My ideal day

Today we got up and had absolutely nothing to do. I mean we had stuff that should have been done, cleaning, yard work, showers :0), but I had a raging headache so I just wanted to hang out with the babies. Jada talked me into taking her outside to ride her big wheel and the other kids followed. It was a short trip (the headache) but I sure love these babies... Here are some pics. of them enjoying the outside and me (not pictured) enjoying them.

Great quote

I was looking around at blogs and I found a really great quote on one of them. The blog is www.justbeekoz.blogspot.com and I'm posting the quote below because it's something to think about with our children.

There is a natural tendency for kids to "cut their teeth" with us by trying out emotions and pushing against us on seemingly small matters. We shouldn't be surprised when they try. In fact, we should be hoping that they do. Too often, I meet parents who tell me that they want to raise strong, confident adults yet they cannot stand for their child to say or do anything to oppose them. My question is this: How do you expect your 16 year old daughter to say no to a boy's unwanted advances when she hasn't been allowed to say no at home? How do you expect your son to refuse the egging on of his friends to take drugs when you've never even allowed for the possibility of him making a choice on his own up to this point? Watch the movie Ella Enchanted for a delightful look at how the "gift" of obedience can actually turn out to be a curse. Teach your child that he always has a choice. There are surely consequences, both good and bad, for each choice he makes, but giving him the choice to choose will go a long way in sharpening his teeth so that he can make his mark on the world.
Hal Runkel, LMFT, author of ScreamFree Parenting:Raising Your Kids by Keeping Your Cool.

When my oldest was little (she's 18 now) I did not give her any choices what so ever. I picked out every single detail of her life. Then when she got a little older I would get mad at her because she couldn't make up her mind about something trivial. I would ask her what movie she wanted to watch and she could never make a decision. Well, duh... I never taught her how to make a decision. I have had to learn how to give the other kids choices (that I could live with of course)so that they could someday make decisions on their own. This seems so practical but I guess I was raised in a different era because when we were little our parents did all of the talking, all of the deciding, and all of the work. Maybe it was simpler back then? Who knows... But I do want my children to be strong, independent, and ambitious, so I'm going to have to give them the tools to do that.

Happy Wednesday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

This was so much fun last week that I'm doing it again...

So...

I absolutely did not cry when my Vice Principal called me in and asked me to give up my 4th period English class to take-on a credit recovery class. I did not stand in front of fifteen 9th graders, bawling my eyes out, telling them that today was their last day as my students. Of course I did not do this because everyone knows that teachers don't care!

I also did not get really upset with the bachelor for not picking Jillian last week. I mean, I'm not emotionally invested enough in that show to care who the heck he picks and I most certainly did not take it as a sign of all that's wrong in the world (because I most certainly did not think that she showed the most promise even though she made out with him in front of MILLIONS of people with no shame).

I also did not run for my camera instead of a tissue when my poor little baby blew a snot bubble out of her nose that was as big as a grape! Of course I didn't do that because what kind of mother would I be if I did that?? And of course I'm not contemplating posting the picture on my blog! Now that would just be crossing the line.

I'm so glad that I didn't do these things this week! Now I'm off to not do some more things! :-) Happy Monday!

God is grace

Our children have a beautifully gentle way of reaching us, teaching us, and reminding us of God's grace. Jada has her own way of saying her prayers before dinner. Instead of saying, "God is good; God is great," she says, "God is good; God is grace!" I thought about correcting her, but I think I like her version better! :0)

Amazing girl

It was only Friday that I started teaching Jada to write her name. She just turned 3 two months ago and I haven't been in a hurry to grow her up! :0) But I have been looking into homeschooling kits and preschool stuff, so I thought I would try to see how ready she was. We worked for maybe ten minutes on Friday (she didn't really want to do it and I didn't really want to make her) and we worked for maybe thirty minutes all together on Saturday (Brit worked with her for some of that because she wanted to work with her sissy). Today (Sunday, a mere two days after I began this quest) she got up wanting to play with the toy I bought her for learning her name (you know, incentives). I left it out for her to see but won't let her take it out of the box and today she really wanted to play with it. So I told her she had to learn to write her name. I wrote it once for her. I used her hand to write it once. And then she wrote it all by herself. I think she is a genius!! I don't know if this is normal. I teach high school and I can't get kids to learn things in nine months let alone two days. Maybe some of you moms out there can let me know if your experiences were similar. I know I have five other kids, but two I got much later than 3 years old, and I never taught any of my own children to write their names. I left that to their school (I know. I'm a mess. I don't know what I was thinking). Anyway, here are two pictures of my genius child. One of them is her with her writing and the other one is of her and her new toy (fun letters, not really a "toy" but it's one to her)!! :0)

