Sore from Insanity Workout

I am just a little sore all over from doing the Insanity workout. It reminded me of my Army days, specifically those at Camp Doha and Camp Arifjan with SFC Johnson doing his own insane kickboxing workout.

Joanna said, "Your hair doesn't match my hair. Your hair is brown.
She also said, "That's not a question [meaning Christian]" in response to someone being mean.

Joanna Prays and Thomas Busts his Face

photo Yesterday Thomas went to the ER for the first time and Joanna prayed by herself...not necessarily for the same reason. We started out an early Saturday at a lovely birthday party for Joanna's friend. Thomas tried to drive a toy car off the deck stairs and landed on his nose at the bottom. He cried and cried! Thankfully, he turned out to be just fine.

Our friends were great about helping me take care of Thomas. We hung out in the rocking chair in their son's room as Thomas ate pop-ices and they gave us Baby Advil and helped with Joanna. Thomas took a long time to calm down, but eventually he was ready to play, but I was ready to take him to the ER. I dropped Joanna off at home, much to her protest! She wanted to go to the doctor, too! Thomas was not feeling good at all, but he was still a handful all by himself. He got looked at, cleaned up, x-rayed, and looked at again. We are so glad he had no broken bones and needed no stitches--surprising for how awful he looked!

Later in the evening, I asked Joanna about the party because I know she still had fun while I was tending to Thomas. She recalled Thomas hurting himself. "How did you decorate your cupcake," I asked. "I put purple lips on it," She said so matter-of-factually. How sweet! A few minutes later I overheard her praying "...and Miss Judy, and Thomas, and Chris and Tracy... Amen."

Joanna the cheerleader

Tonight in the car, Thomas said "Mommy" for the first time. (He says Mama, normally.) I praised him and Joanna said, "He said Mommy! He can Learn! Yay Thomas!

Joanna is such a sweet and thoughtful girl! She is growing up!

Thomas ABCs and 234s

A few days ago, Thomas has started recognizing some letters! He was playing with my orange exercise ball and stopped, pointed at the b and said "b", pointed at the o and said "o", and pointed at the e and said "e"!

Last night, he counted fish toys in the bathtub, "2, 3, 4." Then he'd move them around and count them again, "2, 3, 4... Yay!"

Tonight out at dinner, I drew T on a paper and he pointed to it and said "T". I drew the other letters I knew he recognized before and he pointed to each and called out the names, "B, O, E, T. B, O, E, T."

I'm really proud!

Saturday!

This was a nice Saturday with my family. I was pretty worn out and the unusual 6 am wake up call from Joanna didn't sound good at all! :-) Jason slept in this morning and then this afternoon he took the kids shopping and to lunch, so I could be lazy for a while. We enjoyed a nice dinner together and played with the kids. Ahh!

Changing Jobs

I'm changing jobs. It's exciting and sad at the same time. Leaving my job was very sad on my last day. In fact, the last several days before that as I wrapped up and closed up and cleaned up I choked up a time or two. I will miss seeing my friends daily.

I love you and trust you, God!

Thomas Counts to Ten!

During our vacation Thomas learned how to count to ten. We walked up three sets of stairs to and from our apartment, so we counted each stair out loud. Joanna helped count too. Thomas said "YAY" as we got to the top or bottom of each set of stairs. Thomas joined in and now he can count, with some prompting, to ten, sometimes even through eleven and twelve, but there is usually a big "YAY" to stop the counting.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! This is the best holiday of the year. I'm so glad that we celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection!

Bubbles

Today, after we ate dinner, I took the kids outside and we played with bubbles. It was FUN. I blew bubbles and had them all over the place. Thomas kept saying "Whoah!" really loudly and running after the one bubble that stayed in the air the longest. Joanna helped blow bubbles too. She held the wand up to Thomas' mouth, but instead of blowing he attempted to eat it.

Joanna has been feeding the dogs. She carries the food all the way across the yard and dumps it into the dish. Today, there was some rain left in the bowl and I didn't walk all the way out with her this time. The dogs had a little "gravy" tonight. They didn't mind. It gave me a good opportunity to tell her that we like to make sure the bowl is clean first!

Thomas likes to get into the dog food and pick pieces out and throw them on the ground. Joanna liked the same thing at that age. It is funny how they are interested in the same things at similar age. Today, this was not that funny because I figured out the dogs bowl had water in it when I caught up with Thomas in the dog dish. Ew. He had dog food gravy on his hand!

It's not that I wasn't paying attention! Joanna can say "Watch this, Mommy!" and I turn my head and Thomas is off doing something else in 10 seconds. These kids are like lighting bolts.
Joanna's been doing a lot of the attention getting lately. She asks us to watch something she is doing such as hopping on one foot and jumping over things or tossing a ball. It's just something new and she wants us to see!

