Prayer request

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!

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.

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" )

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!

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!

Heaven

Isabella has been thinking alot lately about heaven. Contemplating what Mommy and Daddy have taught her and she is now sharing her concerns with us. Obviously, I know that this has come from us talking to her about Nunu being in heaven. I didn't really know how well she would understand it, but she seems to at least understand heaven is forever and there's no returning to here. This is where she has concerns. Several times this week, she will say to me or to Kenny "why when we go to heaven can't we come home" and we try to find ways to explain this to her. We also tell her that when those who trust in Jesus, die, they go to heaven and it is so beautiful and so amazing to be there with Jesus that they wouldn't want to leave and come home. The thing is, I totally understand her concerns and I want her to know that I feel the same way sometimes, but that heaven is so much greater than our minds can even imagine. What is really funny is what her real concern seems to be "But I don't want to leave Tucker, he would miss me" I'm hoping that she is assuming that mommy and daddy would be with her, if not we've now become less of a concern than our labrador. :) Yesterday when she was talking to me about this again, she seemed to find a happy loop hole -- "Maybe God will let me have one of those diamonds from the street." Streets of gold... streets of diamonds, close enough. :)


But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)

Happy 4th Birthday Sweet Girl

Today my Isabella is 4 years old!! Can you even believe it? I sure can't, actually she didn't believe it this morning either. She woke up and came in the kitchen as I was making her some princess waffles. I said "Happy Birthday! How old are you?" She smiled and put up 4 fingers, but then told me she really wasn't 4 yet. I told her she was but then she said "But I'm not REALLY tall?" So I had to get out the tape measure and measure her and convince her that indeed she had grown to be as tall as a 4 year old.

It seems like the last 4 years have gone by so quickly. I still remember, and with obvious choking back of tears, getting to the hospital at around 11pm (close to 2am our time) and Kenny and I giddily scrubbing up, and then looking in the NICU window and seeing a nurse in the back right corner holding this tiny baby with the most black hair I had seen on a baby and it was sticking up all over the place. I knew that was her. And holding her for the first time.... ahh what an amazing moment. In some ways it seems so far away, but then it also just feels like yesterday. Even in the absolute awe of the moment, I had no idea how sweet this precious girl was going to be. She is my cuddler, Ms. Independent, my social butterfly, she has an energy and spirit in her that amazes me. She can't keep a secret, she is not afraid to tell anyone Anything, she truly never meets a stranger and every person close to her size is an automatic friend, when this friendship is not reciprocated - she is persistent, when it is reciprocated they become her "best friend ever", even if she can't remember their name. She is stubborn, has her own will that I'm still hoping will be molded, not broken. She is quite dramatic -- sometimes this is good, lately this has not helped with her attitude or her new found skill of whining. Can I tell you just how much I hate whining...... She can be a tomboy or a princess, normally a tomboy dressed up as a princess. She is beautiful -- I hope her inner beauty blossoms even more than her outer beauty. She has a way of making people smile. She is sometimes selfish, but always compassionate. She is so many things that I wish I was. She has the most infectious laugh and she can make me laugh at the silliest things. She can frustrate me in a second, yet make my heart explode with joy even quicker. She loves life, loves us, loves her baby sister and I can not even begin to tell you just how much I love this precious girl!!! I pray that God continues to mold you to be the little girl, young girl, teenager, woman that He wants you to be. Happy Birthday Big Girl!!

Snow Day!

We got snow!!!! Last night it started snowing a little and Isabella was SO excited. You can tell it doesn't matter how much snow we have, if there is any, she expects to play in it. She is truly southern as she decided to lay on our porch and make a snow angel. :) I told her that maybe if we got more snow overnight that Daddy would be staying home some to play with her. I wish I could have videotaped her this morning. She woke up and shouted "Mommy, Daddy..... I see something!" Then she came running down the hall, with her cute girly run, ran right past me, screaming "We got LOTS of snow!" kept running past Daddy..... "Come on Daddy, Lets GO!" Who cares about breakfast, its snow time! For us, we got a good bit, probably 2 inches. I know, for you Yankees, that's nothing, but for us, the whole city stops. Its only happens maybe once a year so we enjoy it when it comes. Isabella went right out and started playing with Daddy, then I got Amelia and myself ready, Papa and Noni came up and we all had a fun snow day (well, snow morning, everyone went to work by lunchtime) Here's just a few pics from the day.....