She is all growed up mom

I am really toying with the idea of homeschooling my precious little one. I know... I'm a public school teacher. Don't get me wrong. I love my job. I love my students. But I also see where public schooling has the capacity to fail some students. Anyhoo, I have been praying about this a great deal (God is really using a fellow blogger to speak to me; the same one I mentioned last time www.blogginbridget.blogspot.com) and looking into some programs, I really like A Beka right now and will probably purchase the pre-K kit and see how she does with mommy as her teacher. Here is a picture of her writing her name. She knows how to spell it, but she is just learning to write the letters. My baby is not a baby anymore. *Tear*

More Brit

I wanted to comment on these pictures individually but blogger is acting funny. It won't show me the picture, just the "symbols" that make up the picture. Weird. Anyway, here are some action shots of Brit in her game. I love the shot of her with the ball in the air. She caught it in the air and shot it before she hit the ground, AND SHE MADE THE BASKET! It was really cool.

Biddy Bee

My beautiful Britty had her last basketball game today. Here are some cool shots that I took with my new camera (I still don't know how to use it.) I wanted the pictures to show a time sequence, but this blogger thing is acting up... :0(

Jada and her twelve step program...

"Hi. My name is Jada and I'm a chapstick-a-holic. I have been addicted for most of my three years on this planet. I hope to someday stop this addiction because it is controlling my life. It is hurting the people closest to me. It's not just that I use it, but that I steal it. This picture shows me with Amber's Carmex and Kendra's medicated chapstick. Sorry girls. I just couldn't help myself!"

Jada~

Testimony

I once had a pastor (in Texas) who used to say that you can't have a testimony without a test! I used to agree whole-heartedly. I know that our struggles, when used properly, can lead us to a deeper relationship with our Lord. But lately I have been having the most intense communication with God and I have NOT been going through any trials, and I truly believe that God is calling me into a deeper relationship with him.

Here it is: When I pray at night I always pray to be more intimate with God: to walk more closely with Him, to be more like Him, to let my life be a living witness to His greatness. But through all of that, in the back of my mind I am always thinking, "Ok God if you have to take me through suffering to accomplish that then I'm on board, I will always do Your will, but maybe, if you could teach me those things without the trials and suffering, that would be great too!" I know that's dumb. I know God does not cause the suffering, I guess I am just conditioned to know that He often acheives His purposes for our life in the midst of our trials.

But lately, God has been talking to me through people and I am in a really good place in life. He has been showing me His grace and His love for me without the suffering. When Bridget (www.blogginbridget.blogspot.com) posted her desire for more children, even though she already has five, I felt like God was using her to reach me. I felt like I was having some feelings about wanting more children and no one to share it with because people would say that I was insane (I didn't even share it with my husband). And God, in His infinite wisdom, let me know that I was not alone, and that he had indeed heard my prayers. That was so significant to me. I mean, the God of the entire universe cared enough about me to let me know that he had heard my prayers and that I wasn't crazy!! He used a stranger to talk to me. His grace and glory touched the depths of my soul. I was so humbled that he cared about my struggles, but also that he was reaching out to me during my good times and not just my bad!

The night that I read that blog I was so humbled and so in awe of God that I laid in bed, weeping like a baby, trying to tell my husband how much God loved me! It was so emotional for me, and I'm sure a little crazy to him because I was such a wreck (in a good way).

Anyway, I know I'm rambling. But God is so good and he has such a strong-hold in my life. I feel honored to serve the God who placed each star in the sky, colored every sunset, and knows me more intimately than I know myself!

I know that the people who know me are falling out of their chairs right now about the whole wanting more kids thing. It's true. My heart is feeling a little empty. I mean we have six kids, but one is out of the house, one is on her way out, and one is graduating in four months. That leaves only three kiddos here and I guess I feel like I don't know who I am outside of being a mom. Is that a reason to have more? No! I know that. But reading Bridget's blog taught me that I needed to pray differently. Just know that whatever we do, it's because we have placed our trust in God and will not do anything without His direction. (And I'm not answering my phone for a few days because I don't want to answer your questions) :0)

So... here is my testimony. No, you don't have to go through a test to have a testimony. God doesn't only use our trials to let us know that he is with us every step of the way. I am witnessing God's grace in a very real, very positive way. God is good, all the time!

