Not nearly enough time to do them all. I am pretty adament that I give a gift that I know the person would want. I don't buy just any old thing I find on sale. This is both a blessing and a curse. I love watching people open my gifts. I love seeing their faces. But I hate feeling "too busy." I get overwhelmed fairly easy. I am definitely NOT a multitasker. I own up to that. A person has to know their limitations. Now if only I could set my limitations in the gift department...

"For the Lord shall be my confidence..."

This is a hard one to write. Long days with the girls are nothing compared to the trial the Lord is now allowing me to go through. Bear with me as I ramble my emotions and dealings of the past week and a half.
Cory and I want more children. We believe this is the Lord's will for us. Our hearts are ready for another little one. I found out in July that we were expecting, only to realize I was miscarrying that child. It was quick and physically painless. We waited on the Lord's timing and in September were already pregnant again! We were ecstatic! We wasted no time in relaying the wonderful news to family and close friends here. Mom, of course, knew, too. I went in for my first checkup. Almost 9 weeks along. Paperwork. Bloodwork. And then the nurse asked if I wanted to do an ultrasound. Sure. She assured me it was just for fun. No problems.
Well. No fun. Big problem.
I am developing a normal pregnancy, but I have no baby in my womb. Pure sadness entered me as one I have never felt before. I was totally unprepared. Even in the despair I was feeling, the Comforter was giving me silent strength. Verses. Promises. Songs. God is good.
I had to make the 20 minute drive home to tell Cory the shocking news. We spent the next few hours trying to wrap our heads around our new circumstances. The doctor had left me with a glimmer of hope that he was wrong and we were just too early to see things. That is where my faith rested until yesterday.
I went in for another ultrasound. Still nothing. However, my pregnancy is still advancing. I am over 10 weeks, and the risks are getting higher. I felt an emptyness yesterday. It was undescribable. But slowly, the Lord is filling me with the knowledge of His goodness. His ways are not our ways. He will not give to us above that which we are able to bear. "Be not afraid of sudden fear... when it cometh, For the Lord shall be thy confidence and shall keep thy foot from being taken." Proverbs 3:25, 26
"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer: my God, my strength, in whom I will trust..." Psalm 18:2a
I do not attept to say that this is easy or that I am at a place where I do not cry. I weep. But I do know that trials are sent to make us grow. I am growing. It is a continual process. But I am sure God will bring me through. He is my confidence!

This is my life...

I live with two Tasmanian Devils. Little tornadoes in human children bodies! They can destroy any room in their path. I woke up with a head cold today and was in need of a little r&r. Good luck, mother of two! While "relaxing" in my room, the storm hit. 20 minutes of natural disaster. I knew something was awry when I heard the girls jumping off the bed. I awoke to see every imaginable basket or shelf or toy emptied on the floor. No more rest! It's clean up time. No sooner do I plan to get in the shower, then the forecast shows another storm brewing! After my shower I went downstairs to find Amelia in the bathroom with an empty roll of t.p., a toilet full of t.p., wet hands and an extremely wet floor. I also noticed red blotches on her face and hands. Ah! That would be the inkpad on the kitchen counter that is now on the kitchen floor along with several other not-so-out-of-reach items. This is my life.

Dunlap...

Cory took a week long trip to Tennessee for work. I was extremely nervous to have him go. I hate sleeping alone. Always have. But everyone here really rallied around us. We had an invitation for dinner nearly every night he was gone. our days seemed fairly easy, too. The girls did really well. Slightly testing parental boundaries, but fine for the majority of the week. I am truly thankful that Cory has had so few travel trips. God knows my limitations. Cory had safe travels and returned home last week. The girls and I received daily emails and pictures of his adventures. From the airplane ride to a waterfall excursion to wild goats and dogs. We are glad to have our family back in tact.

The Little Farmer...

We took a trip with some Veldmans to The Little Farmer Apple Orchard on Saturday. This was our third annual trip. The first time, my mom and sister were in town. Last year, the in-laws came. This year, we had a brood. Cory's parents, brother and sister-in-law, and their four kids all came along. It's such a great place for kids. This year we decided Calla was old enough to enjoy picking apples. Everyone enjoyed picking apples! It was my first apple-picking experience. Cory added to his adventure by stepping on a rabbit that was resting in the tall grass. It scurried away before he squished it with his size 13 clodhopper! Amelia had to test several of the apples that had fallen in the mud to make sure they weren't good for eating still. We had so much fun. Now for making the applesauce...