Then Amelia decided we were all a bunch of crazy people and this snow wasn't all that great and she convinced Papa to get in the car with her and let her warm up. :) She was not all that impressed.

Here's a couple pretty ones, just for me. :)

Christmas Pretties

This is my last post on Christmas. I think I'm finally updated enough on here that I can change my background and move on. This little red outfit was what Amelia wore to see Santa. No surprise here, she wanted nothing to do with him. I didn't take my camera with me because I assumed they wouldn't let me take pictures, since they are wanting to make some money. Well, I was wrong, other people had their cameras and were taking pictures. We instead, bought a picture of Isabella with Santa, which I wish I could show you, but I don't have it in digital format to load here. You'll just have to trust me, it was adorable. "Santa" was so sweet and he was very concerned about getting Amelia to come see him, he offered her a gingerbread cookie which she quickly took, and she was willing to give him "five", but refused to give him a hug. I didn't think she would and wasn't concerned about getting a picture of her on his lap. It was mainly for Isabella since she had wanted to go see him. Amelia still looked as cute as ever in her little "Santa" outfit though. It was one of my favorite Christmas outfits on her.



These last two pictures are probably my favorite because they show my girls having fun together and becoming such sweet sisters. As Amelia is getting a little older, its been fun to watch the girls play together more. They will just be laughing so hard together and that brings me so much joy. Amelia just adores her big sister, wants to do anything she is doing, but also has the little sister tendencies of bothering her. As I am writing this Isabella has already said at least three times "Get off of me. Mommy - she's not getting off of me" as Amelia is coming over and laying on top of Isabella, with the biggest grin knowing she's annoying her big sister. And Isabella loves her baby sister and can be so protective of her, but she can also be rather bossy with her and feel as if Amelia is not getting "punished" when needed. She will come and say "Is Amelia allowed getting in your purse?" (To which I respond no) "She is, are you going to give her a time out?" Of course if Amelia gets hurt or gets scolded, she goes to Isabella and Isabella will comfort her. I just pray that God would cause both of my girls to be tenderhearted to each other and have a special bond. I don't have a sister, but it seems like a sister could be a built in best friend -- I hope that's the case for them. I hope they always realize that although their genetics are totally different, and they look nothing like each other, that God knew what He was doing. That He had a plan in this and that He made them sisters!! We tell Isabella all the time that God gave her a little sister. How great to think that God knew exactly what they both would need and chose even the big and little sister that He wanted for them. And He knew how much joy this mama would find in these two precious girls!!

Some Christmas Fun

Thought I would share a couple of the activities we enjoyed this past Christmas season. Of course, we had other things we enjoyed as well, but here are a couple. Are these girls not the cutest little chefs you've ever seen?!?! Amelia actually didn't help us make the cookies because she kept eating the dough :), but she looked so cute in her outfit. Isabella is my little baker, she loves to cook absolutely anything. She even wants to help me if I'm making a sandwich. This little rolling pin was supposed to be a Christmas present, but somehow the little sneak had already seen it and wanted to use it.

I wanted to make gingerbread houses, but I didn't want one of those already made up, just put it together kits. We did gingerbread men, bears and snowmen instead. Maybe we'll do houses next year.

I have to say that Isabella's gingerbread men/bears were a little disturbing , don't you think? The first one really cracks me up as she used red icing to put the eyes on, looks a little frightening. :)

