Just wanted to ask for prayer for our next door neighbor, Carol. Her husband Jack passed away Tuesday night. About a month ago, Kenny was talking to them and they said that Jack had gone to the doctor and that he had some kind of "liver infection" and were going to go back to find out more. Then this past Saturday, we got home and were putting the girls to bed, Kenny said something to me about checking on something. I didn't hear what he said, but heard the door close. So I got the girls ready for bed and as I walked into the room, I could see flashing lights outside and looked and saw a fire truck and ambulance. I went outside to see what was going on and Kenny mentiond it was Jack, Kenny went over to their house and I went inside and prayed for Mr. Jack with the girls. Carol told us that Jack had actually been diagnosed with liver cancer a couple weeks ago and they had just gone out of town to his sisters that week to look into some homeopathic things he could do, since they hadn't even started any treatment yet. My heart just sunk as did Kenny's. Jack was probably late 60s, I'm not sure how old, but I know he's been retired for a few years. They are just the sweetest neighbors. Its not like we get together with them all the time, just go over to see them with the girls sometimes, but you know you are close to your neighbors when you each have each others house key. :-) They have loved seeing our girls and everytime they would go on a trip, they'd bring something back for them. I remember when Isabella was born and we flew out to California, we told my parents to go over and tell them, because we knew that if they didn't see us, they would start worrying and wondering where we were. Kenny and I were going to go to the hospital Sunday, but then we didn't know if we would be able to get in the ICU to see him, plus Amelia was crazy cranky, so I stayed home and let Amelia take a nap. Kenny went and decided to take Isabella too. I'm glad he took her. Jack's son saw Kenny when he got to the waiting room and said, maybe seeing Isabella will help his mom. Kenny said Isabella kept saying she wanted to see Mr. Jack, and they actually let Carol take them back and they just saw him through the window. I think it was an encouragement for her to see how much Isabella cares for Mr. Jack.
We took some food by last night and visited some. They seem to be doing ok. It just happened so quick, but they are trying to think about the good, they are at least glad he didn't have to suffer for a long time. So please just keep her and her family in your prayers. And pray for Kenny and I, that God would show us how to reach out to them and that we would continue to remember to do this as time passes. One of their sons lives close, but the rest of the kids are farther away, so I want to be as much of an encouragment and help that we can. I'm sure that it is tough now, but that it will be hard for her when all the family aren't in town with her. Thanks!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Eating dirty chocolate
If you don't like hearing any funny stories about slightly gross things or bodily functions, you might want to avoid reading any further..... if not, I have to share my conversations with Isabella today.
We were getting ready to go to the store, I sat down at the computer to print off a coupon and Isabella excitedly declared "I FOUND A CHOCOLATE M&M!" I think it was Tuesday that we had M&Ms, so I knew she must have found this under the couch.
Me: "Was it on the floor, if so its dirty."
Her: "Can I eat it?"
Me: "Its been on the floor, its dirty, why would you want to eat it?"
Her: (looking at the M&M) "Its not dirty, can I eat it?"
Me: "That's gross, eating food of the floor can make you sick."
Her: "But can I eat it?"
Me: "If you want to be a nasty little girl who eats things off the floor"
Her: "So I can eat it." (And she did)
I then told her that it was bad enough that she ate something that had been on our floor, but she was NEVER to eat anything off of any other floor, even if it was a whole chocolate bar (trust me, I think she needed to hear this. :)
A couple hours later we were out shopping with my mom and Isabella said she had to go potty. We went in, she peed and then I asked if she was done, she responded "No, I need to go big, Big, BIG poo poo" (This is her typical response in a public restroom, to be loud and let everyone know what she is doing) Then she held her tummy and said "I have to do that because my tummy hurts.....I think THAT DIRTY CHOCOLATE M&M MADE ME SICK!" Again, sorry if you have a weak stomach or think all matters of such should be kept private, but I had to share, she's a nut -- I love her, but she's a nut.
We were getting ready to go to the store, I sat down at the computer to print off a coupon and Isabella excitedly declared "I FOUND A CHOCOLATE M&M!" I think it was Tuesday that we had M&Ms, so I knew she must have found this under the couch.