Calla was stung by a bee...

We were out for a walk today. The girls were both in the wagon and I heard Calla scream out. I thought her hand had been caught in the wheel or something. My friend said she had seen a bee land on Calla's face. Sure enough, the stinger was still there and her little cheek was bright red. She screamed for a few minutes until we found a nice clerk who gave us some ice to put on it. Then everything was fine. So we determined that the best thing to take away from this is that she is NOT allergic to bee stings. One more "first" off the list. Poor baby!

Cake,"Candy", and Charcoal...

While I was helping my sister frost the birthday cake, Amelia was scrounging through drawers. She found some prescription pills and decided they were candy. In the two minutes it took Cory to call her, she stuck one in her mouth and clutched a second one in her hand. She came to his call immediately and showed him what she had discovered. A call to poison control told us to head to the ER. Once there, she was hooked up to an IV and fluids were pushed. To be safe that none of the medication had been ingested, she had to drink charcoal. YIKES! 45 minutes of pinning her down. A doctor holding her nose. A nurse putting syringes-full of charcoal down her throat. Spurting. Gagging. Screaming. And one sobbing mommy! She ended up with as much on her as went down her throat, but the doc was satisfied that she had enough. The poor baby proceeded to conk out for a few hours. They took us by ambulance to an ER across town that had more facilities for pediatrics. We stayed there a few hours and were discharged. No side effects. Except for this mommy who will never forget the whole experience!

Madeline Elizabeth...

My niece. She is her own special miracle. She has grown into a new personality since I saw her in May. She smiles more. Loves to bop. Walks all over the place. She is much more serious than either of my girls ever were. We went to Chuck E Cheese on her birthday. I don't know if the adults or kids had more fun spending the tokens. She opened some of her presents. She loved all the sounds and music, but didn't like the mouse himself when he appeared. The rest of the weekend, we watched her interact with our girls. She loves to look at Calla's picture when we're not around, but would much rather hang around Amelia. They are 7 months apart. Amelia would show her affection by giving Madeline "tackle hugs." By the end of our trip, she didn't cry about them anymore. Such a fun thing to watch little ones grow up.
We love you, Madeline!

Travels...

We had a long weekend trip to see my mom this past weekend. My niece celebrated her first birthday, so we decided to take the trek. The car ride is supposed to be 7 hours. Somehow, we manage to cram it into 9. The girls did remarkably well. Amelia is not one to like being in her carseat, so we assumed she'd be a bear the whole time. Nope. She slept a lot and kept herself fairly occupied with the basket of toys we had brought along. Calla even took a liking to her Leappad again, so her chatter was even at a minimum. Traveling to see family is always worth the trip.

The County Fair...

Always the same. Year after year. But we love it! Cory has gone to the fair his whole life. We have been going together since we were dating. Now we take our kids. Calla has been to the fair for all five of the summers she has been alive. We've taken a picture of her in a tractor tire every year. It has been fun to watch her slowly stop fitting all the way inside. Amelia's picture was a challenge this year. She loved climbing in and out of the tire, but wouldn't pause long enough for a picture. The wonders of the fair are so awesome through their eyes. They LOVED the animals. A very overly kind lady scooped up Amelia and took Calla's hand and lead them into the calf stall for "better" pictures! They did turn out better. The cows were Amelia's favorite. The same lady popped up in the pig barn and shuffled the girls right into her pig stall! Oh yippee! We had a thorough hand washing after that encounter. She was impressed with the girls "not being freaked out at any animals." She obviously didn't catch my look of fear when the gate to the swine opened! Last year we went all five days on and off. We decided one full day of excitement was enough for this year. There are a few "have to's". The animals. The tents. A 4-H mint shake for Cory. The ferris wheel for Calla. Granpa Cratchet. We added in a variety show and some kiddie rides and we were all spent. Now we just have to wait for next year and do it all over again!

Check out my Slide Show!

Girlfriends...

