It's good to be an only child...for the day!!

Isaac and Andrew spent some time with Grandma, so Mommy and Levi had some fun. Levi loves brownies!!

Top 10 things I have me excited right now!

10.) WE HAVE A BACKYARD!! All the snow has melted from our backyard. It is so refreshing to look out there and not see an ocean of white.
9.) I CAN FEEL SPRING COMING!! OK, it's not here yet... but the sun has broken through a couple of times and we have had a few days of mid 40's.
8.) THE KIDS ARE HEALTHY!! YEAH...I have finally broken the bad habit of visiting the doctors office or urgent care at least twice a week.
7.) I AM RESTED!! or at least I get rest at night. Everybody is currently sleeping through the night.
6.) NEW BABY IS HEALTHY!! and I am over half way done....YEAH!!
5.) I CAN SEND THE KIDS OUTSIDE TO PLAY!!! and my house is cleaner, my nerves are calmer, and I have time to sit and crochet a new blanket.
4.) I AM THE CEO OF MY OWN HOUSE!! I am currently reading a book that applies business techniques to running a smooth and well organized home. It is very practical and has me inspired!!
3.) MY FAMILY EATS BROCCOLI!! I am on a nutrition kick. I am changing our eating habits and my family is adjusting nicely. We have introduced things like sprouted grain, hummus, lots of raw veggies, and fish. So far none of us has starved to death.
2.) MY HUSBAND LOVES ME!! Self-explanatory.
1.) DESPITE HARD FINANCIAL TIMES GOD IS FAITHFUL AND PROVIDING FOR US!!

GRAND PRIZE WINNER WHY I AM EXCITED RIGHT NOW IS........

***THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!!!****
I am enthralled with the knowledge that the God of the universe is a perfect God. He is Holy in all He does. He is the Sovereign King and the perfect judge of man. Because He administers perfect justice He has to condemn sinners to punishment. To do otherwise would make him a corrupt judge. This brings a great dilemma to man, because all man is sinful. Not one of us upholds God's perfect standard. All of us has broken God's law. In God's great court room, all of us can look forward to condemnation and punishment. It is the only fair and just verdict.
And then to realize that God, in his great mercy, sent his only son, in whom he loved dearly, to come to earth. He did this out of great love and compassion for us. Jesus went to the cross to bear our guilty verdict. He bore our sentence. God poured his wrath out on Jesus, so that I can stand justified. My sin is paid for. I am blameless in God's sight. I am guaranteed heaven.
My friends, this has me very excited. Please understand, I am not trying to evangelize people who don't know this (although that would be ok), but I want to remind you...my friends....the Christians of this. Our salvation was bought at a tremendous price. It is precious. I urge you to evaluate your life and make sure you are walking in a manner worthy of the high calling you have received. "Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:10-11

Congradulation To Us!!!

It's a BOY!!!! We had the ultrasound today and found out that I will continue to be the minority in a growing population of men. Everything is healthy and doing great.

Homeschooling Help!!

Hello Friends. I am once again asking you to participate in a discussion. I am currently researching homeschool curriculum and it is really overwhelming!! Every options has pros and cons. If you have any ideas or have tried something, would you let me know? I have looked into Veritas's phonics museum ,Sonlight for kindergarten, Math U See, and Tapestry of Grace. They all look good on the Internet, but all of them have negative reviews somewhere. It is hard to tell with out trying them all out. If you have any experience with any of these, or have liked something else, I would really appreciate a comment. Thanks.

Time to clean!!

I decided I can't do it all the time, all on my own. So I had a brilliant idea.....Why don't I get my little minions to help me? I went out and bought them each their own pair of cleaning gloves (they thought they were superhero costumes), and we had a cleaning spree. It was great!! I highly recommend this for little boys. Because, as you know if you have more than one, if they are not being productive....they are being destructive. And they are really good at both.

Helpers

Here they are scrubbing the floor. They did really well, and they thought it was fun!!

What would you do.....

My friend and I were talking on the phone the other day and she brought up an interesting delima. It is one that I'm sure all mothers of little kids experience. I am writing this blog to get your input on it. Let's have a little discussion. OK, here it is. An acquaintance of my friend called her up and asked her if she likes "drop in" company or if she prefer advanced notice. Now being the sweet person that my friend is she wanted to be available for ministering to anyone just on a whim. But... the reality is that she is a mom of little children and you know that it is impossible to keep your house "company clean" all the time. She was in a pickle. She wants to be available for people whenever, but struggles with the embarrassment of surprise visitors seeing her dust bunnies. We are called to love people, but we are also called to be keepers of the home. Don't you think a lot of of see our untidy houses as a reflections of ourselves personally? What would you say? Is it ok to say you would prefer a call first? Anybody have any good ideas on how to manage housekeeping and little kids? What do you think about this tension in general? Is it pride, is it legitimate? Got any solutions? Love to here from you.

