Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Supastah

My sister in law has earned another gold star by her name. She already has many...and has gained many more since Lily was born 18 months ago...but today, she gets the mega star. SO...I'm pregnant again...oh yes! It's true! And we're very excited about this new little one that will be joining our family in March. However, for the time being the little precious is making me feel pretty crummy.

Meanwhile, my lovely Lily is trying to give up her morning nap but then is not taking a fabulous nap in the afternoon and that only gives me an hour to breathe and shower...and whatever else...like REST. So, today, I sent Justin a text telling him I was about to lose it...Lily was so tired she was like climbing the walls hyper and I couldn't do it anymore.

Not long after that, my superstar sister in law Julie calls to say she'd like to do something for me...why don't I let her come get Lily and keep her overnight...she'll bring her back tomorrow afternoon.

My response? Ugly crying and trying to say "thank you" and "okay, I would love that" all at once. Not one of my prettier moments.

So...the good news? I'm with child. The not so good? It's turned me into an emotional mess. Fortunately I know it will soon pass...

THANKS JULIE!!!!

Monday, July 21, 2008

HORRIFIED

Okay, so WARNING to my friends who read this. If you get a text message from a number you don't recognize, that looks like a forward from someone else, do not open it!!!!

I had an unpleasant surprise of some nasty porno slideshow pictures and after fumbling around for the right button, fortunately got it off my screen after picture number two which was MORE than enough for me. I quickly texted back to the number, something along the lines of "what in the world, do not send stuff like this to my phone! who is this??" and I got a reply of "idk." (i don't know? UGH!)

I know that pornography is rampant, and I don't consider myself to be in the dark about it, but do people seriously forward stuff like that to others like it's nothing? like a "hey, what's up thought you'd enjoy this?" it made my stomach hurt.

Careful out there, people!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

made me laugh this morning...

i like dave barnes' music...and i saw this video on youtube and for some reason it made me giggle this morning...especially his intro where he is explaining his workout on the whiteboard...just watch it...

Sunday, July 13, 2008

One Word Answers

1. Where is your cell phone? countertop
2. Significant other? justin
3. Your hair? bedhead
4. Your mother? joyful
5. Your father? wise
6. Your favorite thing? lily
7. Your dream last night? weird
8. Your favorite drink? dr pepper
9. Your dream/goal? peace
10. Room you're in? den
11. Your hobby? reading
12. Your fear? loss
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? generous
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you're not? introverted
16. Muffins? banana
17. One of your wish list items? furniture
18. Where you grew up? houston
19. What are you wearing? slippers
20. Your pets? Hank
21. Your computer? apple
22. Your life? unpredictable
23. Your mood? rested
24. Missing someone? Val
25. Your car? black
26. Something you're not wearing? rings
27. Favorite store? anthropologie
28. Your summer? relaxing
29. Your favorite color? pink
30. Last time you laughed? yesterday
31. Last time you cried? ???

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Friday, July 11, 2008

Freedom!

This is an excerpt out of a book called Fruit of Her Hands. I've not read it, but saw this quoted elsewhere, and it gave me SUCH RELIEF this morning. I need to continue to think about it, but hope it offers encouragement to others of you as well.

A dictionary defines a principle as “a basic truth, general law, or doctrine used as a basis of reasoning or a guide to actions or behavior.”

A Christian woman must learn to think biblically; she must derive her basic principles of living from God’s Word.

A method, in contrast, is “a procedure or way of doing something.” In other words, we use methods to apply our principles.

Sometimes an overzealous allegiance to method will lead to confusion and controversy. Suddenly, pressure is exerted to convince women to join the group and support a particular method. The young Christian woman can be made to feel that she isn’t really dedicated unless she adopts “the method.”

We ought to rejoice in a common commitment to biblical principles and in the variety of methods God’s people employ. If we become overzealous for conformity to our method, strife between Christians will commonly result.

“Be at peace among yourselves.” (1 Thess. 5:12-13)

In a godly Christian home, the methods should be the result of the husband’s teaching and convictions with the wife’s support and help.


I often feel like maybe I'm doing things "wrong" with Lily. I let her have a pacifier when she sleeps, and in the car. Some people are opposed to "pacis." I let her eat Mac and Cheese sometimes, and even the occasional Fruit Loop. Some people give strictly organic foods and things that are not processed. I had to work part time, and so she was in daycare two days a week...I'm not planning on homeschooling...I haven't done a "mommy and me swim class." You get the picture.

