TGIF!

Well- it's Friday and we've had the best day. Thank you Lord for this GORGEOUS weather. This morning we went to our monthly kiddie Bible study and it was so nice. The virtue we studied this past month was learning God's truth and ALL the kids learned the entire 23rd Psalm- it was quite amazing. Learning the psalm was it's own homeschool moment b/c we had to teach him the meaning of the new words like dwell and restore and what does it mean to prepare a table before your enemies? After Bible study we went to the park- here are the mommy's enjoying some grown-up time. I caption this picture "get your minivan and fast food and let's let the kids wear themselves out while we laugh": Julia got picked up by these cute brothers- her first group date: Marky and his best buddy ran around like army men shooting sticks like guns- I mean, you can't keep a boy from acting this way...it's just IN them to fight: The "big kid" crew:
Little buddy turned one month old yesterday- I know, time IS flying. He's decided that he is most happy ON mommy so I have become a sling-mom. I never used slings with my other two- but I have found it most helpful with number 3, especially at night. And it frees my hands to do e-mail, write thank-you notes, read, etc. For instance, last night I wore him as we watched "The Office". I literally cried while laughing because it was so hilarious. We rewatched the scene where he is memorizing everyone's name at Karen's office probably six times.

P.S. I asked little buddy what he thought of the stimulus plan and the theory that you should spend your way out of a recession and create MORE government workers and programs. He put his fist up and said, "these policies are crazy! We must stand together and fight big government." My little Reagonite... mommy is so proud.

It's Domestic...boogie woogie woogie

The blog post title is because all day I've been thinking of that song "electric slide" and singing "you can't explain it....it's domestic....boogie woogie woogie". Why is the domestic life on my mind? Because I've started a new Bible Study on Proverbs 31- it's Graced and Gifted by Kimberly Hahn. We met for the first time last night at my home. So far I can tell that God had this book in mind for me at this time. And coming right before Lent is just perfect since we are all in preparing ourselves for the Easter feast by taking sin by the horns.

Some things that have stood out to me are how our vocation is only successful when we are providing to our family under God's grace and with His help. It's when our hearts are distracted and leaning on ourselves that we get impatient and ungrateful for our station in life and lazy. She says, "Diligence over our hearts leads us to diligence in our tasks, the antidote to the deadly sin of sloth." She talks about how the Proverbs 31 woman works with "willing hands." She talked about being frustrated with the monotony of years and years of laundering the same clothes and God showed her that she was not caring for a shirt- she was caring for the child who wore the shirt and that "though the work was repetitive, the work on my heart and mind was not." She explains,

"I realized that though I may be sweeping the same floor, wiping the same dishes, making the same bed, washing the same clothes, something is different- I am. Little by little God is giving me more of a servant heart as I relinquish my will to His, allowing the ordinary tasks of my day to reflect the extraordinary Love he has for my loved ones through me. Through ordinary work God gives extraordinary grace. When I cooperate with that grace, I remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'"

Today God has already showed me areas I can focus on. I can stay in this mediocre state where I haven't fully died to all my selfish desires, or I can just slay my flesh and jump headfirst into serving and loving. That doesn't mean not to care for myself- just tonight I went back to the gym for the first time post baby- it just means my choices have to be choices that bless my family. She even mentioned saying as you cook dinner, "Lord, let this dinner bless my family." Hard to say when you've put no thought into dinner or have been grumpy all day. I know I'm not going to be Martha Stewart up in here- but I am saying life is a journey and I should slowly be growing in virtue and every year I should be closer to God and His character should reflect more and more in me. As they say in the movie Braveheart "You know what happens if we don't try? Nothing."

Home and Back

Hello friends- long time no blog. I went home to the port city to see my folks this week. I had the best time- believe it or not the car ride was great and everybody behaved well. I only had to stop one time on the way down and one time on the way back to change diapers and feed Tucker. Going to my parents house is always an adventure for my kids. My parents adore them and do all they can to entertain them. For instance they let them dig up their garden and plant sunflower seeds....no, not real sunflower seeds...the salted ones from the pantry.

Then they got to move all the rocks by the pool....
Poppy hooked up his trailer to the riding lawnmower and rode them around the yard (they LOVED that)....
BB and Poppy also have fun toys like golf and croquet that they love....

We also went to Chuck E Cheese, the park, different playgrounds...we stayed busy and had fun. As for Tucker, he was pretty much held by somebody most of the time. Here he is in his favorite spot-

As an extra treat I got to go to a baby shower for Jen! It was so nice to see her and other friends including bloggers Merrill and Shannon. She looks beautiful and her nursery is adorable- I hope she will blog it! Also- she can still wear her rings in her 9th month...what in the world? Where is the swelling?