It's so fun to play in the snow!!

More snow

Today we hit 76 inches of snow accumulation in Spokane. That equates to approx. 3 feet of snow on the ground with 7 foot snow banks.

This is a lot of snow!

Cute, Cute, Cute

I think I already have a few other blogs with the same title. But really, there are no other words that sum it up so well!

Brothers

Here I am desperately trying to get a serious picture...and Isaac thwarting me at every turn. Look at Levi....He's like "I can't help ya mom, you are on your own with these nutty guys"

New Sweatshirts

Real Life

I was just reviewing my last blog and had a strong desire to erase it. That would be nice because then you would think my life is just icicle bouquets and sweet other things. But that isn't real life...at least not my life. I started this blog to talk about the real, the nitty-gritty, and the not so pretty. I think if we were honest with ourselves we would have to admit that there is enough to go around. The truth is that EVEN as a Chistian woman there are still those moments when I struggle intensly to walk in a manner worthy of my calling. Even as a child of the Most High, I still have days were I have been up all night with sick kids, have morning sickness, and stuck inside for days on end due to a raging snowstorm in the middle of the Christmas holiday!! It wouldn't be far from the truth to say that I have almost as many lows as I do highs with long bouts of middle ground to trudge through. During the Highs it is so easy to rejoice and praise Him. It is during middle ground where I just try to remain faithful to the tasks that God has given me. Just remain faithful. And during the Lows...well, I just hang on...and I open my eyes. I start looking for what God is going to do... because if he doesn't do something then I am going to die (that pretty much sums up my prayer life during the lows). And what do I find? He is always faithful!! He always provides!! He always rescues!! He always takes care of me!! Sometimes he gives my husband the afternoon off so I can rest. Sometimes he sends a friend to bring me dinner. Sometimes he gives me the strength to do it myself. Sometimes Grandma shows up to babysit. It is always perfect timing and happens so often that I know it is not coinedence. It is God's providence. I am very thankful I belong to a benevolent God who understands that I am weak and loves me always.

I don't know if you can picture this in your mind. I really doubt you can because I am sure you are a better mother than I am...but give it a try anyway. The kids and I were sitting at the table making some sweet homemade Christmas gifts for our beloved Grandmothers. I am deep in concentration trying to tie a string of beads and can't seem to get the plastic string to cooperate. Levi starts yeowling. Isaac is talking a mile a minute and demanding I help him with his string. Andrew is pawing me, trying to climb into my lap, pulling my leg, bumping me, all while saying, "Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? Mommy?........? " and me getting frustrated because I can't get that Knot tied.... realize that my blood pressure is high and the kids feel like they are pressing in against me...and I need room to breath...I need to get away......................
So I run to the bathroom and shut the door claiming, "MOMMY NEEDS SOME PRIVACY!!" Then they start clawing at the door. The door knob begins to turn. I can hear them just on the other side. The odd sensation that I am in one of those below budget horror movies where the poor helpless women is trapped in the last room of her house and the zombies/aliens/creatures from the swamp are oozing in through the cracks in the door. It's only a matter of time...She puts her fingers to her teeth and lets our a window shattering scream!!! See, I told you you were a better Mother than I. Instead of screaming, I did get down on my knees and ask the Lord to help me, because I obviously needed it. He gently reminded me that 1.) I needed to stop trying to parent in my own strength (because who am I kidding if I think I have any of my own) 2.) Cheyne was on the his way home and he will help...so be encouraged and 3.) When Cheyne gets here I need to take a nap (for the health and sanity of all of us)

So, is there a moral to my story? When your little creatures from the swamp rise up and start to overtake you...seek help and take a nap.

A little snow...

Here is a picture out our front door.

Icicle Boquet

This is my husband's creation and artistic side showing. He made me an icicle boquet.

Isn't it Beautiful?

Winter wonder land

This is off the front of our house.

New Addition

We had a great thanksgiving. We spent it with family and friends. It was especially special because we announced that we are expecting a new family member. He/she will be arriving in late June.