I had my two closest girlfriends and their kids come over for lunch today. It was so nice to just sit and chat. The kids were fairly well occupied. Minimal spats. Lunch went smoothly, too. I love that God has always blessed me with wonderful friends. Anywhere I have lived, I can point to a few dear friends that, to this day, hold a part of my heart. Friends are a special comodity. They are there to lift you up and keep you grounded at the same time. The Lord always knows just which type of friend I need at the season of life I am in. Sometimes, that friend even changes their season, too, and remains a dear friend through the years. I am truly thankful for all my great friends. Bosom friends. Kindred Spirits. (As Anne so aptyly named them.)

Amelia Bedelia strikes again...

Who knew when we named her Amelia, how much she would take after the zany character in those beloved children's books? She is always in mischief, especially messy mischief.

She loves anything creamy.

Lotion. Shampoo. Diaper cream. Yogurt. Soap. Lip gloss.

Or anything with lots of small pieces.

Popping corn kernels. Cornmeal. Penny jars. Hair clip baskets. Wallets.

But her very favorite thing is emptying the wipes out of the container and strategically placing them around the room. All the while, using one hand to continually wipe her face and arm. Lately, she has taken a liking to getting dressed. She loves to put on multiple shirts, even though she can't get the armholes quite figured out yet. Socks are also a favorite.

Any size. Dirty or clean.

Well. Monday night we heard her crying out in her crib. When I came into focus, I noticed she had gotten her nightgown AND diaper completely off and was mad cause she couldn't get them back on. We took the opportunity to snap a picture, but she was so mad until her clothes were back on. Calla, Cory, and I, on the other hand, laughed heartily.

Midnight Menagerie...

We had an all-nighter for the teens at our church last Friday. Bowling. Pizza. A movie. Games. Breakfast at 6 a.m. It was a lot of fun.

I just had to spend all-day Saturday catching up on sleep! It reminds my of how young I am not. That's better than saying I'm old, right? Not old, just not young.

Check out my Slide Show!

Amelia's Hospital Trip...

We had a trip to the emergency room with Amelia on Tuesday night. After waking up with croup on Monday, she never really bounced back. She was lathargic and wanted to sleep constantly. On Tuesday, we went to the walk-in clinic. She ended up with pneumonia. In the ER, she had an IV to get her re-hydrated and spent the night on antibiotics. Thankfully, she is a trooper and came home Wednesday afternoon. She is slowly recovering at home.

Calla was so concerned for her little sister. The night in the ER she asked a bazillion questions. She spent lots of time next to Amelia holding her hand. She wanted to be as near to her as possible. Calla loves her sister.
On a positive note, Amelia got to eat several popsicles. She didn't have to worry about being neat either. She made a mess of herself and the sheets. She was such a trooper. She and I had quite a night. She would wkae up so afraid and we'd take a walk through the halls, IV cart in hand, and she'd calm right down. Things could have been a lot worse, but God is always in control. He is so good.

The inevitable future...

I have been somewhat reflective these past few days. I will catch a glimpse of Calla and realize how much time has passed since we brought our first little girl home. She is only four and a half, but that time has raced by me. Now I see Amelia deciding that she too wants to keep growing up. I know that these precious girls are such a gift from the Lord. They have amazing personalities that vary so much even from each other, that I am eager to see what paths God directs them into. I just tend to take these days of their fleeting childhood with a feeling of awe. They grow so fast. I want to give them so much love in these days I spend with them. For all too soon, they will be running to and fro with way too many things to have time to sit and snuggle while we read a book. I love my girls.

Amma...

My mom came to visit last week for several days. It was so wonderful! The girls had a great time. So did I! We were busy, but had lots of fun. Fourth of July we headed to Lake Michigan for the fireworks. Amma played in the sand with the girls for hours. Calla snuggled into Amma's lap and even braved the fireworks without holding her hands over her ears this year. Thursday we went to a children's museum ALL day.The kids had a great time. So did the adults. Cory and his dad ended up splashing around in the water room and Mom and I tested out the chemistry lab - goggles, aprons, beakers. So fun! We went shopping Saturday and watched more fireworks Saturday night. I love my mom and my girls love their Amma!

Horsies...