Thomas is starting to be really specific about things he wants. He can grab a banana off the counter by himself. He either beats it to a pulp or bites into it if you don't find him in time! He points to foods on our shelf that he wants to eat. He goes for the cups when he is thirsty. Or, of anyone's cup is near he goes for it. He loves this show "Little Einsteins" a series of cartoons made by the same producers of "Baby Einstein" movies. He gets engrossed in an episode You can't pull him away from it. I stop the DVD right after an episode ends or another one will start! He gets upset if you tear him away from it! It is a great show, but like anything...moderation must be applied!

It made sense to Joanna

It made sense to Joanna...then to me when she asked for a sandwich--a peanut butter sandwich, with white bread; but no peanut butter. She just wanted the bread.

God Wants us to Help Ourselves!

God calls us to action and rewards our initiative when it comes to impossible problems.

1. God calls us to action to take part in miracles happening in our own life.

God may ask you to do things that are impossible. It is your attempt to do that very thing that the miracle happens.

In Luke 6:10-11, Jesus says to a man with a crippled hand, "...'Hold out your hand.'
He held it out--it was as good as new!..."

Do you think the man would have been healed if had been unwilling to even try to hold out his hand? What if he was too ashamed to hold out his hand because it was ugly? What if he said, "No. I can do it myself!"? Do not let fear, pride, or any other sin of self-centeredness keep you from God's miracles.

2. Jesus rewards initiative!

Luke 5:12-13 tells of the time Jesus entered a village, a man covered with leprosy approached Jesus. "When he saw Jesus he fell down before him in prayer and said, 'If you want to, you can cleanse me.' Jesus put out his hand, touched him and said 'I want to. Be clean." Then and there his skin was smooth, the leprosy gone."

Go to him boldly and humbly to ask those good things you desire from your heart!

A Song for my Children

I wrote this song while playing with Thomas in the backyard on February 19th.
It is for both my children. I love them so much and I want them to know how much God loves them.

I love you so deep,
As deep as the sea.
As deep as the blue
Of the sea I love you!

I love you so high,
As high as the sky.
As high in the sky
Where the birds cannot fly!

My God loves you wide and
He loves you so high.
As wide as the arms of my Christ open wide.
And here's why he died:
To pay for your sin.

Oh! How I hope you take him in!

Joanna has a "new" Ariel

Joanna filled in the last spot on her potty training sticker chart yesterday
and got a new Ariel doll for her progress. I filled in the chart with her name and took a picture of her with her chart and new doll. I'm very proud of her progresss!

Shedding Pounds

I must have stepped on and off the scale five times this morning. I can hardly belive my recent weight loss. It's official. 10 pounds are gone. I don't know where they went, but I'm sure they found a home somewhere else. It has been really encouraging to see the pounds tick off and feel my body change.

I did not expect to take a sick day today.

Although it is nice having the occasional 3-day weekend, today was not what I expected. After cleaning up vomit for the 8th time today, my house is clean and the kids and I are tired. Thomas went down without a whimper. Joanna is asleep on the couch and just sat up and dry-heaved in her sleep and laid back down like nothing ever happened and without opening her eyes. She was dozing off while watching a "The Land Before Time" with me when I took off to the bathroom and made myself a mess you wouldn't believe. The whole bathroom had to be cleaned. Sorry if this is gross, but I had to say it. Anyway, I felt a lot better, and cleaned some other stuff too. Today has been exausting. I pray I can get some good sleep through the nausea. I'm thankful that I've been capable of taking care of myself and the kids the whole time. God is good.

Thomas really was the first one sick. He woke in a mess he threw up sometime in the night. How awful.But after his bath he was pretty much fine for the rest of the day with the exception of a few whining spurts. His mattress has a different story: it is out of commission as it continues to dry. Joanna got sick about 9 a.m. and has been puny all day. She threw up 5 times...and counting I guess. I hope I'm done at 2, but I am not that optimistic. I still feel queasy.

I'm going to cart Joanna to bed and hit the rack myself. Here's hoping for a nice restful night.

Love

When you say I Love You today, are you saying this?

I am patient with you and kind to you even if I don't feel like being nice.
I don't want what I don't have.
I'm not better than you. I don't one-up everything you say with something I or someone else has done.
I don't fly off the handle at you.
I'm not pushy to get my way. I'll let you go first.
I don't keep track of all the times you hurt me and never tell you about it.
I do not get happy when you are down on your luck. I am glad to hear the truth from you even if it hurts my feelings.
I protect you and your interests. I don't blab to others when you tell me something.
I trust God to the ends of the earth.
I always hope for the best. If you say something that strikes me wrong, I'll first give you the benefit of the doubt that you didn't mean it that way.
I will put up with anything and never look back. I love you forever.