Me: "Was it on the floor, if so its dirty."
Her: "Can I eat it?"
Me: "Its been on the floor, its dirty, why would you want to eat it?"
Her: (looking at the M&M) "Its not dirty, can I eat it?"
Me: "That's gross, eating food of the floor can make you sick."
Her: "But can I eat it?"
Me: "If you want to be a nasty little girl who eats things off the floor"
Her: "So I can eat it." (And she did)
I then told her that it was bad enough that she ate something that had been on our floor, but she was NEVER to eat anything off of any other floor, even if it was a whole chocolate bar (trust me, I think she needed to hear this. :)
A couple hours later we were out shopping with my mom and Isabella said she had to go potty. We went in, she peed and then I asked if she was done, she responded "No, I need to go big, Big, BIG poo poo" (This is her typical response in a public restroom, to be loud and let everyone know what she is doing) Then she held her tummy and said "I have to do that because my tummy hurts.....I think THAT DIRTY CHOCOLATE M&M MADE ME SICK!" Again, sorry if you have a weak stomach or think all matters of such should be kept private, but I had to share, she's a nut -- I love her, but she's a nut.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
80s kind of Valentines
Since I really haven't taken many pics lately, I thought I would post some of my little Valentines from last week. I think I'm going to dress them back up in their little outfits and do some real pictures since they were obviously not in the mood for pictures. Our fat cat Rigby, as partially seen in one picture, was the only one that was wanting to be in pictures. I call them my little 80s valentines because of the leg warmers they are wearing. After I made them, I showed them to Isabella and she wanted to wear them right then and didn't want to take them off. Then she asked if I would put a banana clip in her hair, peg her jeans, and if she coud borrow my old Members Only jacket. :) I can't say I like too many of the 80s styles, but I love these little leg warmers. So since I have been reprimanded by Steph for not updating my blog -- no, I have not been running with my craft scissors, and ONE shelf for fabric, what a joke...... here are my litle Valentines
(Notice Amelia's true Valentine -- her teddy)(Note to self: Do not put the majority of designs on the back of Isabella's outfit, as she then turns around and tells everyone "Look at my hiney" )
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Quick Update
Ok, so that I don't lose "Stilla" as a blog reader, I decide this post would be a quick update -- no Novels today. :) LOL!
Amelia: Tried climbing out of crib, got stuck, no longer in crib - in new fancy big girl bed Daddy bought the girls. Girls are in the same room, now like to play at bedtime. Ugh! She's also starting potty training. Has a horrible cold right now. She has the cutest way of calling waffles "Haha's" and our cat Rigby "Bobba".
Isabella: Still learning that I refuse to listen to whining. :) Loves having her sister in the same room, but keeps waking her up. Celebrated her adoption day Tuesday. When she got in trouble Wednesday told Mommy, "BUT you KNOW its my invitation day" :) She is SO going to try and work us....
Mommy: Doing lots of sewing, thinking of opening Etsy shop or going on Ebay.... any suggestions?
Daddy: Sweet as ever, working too hard, watching the girls on Saturday for mommy to learn yet another addiction, I mean hobby. :)
That's it, a quick update, hope you all are doing well this week!
Amelia: Tried climbing out of crib, got stuck, no longer in crib - in new fancy big girl bed Daddy bought the girls. Girls are in the same room, now like to play at bedtime. Ugh! She's also starting potty training. Has a horrible cold right now. She has the cutest way of calling waffles "Haha's" and our cat Rigby "Bobba".
Isabella: Still learning that I refuse to listen to whining. :) Loves having her sister in the same room, but keeps waking her up. Celebrated her adoption day Tuesday. When she got in trouble Wednesday told Mommy, "BUT you KNOW its my invitation day" :) She is SO going to try and work us....
Mommy: Doing lots of sewing, thinking of opening Etsy shop or going on Ebay.... any suggestions?