I have tried to pass my love for horses onto my children. Horses have always been my favorite animal. I get them horsie toys, coloring books, stuffed animals. Calla picked up on liking horses last summer. All she wanted to see at Farm Tech Days were the horses. She picked a horse-themed birthday when she turned four. That's my girl! Amelia already recognizes a horse. She says "horsie" and makes quite the noise to attempt to imitate one. We were at a July 4th celebration and saw the pony rides. This is one overpriced event I enjoy doing for the girls. It was Amelia's first ride on a real horsie. After the initial shock of the horse moving under her when she first saddled up, she enjoyed it. Big smiles! From Mommy, too!

Amelia...

This is how we found Amelia after we left the dining room. She had schmeared the remains of her yogurt container into her hair. She was so excited! She made sure all of the yogurt was out of the container. She is such a fun little girl. She is beginning to say more and more words that we are actually able to understand. "Fishy." "Car." "Ball." "Dolly." She will attempt to repeat just about anything. She likes to play with cars, necklaces, balls, and baby dolls. She loves her sister. She is a spunky little thing that already knows what she likes and what she doesn't. She is one of my true joys.
Psalm 127:3a "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:"

Our week in Review...

Calla was invited to stay overnight at her cousin's house on Wednesday night. So, after church I graciously allowed Cory to put Amelia to bed and headed to the coffee house with my two closest girlfriends. Great, refreshing fellowship ensued. I love those girls. They make my life richer.

Since I was a mom of one Thursday, I decided to it would be a great day to pick strawberries. I dropped Amelia off at a friend's by 9:30, and was off to the strawberry patch. All year round, I long for fresh sweet corn and fresh-picked strawberries. I picked two ice cream pails full and headed toward the registers. As the tractor was leading me back to the van, I knew I would want more than I had picked. I do admit that the one deterring factor was the lack of conversation out in the fields. I attempted, twice, to converse with the nice grandpa man next to me, but he would have none of that. Busy picking strawberries, you know. Cory says maybe he thought I was hitting on him.

The rest of the day went as usual. the only thing it lacked was a non-stop chatter from my favorite four-year-old.

Friday night, we had a picnic with the girls from our Sunday School class. We had given them the incentive a few months ago. Bring your Bible. Say the three given verses. Have a family picnic. Two families, plus mine and the other teacher's. We were at a park near Lake Michigan. It was a lot of fun. I especially enjoy watching dads play with their kids. The cookie ice cream sandwiches my sister-in-law brought for dessert weren't bad either.

Now, Saturday, is full. Cory spent the morning out fishing with his dad and brother. Lunch. This afternoon is a graduation party. Then Cory and Calla are heading off to the races. Amelia and I will stay home and relax. I have two sewing projects to be working on, so that will probably end up being my goal.

A Shopping Trip...

We had a shopping trip adventure this morning. I have to plan these in the midst of several other kid-friendly outings. Monday, we were home all day. Tuesdays are park day with our friends from church. We stayed at the park from 10:30-1:30. So I thought we could eek out a trip to Target. Nothing else. Just Target and then back home. No such luck.

My friend and I usually plan our trips to Target together. Moral support, I think. I love Target. I love to wander around looking at every department. Snagging deals. Plus, you can get a drink and popcorn for a buck. You can't go wrong. Well. I find bliss in Target, but my girls are otherwise. It seems as if the large red bullseye sends off waves to their brains that say, "Disobey and throw tantrums. It makes life way more fun." My friend's kids are the same way. It seems Target sends them into this realm where they can be the other part of their split personalities. Their arms will flail at intermittent moments. Screams, whether of joy or disgust, erupt at any given opportunity. And yet I keep going. I do try to make it an every other week event.
My favorite Target memory happened when I was nearly due to have Amelia. Calla and I ventured to Target alone. I was at the customer service desk when it happened. She bolted. Down the main aisle in a child-like jog. Ok. I can keep an eye on her while I waddle as fast as I can to catch up. Then it happened. She took a sharp right turn into the clothing racks. Now all was hopeless. As I began searching the racks near her entry point, I realized she was long gone.
"Code Adam. Female. Two years old. Blonde pigtails. Blue denim shorts. Pink shirt. Code Adam. All employees." As I stood there with tears and dread on my face, Target employees emerged from the woodwork. All were on the search for a little girl whose mother obviously can't control her. Yep. Especially when the darker forces within Target take over. They found her within seconds. Gleefully playing in the center of the toy aisle halfway across the store. Needless to say, we left. And now she is confined to a cart most of time. Until she's 21.