P.S. Those of you who are followers of our Lord, please keep up the encouragement that you give in your blogs. I hop around from blog to blog and I am so humbled by the women who serve Him without question. I have read and learned so much about God, about faith, and about casting all of our cares upon Him. In the world that we live in, it is so easy to get distracted by all the chaos. It's even easy to feel like we are all alone in this mess. But when I read blogs of women who share their faith openly, and wear it like a badge of honor, I feel blessed that we are in this together. I know that we will probably never meet each other, but you have touched my soul. No matter what we go through, good or bad, significant or trivial, whether you have handed a child over to the Lord, watched your toddler throw a tantrum at Target, been blind-sided by divorce or infidelity, or just sailed the seven seas, we are all part of the body of Christ and it's nice to connect with you!

God Bless~

Not Me Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I have been reading everyone's "Not Me's" for quite a while and I never do anything crazy or embarrassing, so I never participate (or so I would like you to believe). But this week something happened that was so funny that I have to finally participate. So this is how it works, for those of you who do not read MckMama's blog. You post all of the things that you have "not" done this week (but you really might have).

Here goes:

First of all, I did NOT tell the woman in line behind me at Target on Valentine's Day that Jada AND Brittani were both my daughters because she most certainly did NOT think that Jada was mine AND Brittani's daughter. She most certainly did not say to us, "Wow, your guys's daughter is so beautiful. You two sure make beautiful babies!" And I most certainly did not tell her that Brittani was, in fact, a girl, and that she was also my daughter and not my lover!!! Then I most certainly did not continue to try to make her feel better (because she was mortified) by telling her that Brittani gets mistaken for a boy all the time. Because she most certainly does not!! :0)


And I did not shout out yesterday, while dining at my parents house, in the presence of my mom, dad, sister, sister's fiance, and 4 other children, to my 3 year old daughter, "Hey baby, do you want some underwear?" When I infact meant to say, "Hey baby, do you want some ice cream?" And I most certainly have no idea where that came from.


And I most certainly did not lecture my 3 year old that she has TWO parents who are capable of taking her potty because she most certainly does not ONLY want me to take her, EVERYTIME! I did not do that because I was too busy blogging, and I most certainly would not do that because she would never listen to me anyway!!

That was painless! :0) Happy Monday!

No caption necessary

I just don't even know what to say about this picture. It seems to speak for itself. Our little princess is quite independent. She goes to the potty on her own, but I follow her in there just to make sure things are as they should be and to help her wash up. This is how I found her today! Feet on the rim and all!

Ab Rocket...

Somehow I think this girl is going to get more of a workout with this than I am. She's sweatin' and we haven't even taken it out of the box yet! :0)

My baby and my baby...

Brittani wanted some pictures of herself for her myspace, but Jada wasn't having it. She insisted on getting in every picture! :0)

Come on mom

So I got a little carried away... poor Jada. She is such a good sport! :0)

Hhhhmmmmm....

I wonder how much laundry I would actually get done if I just put down my camera, shut off my computer, and stopped reading blogs??? Here is how I keep Jada entertained while I do "laundry." ;0} Put her in her high-chair, load her up on early Valentine sugar, and pop in Nemo! I should be nominated for mother of the year! :0)

A day at the park...

We were lucky this week and got to spend some time with only one of the kiddos in tow. (Not lucky because we got rid of the others, but because sometimes kids need some individual time). Daddy, mommy, and Jada headed to VG for some play time. We played on the playground, rode the train, pushed the stroller (instead of actually riding in it because she's a big girl now), and even napped on an amazing bed at Brookstone!! :0)

Super Bowl Party~

The kiddos enjoying the half-time 3-D commercials.

Dane absolutely loves Jada. Can't you tell by the look on his face? :0)

The big bad wolf and his lovely wife! :0)

My hubby cooking his ribs!

Say cheese! This is my other love!

I know what you're wondering... Yes, I did let them in the house, even with those ugly shirts on! :0)

And now introducing...

"Come on Jordan; dance with me!"

"Just one more hug, pleeeaaaasseee!"

"Can I have just one kiss Jordan?"

This is our other family member. His name is Apollo (the dog, not the boy :0). We don't put his picture up too much because he would rather hug and dance than pose for a picture. He was showing off during the Superbowl party and getting pretty crazy. My son might have needed a little help but of course instead of helping him, I ran to get the camera first... :0)