It is better directly from God's Word:

1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Don't feel bad if you aren't perfect. God isn't surprised! He made you! Accept yourself and accept others. Recognize where you are failing. Ask God to help you figure it out, then turn it around. Ask God to help you turn it around. Don't shut people down. If they love you, they'll turn it around, right? I tell myself this but I don't have the courage to actually confront anyone seriously. I'm so afraid of being hated. Other times though, I freely give my opinion when it doesn't even matter. Is that not ironic? God has been teaching me a lot about love. I am a miserable failure sometimes but I am so glad to have Grace from God and others given to me. I am so blessed. Thank you God!

Thomas the climber

Thomas climbed up on the blue chair at Nana's today. He stepped up our potty to use it as a step to turn on the faucet in the bathroom.

Drawing Class

I just registered for a beginner drawing class. I'm excited! I have never taken any class like this. Here's my materials list: Paper: •Newsprint or other cheap, expendable paper, 18” x 24” range •Drawing and/or sketching pad, 18” x 24” minimum. Strathmore or Canson archival, acid-free papers are good. Pencils: •Soft lead pencils, 6B to 8B •Woodless pencil, 8 or 9B is wonderful! •Charcoal or conte or whatever else you already have. Erasers: •Kneadable eraser •White plastic, like a Quicker Clicker from the drugstore Other/Optional: •Hand cleaner •Paper towels •Other papers you already have •Things to draw? A few additional supplies may be provided by or purchased for minimal cost from the instructor. Other supplies may be suggested later in the course.

Joanna painted my nails

Two days after Christmas, Joanna romped into the bathroom holding her new fingernail polish (real, yes) and told me she was going to paint my nails. She did. She was very meticulous and used her finger to wipe away any she got on my finger instead of the nail. I'm still wearing the polish, which, luckily is a very translucent pink.

She's been into her play makeup several times, but after the last time, I secretly put it up without saying a word. She had put the makeup all over her fingers in addition to her lips and eyes and nose. Cute, but sheesh.

In retrospect, I should have been more specific than 'fake makeup" when I meant the "plastic, play-dress-up makeup" that is actually solid plastic instead of real creamy makeup and real fingernail polish. I think now that she's had the real stuff, I doubt I'll get her to buy into any of the fake stuff. She's not all that bad with it, though! My nails look "o.k."

"Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:33 NIV.

I have been reading Mark and today this caught my eye. I am so grateful for the friends God has cultivated into my life. I realize that the reason I have such a fondness in my heart for some people is because God established our relationship, that it is based on truth and grace. It is different when Christians bond, I think. There is a foreverness about the relationship. There is true acceptance--truly recognizing the person, knowing their flaws, but not allowing the bad to overcome good by setting up appropriate limits. Being able to set a boundary with a person, Saying "I don't want to." "No." "Not so much." "Nah." "Maybe Later." "I can't." is met with appreciation (though disappointment), but not disgust or anger, hatred or angry outbursts. Sure it hurts to be told no, but the good times are made even better when there are good boundaries.

I feel loved by the people who tell me no and those whom I can say no to. I feel a grudge against those whom I feel compelled to say yes to. That's my problem, though and I really am working on it. It's not their fault, it's mine for not saying no when I needed to. I'm learning to forgive myself for that and accept that about myself, to recognize when it is happening again and try really hard to stop. One thing I've done is delay giving an answer or delay a response for a while.

Firsts

My first time giving a public testimony for the Lord was fantastic. The Lord has been teaching me about Love and healing for a while now. So, when I spoke to a group of prisoners, I just delivered a brief message about what I felt God wanted me to share about Love. We had several speakers who spoke of overcoming tragedies, hurts, and experiencing miracles. There were singers, interpretive sign to song, and prayer. It was so neat to see how each person delivered a message and it was recieved by someone who attended. It was also neat to be blessed so much in return. I "knew" I was in for a blessing. I have heard many teachings on blessing the giver recieves is often better than giving the gift. I don't know how much is appropriate to say about the trip itself online, so that's all I'm going to say. I will write down a summary of what I said, though! Everyone is familiar with the Ten Commandments, but Jesus gave* us two: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ...[and]... ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" (Matt 22:37-39) There are three things here: Love God, Love your neighbor, (the same way you) Love yourself. 1. God Loves us so much... John 3:16. It is hard to imagine love like that when you have felt so unloved. God IS Love. He fills you up with love and teaches you how to love. 2. Love Yourself. You really need to learn how to love yourself. Give yourself a break. You are not perfect. God made you and he loves you. You do not need to be perfect so you should give your self a break when you fall short of how you wish you could be.* Jesus paid for our sin. 3. Love your Neighbor. You get God's love and learn how to love and accept yourself, you can understand how to love your neigbor as you love yourself. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Footnootes (Afterthoughts) ---------- *I should have said "summed them up with two" b/c he gave us the "go" commandment. *In context of what I said, I do not think anyone took what I said as permission to sin, so I hope the reader won't impose that view on this summary.