I wonder...

So, I'm standing in the women's bathroom today and someone
I barely know asked me how old my youngest child is.  After I replied,
with a smile on my face, "10 months," she looked me up
and down and said, "looking pretty good!"

Made me wonder- when did it become ok for
people (women in general) to say things about
your appearance after having a baby.

I wonder what this 40 year old woman would have said if I asked her,
"How old is your youngest?"  and after she told me, I looked
her up and down and said, "looking good!"

How long after you have kids is long enough to stop
commenting on what other women look like?
seriously.

The Iciest Day of My Life- Gracie Childs

Gracie set out to pull icicles off the trees,
play in the trace of snow on the ground,
and take pictures of things she saw.

This is Gracie getting ready to go:

 

(yes, her goggles are fogged up!)

Here is Trey watching her from the window:

Then, Gracie came up to the window to show him icicles:

You might be able to see the teeny tiny icicle:

And then peek-a-boo:

 

Goofy faced Gracie:

(man... someone needs to wash those windows!)

  

She took the camera outside to take pictures.  Hello!!

 

Trees with icicles.

 

sleet/leaves/cat poop/mud

Esther

Recently we went to Grace Community Church.
Oh, how I love to hear Dave's sermons.
I LEARN things from him.

I've never heard the story of Esther in the Bible.
I've heard OF Esther, just never read the book of
her, or heard about what made her so great.
Did you know that she was chosen out of a TON of
women to be the new queen after the king dethroned his
previous wife?  Coincidence?  No.  God knew what he was
doing, even if Esther didn't.
Can you imagine it being against the law to
approach your husband without being invited to do so?
Good thing the king saw how special she was.  He not only
allowed her to speak to him, he told her she could have
anything she wanted- even up to half his kingdom!  After
two nights of  feasting Esther talked the king into changing a law
that would kill her people-the Jews.  Pretty impressive, don't you think?
Of course this story wouldn't be complete without a villain.
The man who tricked the king into setting a day where all
Jews would be killed was hung in the end- because of
Esther and her cousin (Mordecai).
Everything was set in place for God's people to win
in the end.  And He sent a heroine to make that happen.

I've thought so much about this story the last few weeks.
What are the plans God has for me?
A verse that I keep thinking about is Jeremiah 29:11-
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to
give you hope and a future."   The Message says, "...I'll
show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you
back home.  I know what I'm doing.  I have it all planned out-
plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you
the future you hope for.

I have some big decisions to make in the next few months.
That verse is heavy on my heart.
What are the plans He has for ME?
Am I to be as great as Esther someday?
What if I fail to choose what He thinks is best for me?

sea of green

I got slimed today. 
Big time.

 

This is my very large leg with a very large amount of snot from Trey's nose.

gross.

I saw green today.  Mostly coming from his nose.  

I took care Jada- who had a fever.

Poor girl.  Her cough is getting pretty bad.

Gracie had a good day- got to play outside

for the first time in .. forever ago.  It was cold.  

She had to come in twice to warm up her hands.

(I even put her gloves in the dryer so they would

be toasty warm!) 

And then about 30 minutes after she came in for the

last time (because there were too many arguements

from the neighbor kids), part of the living room floor

looked like this...

BOTH dollhouses and all the furniture, dolls, horses, you name it, 

came out.  You can imagine how much Chad loved this

surprise when he got home!  :)

However, it entertained the girls for a long time.

It helped me relax for a minute.

It was quiet enough for Trey to sleep a little longer.

And they could put whatever they wanted to on the floor

for the whole 45 minutes they played there!

Did you know...?

Did you know...


*that Valentine's day is tomorrow at school and I don't
know for sure what my plans are?  (Beki and other moms
of students in my class... you didn't see that.)


*that Chad and I have given up our own bed all week
for the girls to sleep in because it's just been easier for
lots of different reasons that I won't go into here?


*that today when we got home from school Gracie announced
that it was Mother's Day and that I should rest while her and Jada
"pick up the house."  ("No really, mom.  Dad is fixing supper tonight.  
Go sit down!"  Guess who got up to fix supper because Dad was still 
at work and didn't know anything about this!)


*Jada likes to dress herself.   Exhibit A (from today)

 

*that Bethel College teamed up with Numana and boxed over 

221,000 meals for people in Haiti!

*our dog is getting old, and I have said several times that 

I'm not sure she'll make it through winter.

*that Trey can crawl around and be out of your sight in just

a few seconds?  I caught him with a very small toy in his mouth

yesterday and of course freaked out!

*that Jada calls Trey a "real boy" when his hair is wet and actually stays down

instead of sticking up like this when it's dry? (some of the top part blends in with the background in this picture)

knock knock

The girls have been thinking up lots of "jokes" lately. 
Here is one that Gracie told us at the supper table tonight.

Knock knock.
(who's there?)
Cheetah.
(Cheetah who?)
Don't CHEETAH your test!


*which is usually followed by, "Get it?  ..... and then an explanation
comes afterward of why it's so hilarious.

Here's another one Jada loves to tell us.

Knock knock.
(Who's there?)
What's gray and goes around in circles?
(What?)
An elephant in the washing machine!

too cute.

Boo.

Recent events have me thinking about Chad.
What would I do without him?
Could I do it without him?
I can't imagine what my friend, Traci, is going through.
As I was sitting there at the funeral, I started thinking
about what she might miss about Josh.  Being held by
him, just talking with him, getting cute texts from him.
Then, my thoughts went to Chad.  I would miss
being held by him, just talking with him, getting
cute texts from him.  Even though I get
annoyed with it, I would miss him asking me to
rub his head or back before he goes to bed.  I
would miss the way he jokes around with the girls
when they are already on the verge of a tantrum.
I would miss the quirky songs he makes up about
his white-t, or buckling his seatbelt.  I hate how
something so awful like a friend losing her husband
makes me wonder about what it would be like to
lose mine.  I honestly can't imagine it.  So my goal
is to appreciate him more.  Talk with him more. I guess
it's good timing with Valentines day- but that's supposed
to be more about me, right?

 

my boo