Daddy: Sweet as ever, working too hard, watching the girls on Saturday for mommy to learn yet another addiction, I mean hobby. :)
That's it, a quick update, hope you all are doing well this week!
Sunday, February 03, 2008
To I'll be back
Since you didn't leave a blog address I thought I would respond to you here. At first, I read your comment and honestly had thought about just ignoring it, but then I realized that I should respond. First, I have to say that I'm assuming (although pretty confident from what your comment said) that you don't believe in the Bible. I'm not of course trying to persuade you to believe that, because I don't believe I personally could persuade anyone -- any persuasion comes from the Holy Spirit not me. My husband and I know it to be true and so I am going to go ahead and include the scriptures where it shows the Bible is God's Word and not mans.
2 Peter 1:20 & 21 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not at any time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
As far as why we teach our children about Jesus, first again here are the Bible verses that we claim:
Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go"
Ephesians 6:4 "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."
We feel it is our God given responsibility to raise our children according to the Bible. Of course, this means that we will be teaching our children about God, Jesus, heaven, etc. And quite honestly, I have yet to meet a family (of any religious views) that do not influence their children by the way they are raised. Obviously, this includes religious beliefs, but it also includes other things. For instance, veganism, I doubt a vegan is going to give their toddler a choice to eat animal products. And of course, at least for a while, we are all influenced by our parents choices. It can even be something as crazy as sports teams, my girls scream "Go Blue" in this house because their Daddy loves Michigan, and his dad did, and his dad.....A family will be teaching their kids their values and beliefs even if they aren't purposefully teaching them. As far as letting her decide if she believes in Jesus or not, I can't MAKE her believe anything. Right now, I can hope to influence her and I can pray that she trusts in Jesus, but I also know that we cannot do it for her. As she gets older, she will have to decide things for herself.
John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life." It does say whoever, but it doesn't say whoever's parents, grandparents, etc. She has to decide this for herself. And I also know that she will have to answer to God for her own life as she gets older. Romans 14:12 "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God."
Right now, whether you agree with our belief in Christ or not, I do know better than my 4 year old. If it were up to her, she would eat candy at every meal - maybe even AS the meal :), she would not be in her carseat for sure, and would go to bed when she just konked out on the floor. If we hadn't trained her, she wouldn't know to brush her teeth, take a bath, etc. I feel in every way that it is our responsibility to train her to live life.
And lastly, you mentioned that she was more logical in her thinking than I am. Aside from the comical thoughts that come to mind of what my "logical thinking" child has said to me -- I have to say that in some ways you are correct because it is even mentioned in the Bible that we have to believe like little children.
Matthew 18:1-5 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
My child has most definitely been influenced by me, my husband, our friends and family, by her teachers at church, but if you said to her right now "I don't believe in Jesus", she would not look at me and say "Mommy isn't Jesus true?" She would gasp and tell you how Jesus died on the cross for us. I may be teaching her, but she is much bolder than I am in sharing these beliefs. I know her beliefs are being influenced by us, but she also has seen God answer prayers for her, as simple as those prayers are. Her beliefs and thoughts regarding heaven are confusing to her, it can be confusing to anyone, especially a 4 year old to think about not being here on earth. I can't say that I honestly had been trying to teach her about death and heaven, maybe I should have, we had slowly been trying to teach her what the Bible says, yet I wasn't exactly wanting to talk to my child about death. I did feel she was a little young to understand it (she's my first, so I believe I probably underestimated her - or any child for that matter), but I didn't have a choice, she loved her aunt Nunu, she loved writing her cards, she loved going to see her and now she can't do those things. When my aunt passed away, I was thinking "But God, Isabella was praying for you to heal her aunt Nunu" and I was afraid what she would think, if she would say "BUT I prayed" (as she had done when Nunu was in the hospital again), but when I told her that Nunu was no longer here on this earth, that she was no longer sick in the hospital, but that she had died and gone to heaven. She with her eminently wiser thinking (not logic, because it is much more precious to trust than to have to "investigate" something) responded "Well then He answered my prayers." I thought she must not understand, surely she would ask to go see Nunu. But she hasn't, to her He didn't have to answer OUR way, He just answered.