A New Adventure...

We decided to move Amelia into Calla's room last week. Both girls were having their own struggles at night, so we decided maybe this was the best move. It seems to be working well. They take turns as to who gets to cry themselves to sleep. Mostly Amelia. It has been fun to listen in on conversations. Calla will say little things to Amelia. "Amelia, Momma said no more crying." "Amelia, we need to be good girls." "Amelia, should we sing one more song?" I am glad for the friendship that is already blossoming between the two of them. So sweet.

Weekends...

I love weekends. Starting on Friday afternoons, I feel free. Like there will be no limits to the things we can do as a family. This past Saturday, we started off at "Breakfast on the Farm." It is an annual event that none of our four family members have experienced. Even Cory, who has lived here most of his life. We were pleasantly surprised. A large spread of food. Games for the kids. Freebies: pencils, magnets, coloring books. Poking around the farm. And Culvers ice cream. The only drawback was the sweltering heat. We only stayed about an hour and a half.

At two, we were off to a wedding. It is interesting to me how my perspective on weddings has changed. When you are young, a wedding is an unbelievable event. You sit and watch everything in awe and then you fidget until it's all over. When you get to the point that you plan your own wedding, things are a blur. Then all your friends get married and you watch each one so affectionately. That was nice. I liked that song. The flowers were beautiful. She looked stressed. Glad it's over. At this stage of my life, going on 7 years of marraige, two smallish kids, a wedding seems like another event. I spent more time worrying how loud my girls were being than I did noticing all those wonderful details I looked at before. The wedding was rumored to have child care, from the very lips of the mother-of-the-bride. Not so lucky. Cory ended up being my nursery room attendant with Amelia while I sat with Calla, who is very much in the awe and fidget stage. The reception was wonderful. Outdoors. Casual. Coffee bar. Kid-friendly table of snacks and games. Did I mention they had a free coffee bar? One iced mocha for this mother of two on this 90 degree day. Thanks a bunch.

Then Father's Day. I love Father's Day. I love the Dad of my girls. He is amazing. When you marry someone, you know how much you love them and you know what they are like in their relationship with you, but you never know what type of parent they will be. I got the best of the best. Well, I should say that my girls got the best of the best. Their dad loves them. Loves to be with them as much as he can. Plays with them, even if he has to eek it in between a few other responsibilities. My kids will never wonder if their dad loves them. He tells them and shows them every single day. Happy Father's Day, Cory.

Summer fun...

So summer is officially here! Four days of 80+ degrees. Cory took a half day off of work today and we all headed off to the city pool. It was wonderful, except for the necessary wearing of the bathing suit by this bathing not-so-much-beauty. Calla was ducking her head under the water and holding her breath. Scampering around under the fountains. Waiting for the cones to dump water on her head. Amelia was nervous at first. It didn't take long for her to enjoy herself though. She was scampering toward the water even when we were trying to warm up. That's right! Warm up! It is great to get chilled when the air is 90+. I so enjoy watching my girls with their dad. He is like their best bud. And there are few others they would rather play with. I think the feeling is mutual.

There is plenty of summer left to enjoy. Even in the heat, which I truly despise, I try to enjoy the option of being outside. Being in Wisconsin, there are too few months that allow for outdoor activities. I love this stage of my girls, too. They are fun to watch interact. My summer fun memories are replaying themselves through my children. The sprinkler - in the front yard for all the neighbors to enjoy watching. The sand box that coats everything for 36 hours afterwards, even after a bath. Hot, sticky summer nights with no air conditioning. But hey we've got a fan to blow the hot air around! Taking cool baths almost every evening. Wonderful summer!

Spending time...

I realize the importance of time, most often because of how little I feel I have. When I choose what to do with my day, I usually want to enjoy what is chosen. I realized long ago that a lot of my discipline problems were stemming from always having my kids in places I wanted to be. How can I expect them to behave when we are always in adult-friendly environments? My kids need an outlet. And when they get to do what is fun and engaging to them, my day goes better, too! What a novel concept!