The rest of these pics are of our trip on the "Polar Express" -- Isabella was so excited. She LOVES the Polar Express Book and Movie and quite honestly, although we aren't "Santa" people, she was all about Santa this year. You probably can't read her shirt -- it says, Santa, Define Good. :) The train ride was really fun, obviously the movie has helped this immensely. They had the soundtrack playing, read the book, then we took a ride to the North Pole (looks just like it doesn't it?) and picked up Santa, who then gets on and gives each of the kids a bell. As we reach the "North Pole", Santa and his sleigh are sitting outside, you can see Isabella yelling out the window to Santa. Actually, Isabella cracked us up with Santa, we've never taken her to see him before, but we decided to take her this year. She told him 2 things she wanted, then as we are leaving the mall she sayd "Oh no, I forgot to tell him that I want jewelry!" Then she didn't really get a chance to tell him on the train ride, she was very upset. Then after Kenny's work party one night we drove by a house we see every year. This guy goes all out, tons of lights and dancing figures, a whole huge train set up in a garage.... this year he had even built a little Santa Shack, was dressed up like Santa and sitting there. We were driving by and Isabella saw him and started YELLING out the window "SANTA, HI SANTA -- I FORGOT TO TELL YOU I WANT JEWELRY!" :) Kenny and I were trying so hard to hold back our laughter.

This kind of funny looking picture of Isabella with her favorite Christmas pasttime -- Hot Cocoa -- is not from the Polar Express, its actually from going to a Dickens Christmas Evening downtown, but it cracks me up so I had to include it. :)

Better Late Than Never?

Ok, I am going to start uploading some pictures. The first ones are actually from our trip up north for Thanksgiving-- I know, how pitiful am I to now upload them, but I thought they were cute and since it will most likely be the only time we see any snow, I thought I'd share. :) This was actually Thanksgiving Day, it was so cute when Isabella woke up she noticed the snow outside and went running down the stairs yelling "Everyone, its snowing!"

This first one is of Isabella and her cousin Josey, they were both so excited to see each other. They really are only a couple years apart, but Josey is on the tall end of the ruler and you know my Isabella, she's my little shorty.

I love this one, Isabella started to throw a snowball at her and naturally Josey ran away. Isabella said "Hey, stop, I want to throw a snowball at you" Didn't quite understand why she wouldn't just stand still. :-) Amelia and I stayed inside for this one, we would have gone out if it hadn't been Thanksgiving morning and by the next day, of course it was gone.

And you know you are truly southern when you build a snowman from a scuff of snow. What can I say, we take what we can get.

When Isabella saw these pictures of our walk in the woods, she said "That's when Aunt Kathleen gave me a surprise." Oh yes, Isabella got quite spoiled, she now thinks everytime she comes in from being cold that she should get hot chocolate and popcorn. We took a walk back in the woods to a little "house" they have. It was like the Three Bears cottage to Isabella or maybe Snow White's. That's what they are actually looking at in this picture, but we'll just pretend it was some sort of wildlife, sounds cooler. :)


This picture of Isabella just makes me laugh because she was carrying the bag of popcorn around the room in the little house and she said "Hey, where's my popcorn,.....Oh, I have it" and then she laughed, and I just love her little laugh. That's Uncle Dan behind her, it would be a toss up between if she would want the hot cocoa with Aunt Kathleen or stoking the fire with Uncle Dan. She really had so much fun being with family. I more or less rarely saw her the whole time, she wasn't used to being around so many cousins, grandma and grandpa, and aunts and uncles and she took advantage of it. I thought this was a cute picture of my SIL Kathleen and niece Hope -- not sure Hope will like that I posted a picture of her with a "caught her off guard" face, but cute nonetheless.

And in this one, you will have to excuse the "background" -- this was really just a quick picture of Isabella with her Thanksgiving outfit on, her shirt says "Gobble til you Wobble"- she is looking way too grown up for me.

While we were there, Amelia either made some big improvements or just was too tired to be concerned, but as you can see she let Uncle Kevin hold her. Kenny put her up on his lap and she and Teddy snuggled right in with him.

Seth (the one to your right in the picture) was so sweet with Amelia and Amelia really took to him and we think she was trying to say "Sethers" while we were up there, but in this picture I think she was a little concerned why these two silly boys were trying to hug her. :)

This picture absolutely cracks me up. We had tried to go out and do something "Christmasy", see some lights and other things around town, but pretty much found nothing. We did stop at one area where there was a large manger scene and a couple other things -- Seth, Ian, Isabella and Claire, seemed to naturally just jump right up and join this little choir. I took this one quick before anyone noticed them playing with the decorations. :) Lots of fun! Now that I've shown you Thanksgiving, I can post Christmas pics tomorrow and then start the New Year off better.