I was just browsing through some blogs today and stopped by 5 Minutes for Mom. They have a great give-a-way going on right now. How awesome would it be to win an Oreck XL Ultra? Yes, I know... very awesome! So go here to enter... but hurry because the deadline is Thursday the 28th! Good Luck!
We caught 'em!!!!
That stinkin' little mouse is dead!!! PTL!
I hate mice. I mean who really likes them? Since moving into this house we've had 2. The first one, I'm sure was there when we moved in. In three weeks it will be a year that we have lived here.. and I saw our second mouse yesterday after church. I SAW it! EW. I was getting lunch ready and saw it run under the dishwasher. So what did I do? Make R head to the store and buy as many mouse traps as he could. Last night I set 5. Yes, five. I would have set seven because that's how many we had.. but one broke in the setting process and one was defective. Three in the kitchen. One under the kitchen sink. And one in the computer room (considering I think that's where the little thing was running from yesterday). I was so disappointed when I woke up this morning.. no mouse in ANY of the traps. Surely I set enough! Well, in order to save Luke from sure finger breakage I moved one trap to the computer room (that we have blocked w/ a gate) and the other 2 I just casually set under the kitchen sink and figured I'd get them back out tonight.
Well, I was doing my Walk Away The Pounds DVD... and I heard a "snap". I thought, surely not! I was sure it had just went off on it's own from me moving it around so much. I looked under the counter and there it was.. dead... I was so happy I had to call the hubs and let him know. He congratulated me on my catch. Of course when he gets home from ATL he will be disposing of the thing.
I was once one of those people who thought that only people who's house was not clean had mice. But I have since changed my mind. Now, my house it not an after shot picture of a Clean Sweep makeover but it's decently clean (most of the time). I do have a toddler... so keeping a random cheerio or cracker crumb out of the floor can be difficult at times. Houses just get mice... especially older houses. I can even remember having one in my room growing up.. and we didn't live in a old house... and my room was on the 2nd floor! We didn't use a trap.. we just let the cat in.. and he got it. It was fun.
Oh and we do have an outside cat. Ace. And guess where he sleeps... in the basement, UNDER THE HOUSE (literally in the crawl space)! Seriously Ace, we did not expect you to invite the mice in and let them live here!!!! What kind of cat are you?? I kind of regret getting rid of Lucy, our former cat. Now, she was a mouser... well actually a moler (which isn't a word, bytheway)... She loved those things. Yes, it was gross to wake up to 2 or 3 little moles on your back porch, dead... but we never saw a mouse in the 2 years that we lived in that house. Come to think of it, we didn't see many chipmunks or squirrels {outside} either.
I know this post has been probably the most random, completely brainless thing I have ever written. But... Oh Well.
:)
Well, it's been a while..
I think the whole getting pregnant thing just threw me off for a while! So, today I'm gonna start the I Am Bible Study, right where I left off! It's soo good... go over to The Preacher's Wife and check it out!
Discussion Questions:
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, rate yourself on how often your conversation is seasoned with the works of the Lord on your behalf? If you speak very little of Him, is there a reason you know of? If you speak often, how do people respond? Hmm.. I'd say a 7. I think my conversations are seasoned with the works of the Lord. (At least I hope they are!) I desperately want my only boasting to be in the Lord. I mean I can't even breath without His say so!!
2. Have you experienced a Set Up for a Show Up when you were uncertain whether the situation was the chastisement of the Lord or a temptation of Satan? Let me think about this..
3. Have you ever or are you now experiencing any Job trials where you can still not identify any wrong-doing on your part? I don't think I have ever experienced any 'Job trials'. If I have then they have been very minor things. (and I guess if they were minor.. they definitely weren't 'Job trials'!!)