I do appreciate your stopping by, your compliments on my pictures, and even your comment. I hope you keep coming back. Like I said before, unless the Holy Spirit persuades you to believe differently, I'm not going to try to do that. But I also will continue to write about my faith as I feel it influences, controls, effects, every aspect of my life. Thanks!
2 Peter 1:20 & 21 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not at any time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
As far as why we teach our children about Jesus, first again here are the Bible verses that we claim:
Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go"
Ephesians 6:4 "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."
We feel it is our God given responsibility to raise our children according to the Bible. Of course, this means that we will be teaching our children about God, Jesus, heaven, etc. And quite honestly, I have yet to meet a family (of any religious views) that do not influence their children by the way they are raised. Obviously, this includes religious beliefs, but it also includes other things. For instance, veganism, I doubt a vegan is going to give their toddler a choice to eat animal products. And of course, at least for a while, we are all influenced by our parents choices. It can even be something as crazy as sports teams, my girls scream "Go Blue" in this house because their Daddy loves Michigan, and his dad did, and his dad.....A family will be teaching their kids their values and beliefs even if they aren't purposefully teaching them. As far as letting her decide if she believes in Jesus or not, I can't MAKE her believe anything. Right now, I can hope to influence her and I can pray that she trusts in Jesus, but I also know that we cannot do it for her. As she gets older, she will have to decide things for herself.
John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life." It does say whoever, but it doesn't say whoever's parents, grandparents, etc. She has to decide this for herself. And I also know that she will have to answer to God for her own life as she gets older. Romans 14:12 "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God."
Right now, whether you agree with our belief in Christ or not, I do know better than my 4 year old. If it were up to her, she would eat candy at every meal - maybe even AS the meal :), she would not be in her carseat for sure, and would go to bed when she just konked out on the floor. If we hadn't trained her, she wouldn't know to brush her teeth, take a bath, etc. I feel in every way that it is our responsibility to train her to live life.
And lastly, you mentioned that she was more logical in her thinking than I am. Aside from the comical thoughts that come to mind of what my "logical thinking" child has said to me -- I have to say that in some ways you are correct because it is even mentioned in the Bible that we have to believe like little children.
Matthew 18:1-5 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
My child has most definitely been influenced by me, my husband, our friends and family, by her teachers at church, but if you said to her right now "I don't believe in Jesus", she would not look at me and say "Mommy isn't Jesus true?" She would gasp and tell you how Jesus died on the cross for us. I may be teaching her, but she is much bolder than I am in sharing these beliefs. I know her beliefs are being influenced by us, but she also has seen God answer prayers for her, as simple as those prayers are. Her beliefs and thoughts regarding heaven are confusing to her, it can be confusing to anyone, especially a 4 year old to think about not being here on earth. I can't say that I honestly had been trying to teach her about death and heaven, maybe I should have, we had slowly been trying to teach her what the Bible says, yet I wasn't exactly wanting to talk to my child about death. I did feel she was a little young to understand it (she's my first, so I believe I probably underestimated her - or any child for that matter), but I didn't have a choice, she loved her aunt Nunu, she loved writing her cards, she loved going to see her and now she can't do those things. When my aunt passed away, I was thinking "But God, Isabella was praying for you to heal her aunt Nunu" and I was afraid what she would think, if she would say "BUT I prayed" (as she had done when Nunu was in the hospital again), but when I told her that Nunu was no longer here on this earth, that she was no longer sick in the hospital, but that she had died and gone to heaven. She with her eminently wiser thinking (not logic, because it is much more precious to trust than to have to "investigate" something) responded "Well then He answered my prayers." I thought she must not understand, surely she would ask to go see Nunu. But she hasn't, to her He didn't have to answer OUR way, He just answered.
I do appreciate your stopping by, your compliments on my pictures, and even your comment. I hope you keep coming back. Like I said before, unless the Holy Spirit persuades you to believe differently, I'm not going to try to do that. But I also will continue to write about my faith as I feel it influences, controls, effects, every aspect of my life. Thanks!
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