These are all methods. And I'm under the authority of the Lord concerning how I parent Lily. Am I called to be engaged and active? yes. Am I called to be her authority? yes. Am I called to make healthy choices for her until she can make them herself? yes. Am I responsible for learning and thinking and praying concerning Lily? yes. The relief comes in knowing that its okay if how it plays out in my home is different from how it plays out in someone else's. I'm a huge victim to comparison (which I'm working on with the Lord!) and so it was nice to hear that different from someone I respect/admire doesn't equal wrong.

Praise the Lord for freedom within the confines of his word!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Refreshing

We had the opportunity to go to Dallas to visit some good friends for the 4th. although, i didn't feel very 4th of julyish because i didn't even dress lily in her flag onesie until the next day, and i didn't watch fireworks or eat a hotdog...but i had the most amazing pulled pork sandwich and corn with chile lime butter...courtesy of our hosts, which was WAY better. and i also had homemade ice cream, and if you know me at all, then you know this is me in my element! anyway, i didn't get on to post about what i ate...

i love chelsea and jesse and their sweet baby jackson. i love being around them because for some reason all my stress and worry melts. sure, it's a distraction to be in a social setting, but there's something deeper - a sense of calm that i have when i'm with them. they plant flowers and work in the yard together, they love to have people in their home, and chelsea doesn't seem to get stressed out by being the hostess, they encourage, they affirm, they help me to see things in new ways...

they love the lord authentically, and from that they love each other well, their baby, their family, their friends...and so i was a recipient of that this weekend.

my prayer is that the same would be true of us...that we would live generously...that we would have an open home...that we would serve well and love well...and that after walking away from us people feel stirred in their affection for the lord.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

newlyweds

I love this one because of the way my little sister is looking at her husband...very sweet

buckle up for some rambling

So I am beginning to think that I'm a walking contradiction. Okay, not beginning to think...I've thought this about myself for quite awhile. And I don't think I'm alone in it...but I guess I'm trying to figure out how to live with myself...how to live life without feeling guilty all the time for the things I'm not doing the way I want to, or like I'm not as cool as this or that girl, or wishing I'd done this or that differently...

The following is a random list of things I would like to do. Some of them are TOTALLY limited by a lack of funds, and you'll notice that some of them seem to contradict with others...hence, my first sentence. In no particular order

Get a pedicure 2x a month and a massage 1x a month (a girl can dream, right?)

Sponsor a Compassion child in the DR and then go visit him/her yearly

Adopt - no preference from where, really, although I love the DR and Haiti, but am totally open to domestic adoption too as there are TONS of kids who need homes

Be cute and stylish - but age appropriately - and if I'm totally honest, I would want my things to be the "cool" brands. I was scarred by having to wear imitation keds as a child, and now I'm secretly a snob even though most of my closet comes from Target

Get a really rockin' tattoo on the back of my neck - my desire for this faded until recently I saw my cousin and his wife and she has one that is awesome - but she is also definitely in the category of cute and stylish and able to pull it off really well

Be more knowledgeable about healthy/organic eating, maybe plant my own garden, go to the farmer's market instead of the produce section, etc.

Be creative and crafty - making cool wall art or sewing fun clothes for Lily. This one is probably not going to materialize, unless I just copy other people's ideas. I'm not an artist even though I wish I was.

Be deeply involved with a ministry that works with orphans...meaning not only do we help support them but we also take family trips to visit and serve them on a regular basis

Speak fluent spanish

Learn to play the guitar...maybe even sing alongside my husband from time to time, although this one is a challenge for me because I HATE being on stage. It makes my stomach hurt because I care way too much about what people think of me and so I feel like a total boob. But if I could be really cool and sing like Jill Paquette or Bethany Dillon I would so do it.

Always have all the laundry done and put away. ha!

Be a really great hostess - invite people over for dinner 1-2 nights a week. Have fresh flowers on the table and yummy things to offer people, being totally at ease and not stressed by details and timing and clean up

Completely decorate my house - new furniture for our bedroom especially

Buy our own home and no longer rent, but not be stressed out by it at all

Be a part of a community of believers where we feel like we both fit in and have a place to serve well. Somewhere that my gifts are used, as well as Justin's.

Buy this little diamond cross necklace that I've been wanting FOREVER

Be totally debt free and live on only half our income and give the rest away but still be able to buy gifts for people, eat out on dates with my man, and take a fun vacation each summer as a family, along with the above mentioned service trips

Be really good at writing people letters and letting them know I've been thinking about them instead of just saying to myself, "I should write a note to so and so"

Have a cool haircut and be really sporty and in shape, but sexy too...

There are many more...but these are some of the things that bounce around in my mind from day to day....am I a total nut?