Flashback Friday (or almost, kinda Friday)

I just love these pictures! These were taken about a year and a half ago when Chris was helping his parents at their lake house. There was a playset in the back yard and I don't think I've ever seen this girl play as hard as she did that day. It was hot and miserable and she had an absolute blast! I just had to share my muddy little mess. :)

Brother/Sister

Last night, before bed, Libby was talking about how cute one her friend's brother is. I asked her if her brother was going to be cute (because she still insists she is having a brother) and she answered that yes, her brother was going to be cute. Then, I thought, maybe I should prepare her for the possibility of another sister so I asked, "What if you have a sister, will she be cute?" Libby paused for two seconds with a look of disgust on her face, then she smiled and said, "My sister is already cute!"

Is that You, God?

Have you ever had those moments...or maybe I should say series of moments, that make you say, "Whoa! I think God is trying to get hold of my attention!"? Well, today has been that way for me.

I just started a small group study on Jonah by Dr. David Jeremiah. Today I went through the second chapter entitled "No Man is an Island". It was over Jonah 1:4-16, which is the part where the storm comes up on the ship and Jonah confesses that he is the cause of the storm to the mariners. Wow! Do we consider who our sin hurts when we choose to sin? I know I don't. There is only ONE person on my mind when I choose to sin...ME! Our sin does not affect us alone. Jonah's sin affected these mariners to the point that they threw cargo overboard and were afraid for their lives. Can you imagine having to pick and choose what to throw out of your house just to TRY to survive? And all for what? The sin of a MAN OF GOD! Lest I be too harsh on Jonah, let me remind you that MY sin, the sin of a WOMAN OF GOD hurts more than just myself. It hurts my family and even more importantly, it hurts my testimony to GOD! Who knows who else it may be hurting!

Another issue Dr. Jeremiah touches on is the importance and power of confession. Is it important for me to admit when I'm wrong? What are you telling people when you refuse to admit that you are wrong? Are you perfect? Why would a non-believer want to come to Christ if all you are going to do is lord it over them that you don't sin? That's not what MY Bible says! My Bible says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That means, it's going to happen and, yes, you need to fess up and deal with the consequences.

What deep stuff! Ok, God, I'm learning and growing. Oh, but, wait! Then I visit Deanna's blog and see a post about Ted Haggard. I decide that the kids are down for nap, I've got 40 minutes of time to listen to this interview and...by golly, I run into EVERYTHING I just ran into with Jonah this morning. I admit, I am guilty of being one of the Christians that said, "Great! Now we get to hear about how awful Christians are all over again." But, you know? Ted is a human being too, and he and his wife let God work a good work in their lives through their disaster. Why was I so quick to heap condemnation on him? Do I have a right? Am I standing front and center in the spot light that Satan wants to knock me down as far as he can? No, Ted was doing that! And are my sins so much worse then his? Well, not at all...from a human perspective, but God's Word says differently. God's Word says that God sees sin as sin...period!

I know that I haven't had a rough life in the slightest. God has blessed me over and over again! But I'm telling you, there have been a few things that I have had to work through and learn to forgive for. I have forgiven some people over and over again...for the same incident. Today, I had to forgive them AGAIN! I think forgiveness is a process and I may have to forgive these people for the rest of my life, but you know? That's ok because it feels good every time!

Work for it!

I cross stitched Libby's Christmas stocking. I wanted to do the same for Grace, but couldn't, for the life of me, find a stocking to cross stitch. Well, the other day while I was going through my books and "organizing" them, I also came across some cross stitch patterns which I own. Lo and behold, there were TWO stockings in the mix. So, I can take care of Grace AND the baby now. Yea!

Anyway, as I was working away, Grace decided she wanted to "help"...and, actually, she did quite well. Libby has been "helping" for about a year now, so I was surprised at how quickly Grace picked it up.

Please forgive the "talk" going on between Libby and I during the video. Oh yeah, and I said thank you to Grace because she ever so kindly started to hand the needle to Libby.

Taking Girl-iness to the Limits

Yes, Grace is wearing ear rings. I came home and pulled them off and she immediately wanted me to put them on her. Unlucky for Grace, her ears aren't pierced...and won't be for another six years. Luckily for Grace, they were hoop ear rings. So, I slipped them over her ears and she was in heaven! Literally, she wore them for a good 15 minutes before deciding to pull them off.

Sisterly Prank?

This one...not so much! Grace popped this pad on her own head. And then giggled hysterically.

Libby thought that it was so funny that she decided that Grace needed a second one on her forehead.

Kids, gotta love 'em!

Mean Girl

Libby: I'm not really, super mean. I'm only kind of mean.

I disagree. This is what she said yesterday.

Daddy, your not the fattest as mommy.

That's pretty mean...come on now!

And Then...Peasant Child

...with the face to go along with it!

Model in the Making?

My Easter Bunnies!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Baby Tucker

Here are pictures of Baby Tucker. These are 12 week pics. We will be able to find out what the sex is at 20 weeks. Until then, I am just enjoying gawking at these pictures. :) As frustrating as technology can be, it can be wonderous at times too! I can't believe the miracle of life that happens as a baby grows in the mother's womb and is born into this world. It is truly amazing!

Ready to go Swimming?

Libby was TOTALLY ready to go swimming! She had an absolute blast at the Wisconsin Dells and was disappointed we couldn't go swimming again and again.

Grace on the other hand? She enjoyed the hot tub that was in the suite. She didn't enjoy the waterpark AT ALL!

How to Ride a Bike

There are videos that go with these pictures, but I don't have time to download them at the moment. Maybe another day...in the meanwhile, enjoy the munchkins!