What a wonderful day! God brought restoration to my family and I am so thankful! He did what I have been trying, in my own strength, to do for years. His timing is perfect and the lesson learned was amazing. God never lets us down, His ways are perfect. I am so honored to be a child of the Holy and Mighty One!!

Some Random Pics I Have Never Gotten Around To Posting

Help!!!! I have Mom Hair!

I will be thirty two in a couple of weeks.
Hmmm, 32.
Weird.
It's not too bad, I guess.
I just don't think my hair needs to look so old.
My sweet hubby thinks that my long hair is gorgemous so I am respecting his wishes and letting it grow.
But I am realizing that there is a reason women get shorter hair as they get older.
It's not so shiny and smooth anymore.
It's like ummm, old.
So this is what I end up doing...
everyday.
Do you like my self portrait attempts?
Pathetic.
Now it seem to me that ponytail head is a waste of long hair.
Not exactly what my husband is after, I'm sure.
So... suggestions?
Don't be afraid to hurt my feelings.
Is there something I can do to regain some youthfulness?
Special conditioner?
Smoothing cream?
A wig?
A time machine?
I will be eternally grateful for any help.


I suppose it could be worse, I could wear mom jeans...
http://www.hulu.com/watch/10333/saturday-night-live-mom-jeans

Jason and I had the best date ever tonight!

I just love being married to that man!

It was just your basic dinner date (at our favorite place which I will not be sharing the name of lest it become popular, crowded and overpriced, sorry) but we were in such need of some time out together without an agenda or loud, interrupting children (we weren't lucky enough to avoid the loud folks at the next table, however).
So we just sat and visited and ate like real grown-ups.
There was no burping from Miss Katie.
There was no regurgitated food on the bib from Miss Em.
No tears from Miss Ali.
Not even any long drawn out explanations about proper Lego building techniques from Mr. Riley.
It was lovely.
I am feeling so blessed that I actually like my husband after all these years.
And he keeps hanging around so I guess he still likes me too.
Life is good:)

Terrific Tuesday

Today is splendiforous.
Because...

Reason #1 - 4
Mom came like usual.
She played with the kids.
She brought lunch for her and I.
She watched the kids while I drove to the park, sat in the van and read, alone, in quiet for an hour and a half.

Reason #5
The laundry is caught up.

Reason #6
I have super duper easy plans for dinner that I know my family will love.

Reason #7
It did not snow today.

Reason #8
"The Biggest Loser" is on tonight and since we canceled home group due to sickness I will be able to watch the whole episode.

Reason #9
During a wrestling match this morning, Katie kicked Riley's tooth out.
I know weird reason to be happy but it was all done in fun and now I don't have to deal with the tooth removal, which I avoid at all cost.

Reason #10
My handsome husband will be home from work soon.
I really like him.

Ok I think I'm back.
That whole posting every day in November challenge thing kind of made me blogophobic... yes, I know I failed the challenge but still.
Anyhow, I think I'm fully recovered and missing blogging, so here I am:)
-----------------------------
God has been working me over.
I mean really working me over.
The last month or two has been such a tough lesson about trusting God, waiting on him, and being stretched farther than I actually thought I could go without snapping right apart into two useless pieces.
But I didn't break and I am stronger, more confident and deeper in love with the Lord than ever.
It's funny how much we hate a good lesson but we love the wisdom it imparts.


I am reminded of all the tear filled reading lessons Riley and I have endured in the past.
Him feeling resistant to my demands to learn this crazy code of language.
And me feeling determined that if he would just do it, just go through the appropriate steps there would be a whole new world on the other side, one with a delightful knowledge.
I would tell him..."Just trust me. I know it's not fun right now but you need to know this in order to get to the place where you need to be."
Praise God that Riley did trust me and is now a true reader.
I think God blessed me with that experience so that I would have an insider's view when my role was switched out and I became the one with a big lesson to learn.
When God had to say to me..."Just trust me. I know it's not fun right now but you need to do this in order to get to where I want you to be."
I have so much more to learn.
But I am ever so grateful for the wisdom of God that He so generously imparts on us when we are stretched beyond our own sustainability.
I am so thankful to serve the Great and Mighty One, the One who would care enough about a renewed relationship to persevere with the difficult lessons and not give up on me.

--------------------------------

When I was a boy in my father's house,
still tender, and an only child of my mother,

he taught me and said,
"Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.

Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.

She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor."

Proverbs 4: 3-9

Awesome Cub Scout Auction Cake

Such Precious Innocence

Katie "Does God like bad guys?"
Me "He loves them, he does not like when they act bad though."
Katie "I don't love them. They're bad."
Me "Do you ever do anything bad?"
Katie "No."
Me "Didn't you just hit your sister?"
Katie "Ummm, yes."
Me "God still loves you even though you weren't nice to your sister. When we do things that are not ok with God it's called sin. We all sin sometimes. God is holy so he can't be around our sin. That's why we need Jesus. He saves us from being away from God, he saves us from our sin."
Katie "Oh yes! I have Jesus! I can feel him inside me!"
Me "Oh? What does it feel like?"

Katie " He's in my tummy. He's tickling me."