I've had so many things on my mind that I want to talk about. One topic is Esther from the Bible. I went with my mom to her Beth Moore study on Esther while I was home and it was so good. She was talking about how Esther was resistant to Mordecai at first when he wanted her to approach the king about saving the Jews. And Mordecia said "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" This was why she was where she was. It seemed like too much, but God had put her there for that purpose and she could either be part of His plan or not. I thought about motherhood and how overwhelming cooking, cleaning, teaching, loving, and serving can be. It's almost like it's too many things for one woman to do, but God has put us in this position for such a time as this. I can either buck up and lay down my life for my family and see God's plan for my family and my own sanctification worked out or I can be selfish and sinful and whine about all that's on my plate and miss the blessing. Anyway- I need to run...we'll talk more soon.

Let's Talk TV

Alright- it's been a while since we've talked television and I need to vent...

1.) Did you watch the Duggar wedding? Hillary mentioned how much she liked that show and now I've been watching it. Sweet stuff. However, did anyone notice that there is a commercial for the morning after pill during the 18 Kids and Counting show. I mean, is that a coincidence or strategic?

2.) The Office is back and funny again. Makes mommy so happy.

3.) Flight of the Concords is back but we no longer get HBO so I hope they are on i-tunes. I introduced my mom to them via our i-Pod when she was here- good times.

4.) And finally, WHO WANTS A CLEAN HOUSE? Does anybody else love the show Clean House like I do? Niecy Nash is hysterical! I love when she looks at their mess and says "what is all this foolishness?" AND the carpenter Matt is MATT ALLEN. I mean- he looks like him, is tall like him and is hilarious- Carrie have you seen this?

5.) Oh and I will be watching American Idol tonight- now that I'm on the couch holding baby boy I have much more time to check in!

For Tucker

WHERE did you come from, baby dear?
Out of the everywhere into the here.

Where did you get those eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through.

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?
Some of the starry spikes left in.

Where did you get that little tear?
I found it waiting when I got here.

What makes your forehead so smooth and high?
A soft hand strok’d it as I went by.

What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?
I saw something better than any one knows.

Whence that three-corner’d smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

Where did you get this pearly ear?
God spoke, and it came out to hear.

Where did you get those arms and hands?
Love made itself into bonds and bands.

Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?
From the same box as the cherubs’ wings.

How did they all just come to be you?
God thought about me, and so I grew.

But how did you come to us, you dear?
God thought about you, and so I am here.

George McDonald

Heavenly Day

Well, my mom left Wednesday morning and I've been in the trenches by myself the past couple days. She and I both shed a tear when she left! So far so good. Today was the most incredible day. I thanked God this morning for letting us get some BEAUTIFUL weather and get out of our house! Early this morning I was able to clean all the kids rooms and fold laundry while the kids played outside. Then we went to the park with four other moms and their babies and had a picnic and spent the day playing. It was a perfect day and the kids had the best time just running in the grass and climbing the hills- they never even got on the playsets. Then we all came home and EVERYONE took a nap- Julia in her bed, Marky on his top bunk and Tucker and I on the bottom bunk. Then Daddy came home and took us out to dinner to a steak restaurant and all three kids were so well behaved. At dinner Marky read a book quietly and Julia put stickers on her menu and after each one would put her hands up and say "I did it!"

I am so grateful for my life today. Even with the getting up all night and laundry that I will never catch up with I am living my dream life. I do not take it for granted and thank God for opening my eyes to the gifts before me.

As you can see, Tucker fits right in...

How we're doing...

Just a post to say everything is still going well. Little buddy is SUCH a good baby- just what I ordered! : ) He gets up to eat every 4 hours at night, but he eats fast and goes right back down. I'm in love. BB is still here so we've not hit reality yet. She is the most amazing grandmother. She stays for two weeks from the day I get home- I really feel it's helped me get back on my feet. I'm just about back to my old self. Marc and I did slip away to the movies last night after putting the kids down and feeding baby. And what did we see since there are SO many awesome, deep and profound movies out. Well we saw Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Marc said we needed something to make us laugh and it was fun- and I've loved Kevin James since his King of Queens days. And why is this ridiculous song on my blog? Because I found it on my husband's iPod. Yes, he obviously at some point PAID money for this song. I was laughing so hard when I found it. I think it takes him back to the time when he performed with a breakdancing group (no- I'm not kidding). But doesn't it get you feeling good? Let the music play.......