4. Apply this principle: How can my response make my God famous? Will obedience result in my sanctification and God's Glory? The way we respond to any trial or circumstance will reflect God. I mean, if that's who we claim to put our trust in, our actions/reactions will prove whether or not we truly believe He is trustworth and faithful. You know, I don't know if I conciously think this but I should: will my response to {insert situation here} be one that brings God glory? If I can't answer yes.. then maybe I should rethink my response!! And yes, obedience always results in sanctification and brings God glory!!
5. Does the origin of our affliction matter in view of the fame God can gain from it? I don't think so.. I think that it has everything to do with how we respond.
Just a thought.. no matter how we respond.. or how we might fail.. God will get glory. It's amazing to think that He doesn't need us for His glory.. He chooses to use us to get it!
Whew!
It's been a crazy, busy week so far! We're having a Bible Conference this week, actually the last night was tonight, so that has made the week busier (but great at the same time!). I had to miss tonight because Luke has a yucky nose... not to mention that he MUST go to sleep earlier tonight.
My child is a child who loves routine. Seriously, his whole world is thrown off kilter if something is different... especially at night. The past 2 nights we've ate supper earlier (by about an hour) and gotten home late. So late that he didn't get his movie or bath. You see, almost every night at 7:30pm the lights are down and he watches a movie (usually a Veggie Tales) while sipping his milk. At 8pm the bath is ready and he plays a little in the bath. His teeth are brushed, he's lotioned down, pj's on, daddy reads a story and then mommy rocks him to "Jesus Loves Me' twice (yep, only twice). Then he's laid in his crib and usually drifts off to sleep peacefully! BUT when the routine is off... there is no peace.
Monday night wasn't that bad... although he didn't go to sleep until around 11pm he did sleep through the night. He was in the bed around 9 but was so wound up & exhausted at the same time he didn't get quiet until about 11. But last night was the kicker! He was put in bed around 9:30pm, no movie, no bath... Around 10:30 he was screaming his head off. So I went in and rocked him for a little while and he drifted off to sleep. R and I got in bed a little later and around 12am I heard him waking up...then by 1am he started screaming again. I usually don't put him in the bed with us but I knew it was gonna be one of those nights. He was asleep within 10 minutes. R slept through that whole ordeal... and I layed there... listening to Luke snore. I knew that on top of his whole world being thrown off balance by the no-routine, the stuffy nose that had just developed wasn't helping either! So I layed there.. and tried to sleep but it was hopeless. So, since Luke was out I picked him up around 1:30am and layed him in his bed. Ahh.. sleep at last.. until 3am, when he woke up AGAIN! I went and got him again, but this time he was fighting his sleep so bad.. I mean kicking, tossing & turning.. Everytime he'd start to rub his eyes or lay his head down he'd start kicking and flinging those arms... needless to say R couldnt even sleep through that. I gave him some ibuprophen because I thought maybe his teeth had been bothering him... considering that he has constantly had his fingers in his mouth the past few days. By 4:15am, I'd had it. I was at my limit. This pregnant lady needed sleep! So I looked that little sweet boy in the face and said in my sternest voice, "Luke, it's time to go to bed. You're a big boy and can sleep in your own bed. It's time for night-night." I picked him up, kissed his cheek, took him to his room, layed him down, said "I love you"... and didn't hear a peep from him until 9am! I honestly think that he was at his limit too and just gave up!
So, after all of that I don't really have to tell you that I didn't sleep well last night. I might have gotten 4 hours of broken sleep. I just don't sleep well when he's up and down like that. Oh, and of course R's alarm clock going off at 7am... then 7:15am.. didn't help the sleep cycle either. Oh but tonight.. we had the routine down! And my sweet love was in the bed at 8:40pm and it's 10:30pm at the moment... and I haven't heard a peep. I'm heading off to dream land in a minute too. I just needed to share I guess. :) I know there are lots of mothers out there who have been there... these times are fleeting, I know.. and I wouldn't trade a minute of it.
I so want to share some of my journey reading Isaiah. I just started chapter 5. Maybe tomorrow. It's late.. and I'm tired!
Night!
Happy Valentines Day!!