My time lately has been playing catch-up. I feel like the housecleaning gets to a point that I need a few days of just catching up. I soon come to the reality that Calla wants my time. So I need to choose the better over the good. I only have one more year of being the most prominent influence in her life. I need to utilize this time. I know I will miss the time with her while she is at school way more than she will miss me.

This week I was also reminded of time with our loved ones. My sister-in-law lost her mom to a sudden reoccurrence of cancer on Amelia's birthday back in February. My own dad has been gone for three and a half years. How precious is the time spent with them now! There was a discussion with Calla today about why people have to die instead of staying here so we can be with them. Tough questions from an innocent mind. I miss my dad so greatly. I want him to be here so I can be with him, too. I want to make all my moments count with those I have right now. Take the time with Calla and Amelia. Make an extra effort to let Cory know how much I love him. Embrace my mom every chance I get.

Flexibility...

This week has shed some light on my inflexibility. I like surprises only if they are ruined and I can prepare myself. I have always been one to get an anxious stomach on the eve of something new and unknown.

First test, the weather. We were in shorts last week at the park and I had to borrow sweatshirts from another (more prepared) mom. This week has been hot and humid. My very least favorite weather. So. How do I function with two little rambunctious girls that most definitely do not want to be hermits in our semi-cool home atmosphere? My rigid answer would be, "Who cares? We'll sit in the house until next week if it means no sweaty, yucky air." But my heart tells me that would not bode well. We were at the parks, on our swings, outside every day. I even ate lunch with the girls outside twice, which is another issue for me all together. We did take refuge in air-conditioned bliss at Wal-mart once as well. It's a little give and take sometimes, right?

Second test, the bedtime. My mom always reminds me that when I was little, I was a bedtime nightmare. Thanks a lot. Let's let bygones be bygones, ok? Right now I need sympathy. Calla does not need much sleep to function. She has never napped longer than an hour and a half. She has had a 10p.m. bedtime for a long while. She still is up by 7a.m. Sometimes earlier if she's excited for her new day to begin. Well, now as much as ever before, she stalls at bedtime. We have tried so many different mehods. Earlier bedtime. Nope. Longer bedtime routine. Nope. Shortened bedtime routine. Nope. Flat out bribery. Maybe. Nope. Discipline tactics have always remained firm and effective, but still no easy bedtime good nights. She has been up until after 11:15a.m. the last two evenings. Sobbing. Scared of anything and every thing. She gets that from me. So. The first night she fell asleep in my arms. The next, in our bed until we were done with our movie downsatairs. We'll see how tonight pans out.

I will always have a new challenge to face. Every day. It is how I act in response to those challenges that keeps me on my knees. God has entrusted me with these two precious girls. Me? I want to do a proper job. I Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."

From the beginning...

Well, here goes my attempt at keeping up with a webpage. To catch up to date, Calla is four, talks a lot, has a whole bunch of energy, likes to know what's coming next, enjoys lotion, lip gloss, and is a constant reminder of how close I need to keep my walk with the Lord. Amelia is 15 months, walking, beginning to talk, independant, loves cars, balls, and any thing that could possibly pose a mess for momma to clean up.

I am a stay-at-home(when I'm not tooling around)mom. Trying to keep house, cook, and raise two little girls is a full-time challenge for me. I am constantly trying my hand a new ideas and crafts. I am not the most thorough project completer. I like the challenge of learning something new, but get bored if the project is not completed in a decent amount of time. Thus, a web blog. I would love to think it will be kept up. Just have to post every once and again, right?

My blessing yesterday came late in the evening. Amelia was already in bed and Cory was almost there with Calla. He came to get me when he had barely started the Bible story for the evening. He read the title, "Beauty and Bravery." Calla immediately began quoting a verse. Her mind is a steel trap. She remembers everything. She even bails Cory and I out sometimes when we can't remember a color of something or a name even. "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." Proverbs 31:30. Cory and I were pleasantly surprised. She knew the verse and reference after being in Peewee Club only two weeks. Praise the Lord! For faithful workers, for an eager heart, for planted seeds.