Me and R are not really the types to go all out on this day. We do the card and candy thing but that's about the extent of it. Neither one of us really wants to get out and fight the crowds at a restaurant either. So today has been a pretty normal day. I did get a box of chocolate covered cherries, which I love and will try my best to stretch as far as I can! I got him his favorite Peanut M&M's and some Ghirardeli Caramel Filled Dark Chocolate Squares. Little Man got a travel MagnaDoodle and some M&M mini's (that will be stretched also!).
My favorite part of the day was when my sweet hubby came home early from work to go to the gym and realized that Luke was already awake. This, of course, meant that I did not get my nap! So, instead of going to the gym he decided to take Luke with him to the bank, which is a 30 minute ride one way! So, I got a whole hour to rest. Oh how I love him!
When he got back, he went and picked us up some SubWay (at my request!) and we had a nice quiet evening at home. It was wonderful. Luke went to bed early and R and I watched a movie.
I am so blessed!
I'm tired!!! So, this will be quick! I had my 2nd Dr's visit today. Since I'm only 11 wks & 4 days I wasn't sure if they would try to find the heartbeat today but they did. It took her a while to find it but we did eventually hear it (for a few seconds). It was wonderful!!! R was so glad they found it because even though it is not uncommon to not be able to hear it yet, he knew that I would have been a little worried about it! And he was right! I gained 2 lbs back from the 8 I had lost. I'm sure there will come a point when I will not share my weight gain but right now I'm at negative 6 and I'm comfortable sharing the negatives!! :) Aside from some routine bloodwork that was about the extent of it. I'm just so thankful! And because of my afternoon apointment I did not get my nap... so I'm going to bed soon!
Night!
Sufficiency of God's Word and the Holy Spirit's work... something I've been thinking about here lately. It seems to me that the sufficiency of God's Word has been lost. We, as a church body, seem to think we must do something in order for God to work... we must add something or give a little help to the Holy Spirit. Let me see if I can explain this...
I believe that most (Christians) out there would agree on the inherency of scripture. God's Word is true. But is His Word sufficient? Is it enough?
If you've read anything I've written much you probably know where I'm heading with this. The sinner's prayer.. If you haven't read anything I have written about it you probably should before you go any further. Go here and then here.
Before I go any further, I would like to say that the sinner's prayer is not the only example of this. I think that the church often tries to 'make' something happen with music, special events, gimmicks, etc. I'm not even gonna go there today because I'd be here forever!
The sinner's prayer has roughly been used for the past 100 years. So it is safe to say that in Christian history, the sinner's prayer is relatively new. According to some, the 'cookie cutter's sinners prayer' is essential to conversion. I just wonder what they think about all of those people who came to Christ before it was even used.
As I have said before, the sinner's prayer is no where in the Bible, Jesus didn't use it, so why should we? Is God's Word not suffiecient to save someone? Is the Holy Spirit not powerful enough to do such a work in someone's life that they do not need someone to compose a prayer of repentance and faith for them? (Please note that I am NOT saying that everyone who has said a sinner's prayer is lost... I have covered this before and that IS NOT what I am stating. I am speaking of the use of the sinner's prayer.)
Why can we not just let God do the work? Yes, it is our job to tell others about Him. We are commanded to do that and it is a passion that all believers should have! We are to point out scripture, share the gospel message. Pastor's are to preach the full, inherent Word of God from the pulpit. We are to proclaim Jesus to a lost and dying world! We are called to do these things and we are obedient when we fulfill that call. But when it's time for a person to do business with God, how come we don't just let God's Word and the Holy Spirit finish that work?
Is God not a big enough God, that He can't save someone unless we use the "sinner's prayer"? What a ridiculous question! He is big enough.. and He can!!!
So, then why not evangelize the way that Jesus did? Let God get the glory for salvation instead of man trying to share in that. How dare us believe that God needs our help in salvation! There really is freedom in allowing God to finish the work instead of trying to push someone in repeating a prayer! Granted if they are ready (broken by godly sorrow and ready to repent and put their faith in Jesus) then by all means let them pray but I doubt that they will need help praying! No one has to compose an apology letter to my husband when I've done something to hurt him! If I know I am wrong just by my own guilt of hurting my husband, how much more will a person who is being called by Holy God and faced with the depravity of their sin see their own need for repentance?
Psalm 19:7~ The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the
soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
So, I'm not very politics savvy. I usually find out what I need to know about the candidates and choose from there. I vote based on integrity and solid moral values (none of that wishy-washy stuff)... all of the money stuff is just dust in the wind, in my opinion.
Here is a video that is hilarious to me. I love it.. and I think you'll find it funny too.
Let us pray persistantly about this nation of ours... and let us elect those who stand on God's Word.
Happy Groundhog's Day!
Seriously, what's that all about? I have no clue.
We (Luke and I) were off to the mall this morning to have his pictures made. The lady at the Sears portrait place was like, "Oh, is it his birthday??" Um.. no... I am just a terrible mom who hasn't gotten his picture {professionally} taken since he was 10 months old and thought sometime last week that I MUST go have it done now while it is on my mind.. thanks for bringing it up though. :)
Yes, Luke had his 20 months pictures taken today.. isn't that a milestone?? 20 months? I thought so! ;)
So, anyways. I bought him a cute Valentine shirt that he wore for the first portion of his photo shoot. He looked A-Dorable! My mom and dad came.. because they are more comfortable with acting like nuts to make Luke smile than I am. So, we get there and take him back to the little room.. and what does he do?? Start to scream... big crocodile tears rolling down those sweet cheeks. Seriously, at that moment I thought.. 'We are going home with zero pictures today!' Luckily, he got more comfortable and we got some really, really cute pictures. He also sported a dressy casual pair of khaki cargo pants and a faux button down shirt with a tshirt over it.. like all the cool kids are wearing. He was too cute.
So, now I feel like a better mom... he only suffered minor trauma from the photo session. So, it's ok.
This evening while we were getting ready for our fancy gourmet supper (ha- joking), R backed up into Luke and he (Luke) fell. I was standing at the sink washing Luke a pear and saw Luke hit the floor... I knew it was going to be bad. Luke had been playing his harmonica (something his daddy taught him) so he had his hand up at his mouth. He caught himself with his hand but his little mouth hit his hand as his hand hit the floor. R quickly picked him up and I said without looking, 'There's blood.' And there was. It's amazing how much blood can come out of a mouth that little! He never would let me look at it but it did quit bleeding after a few minutes (and gobbling down his pear and chicken nuggets). He does have a puffy upper lip though. I think daddy felt worse than he did.
Thankfully the pictures were this morning!!
So, as far as the pregnancy is going... I'm now offically 10 wks (as of Friday). Thankfully the first trimester will be over soon! I'm praying that this awful taste in my mouth goes away as well as this fatigue! I've been eating ok but it's just so hard to eat when everything I eat leaves such a nasty aftertaste. My poor family has been suffering too. I normally LOVE to cook but I have had no desire what-so-ever to cook. Actually, Thursday when I was getting ready to go to the grocery store.. the thought almost made me gag! I mean I really have to not think about food.. It's so weird. So, needless to say we've been eating out a lot and eating quick fix meals. Hopefully things will get back to normal in a few weeks! My belly is starting to bulge already! Sooo much sooner than last time! I read somewhere that it's because all of my muscles have already been stretched out previously. Lovely.
On a serious note, I am so thankful for this sweet baby! Every baby is a blessing sent straight from God. I was thinking last night just about how amazing God is for allowing me to carry a child.. Robby and I have been given the opportunity to be a part of a miracle (for the 2nd time) and that just blows my mind! Not only does God, in all of His goodness, mercy and grace, give us the opportunity to know Him and have eternal life but He also blesses us with so many other things.. and I believe one of the greatest is being a parent. Oh, what a good God!
I hope everyone has a great Lord's Day!
