Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Tuesday randomness
A few weeks back I had the privilege of meeting Anne Jackson and hearing her speak here in Baton Rouge. If you don't know who Anne is, take a few moments to get to know her on her blog. She is a really phenomenal thinker and writer, and after spending just a few minutes talking to her, I can say that she has a really incredible heart. Anne is the real deal.
She is working on a project right now called Permission to Speak Freely. It is a book that will include all of your, yes YOUR, confessions about things you feel you cannot say in church. Go on over to the book website and find out how you can send in your confession. I can't wait for the finished product. I truly believe that God is using Anne and this book; I saw the way her message is reaching people with my own eyes when she spoke.
In other news:
Compassion is sponsoring another Compassion Blogger trip. This time to El Salvador. Following the last blogger trip to India was huge for me. In fact, it led our family to sponsor a child through Compassion. Lizeth is our Compassion child and she lives in Ecuador, a little closer to El Salvador than India, so I'm looking forward to seeing how this trip goes. If you've never seen what Compassion does, follow some of the trip through the bloggers to get a peek into how your monthly gift of only about $30 per month can change the life of a child and his or her family.
And on a really important note:
Caroline does not like carbonated drinks. At all. So yesterday she came to the grocery store with me and I told her she could get a drink at the check out if she was good for the whole shopping trip. She picked out a red drink that said, "Fruit Punch", and it looked harmless enough. As I opened it and let her have a sip on the way out, however, her face looked as though I'd just given her a sip of vinegar. She said, "Oh, no Mama! That drink is not good! It's hot and spicy!"
And finally:
How cute is Asher? That smile kills me! He is precious; I'm not sure how Drew and Amelia are getting anything done with that sweet little boy around.
She is working on a project right now called Permission to Speak Freely. It is a book that will include all of your, yes YOUR, confessions about things you feel you cannot say in church. Go on over to the book website and find out how you can send in your confession. I can't wait for the finished product. I truly believe that God is using Anne and this book; I saw the way her message is reaching people with my own eyes when she spoke.
In other news:
Compassion is sponsoring another Compassion Blogger trip. This time to El Salvador. Following the last blogger trip to India was huge for me. In fact, it led our family to sponsor a child through Compassion. Lizeth is our Compassion child and she lives in Ecuador, a little closer to El Salvador than India, so I'm looking forward to seeing how this trip goes. If you've never seen what Compassion does, follow some of the trip through the bloggers to get a peek into how your monthly gift of only about $30 per month can change the life of a child and his or her family.
And on a really important note:
Caroline does not like carbonated drinks. At all. So yesterday she came to the grocery store with me and I told her she could get a drink at the check out if she was good for the whole shopping trip. She picked out a red drink that said, "Fruit Punch", and it looked harmless enough. As I opened it and let her have a sip on the way out, however, her face looked as though I'd just given her a sip of vinegar. She said, "Oh, no Mama! That drink is not good! It's hot and spicy!"
And finally:
How cute is Asher? That smile kills me! He is precious; I'm not sure how Drew and Amelia are getting anything done with that sweet little boy around.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Tricks and treats
What? Halloween was more than a week ago? Seriously, I'm not sure what happens to the hours in our days lately. I'm finally getting a chance to share these pictures from our girls' night out trick or treating. We had a great night out in the neighborhood with friends. It was a perfect night and despite the LSU home game, there were lots of people giving out candy and plenty of kids out to get their share.
Caroline kept up her tradition of running like mad from house to house in complete awe that she can knock on strangers' doors to have them open it up and offer her candy. And we let her eat it! It is quite a phenomenon.
Charlotte loved every minute of it and discovered her love for the wagon. She could not have been more content riding along watching the big kids all around her.
Jeff joined in the fun and completed the girls' super hero theme by dressing up as Batman. Caroline was thrilled to have another person in our family with a cape!
Caroline kept up her tradition of running like mad from house to house in complete awe that she can knock on strangers' doors to have them open it up and offer her candy. And we let her eat it! It is quite a phenomenon.
Charlotte loved every minute of it and discovered her love for the wagon. She could not have been more content riding along watching the big kids all around her.
Jeff joined in the fun and completed the girls' super hero theme by dressing up as Batman. Caroline was thrilled to have another person in our family with a cape!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Bye bye!
Guess who is saying her first word?
And just to be sure she's not outdone by her younger sister, Caroline is showing off her speaking skills too.
In other Caroline-related news, I have a few Caroline-isms to share:
We were in the car on the way to school the other day and out of the blue Caroline said, "Hey Mama, know what? I'm not afraid of Armadillo's" Hmm. Okay.
There are a couple of words that Caroline uses that are really not the proper way to use them, but they are endearing because they are so "her." I know she'll grow out of them soon, and I probably should correct her speech, but I can't bring myself to just yet.
Instead of saying "so", Caroline says "for". Where the correct thing to say would be, "I need you to go get dressed so we can leave on time", Caroline would say, "I need you to go get dressed for we can leave on time."
And instead of saying "really", Caroline says "very." Where the correct thing to say would be, "I really want that Barbie", Caroline would say, "I very want that Barbie."
As we're walking down the road of kindergarten applications, I am sure it would be wise to help her make those words corrections, but there is something really endearing about the little four-year-old speak that makes me smile when she talks.
And just to be sure she's not outdone by her younger sister, Caroline is showing off her speaking skills too.
In other Caroline-related news, I have a few Caroline-isms to share:
We were in the car on the way to school the other day and out of the blue Caroline said, "Hey Mama, know what? I'm not afraid of Armadillo's" Hmm. Okay.
There are a couple of words that Caroline uses that are really not the proper way to use them, but they are endearing because they are so "her." I know she'll grow out of them soon, and I probably should correct her speech, but I can't bring myself to just yet.
Instead of saying "so", Caroline says "for". Where the correct thing to say would be, "I need you to go get dressed so we can leave on time", Caroline would say, "I need you to go get dressed for we can leave on time."
And instead of saying "really", Caroline says "very." Where the correct thing to say would be, "I really want that Barbie", Caroline would say, "I very want that Barbie."
As we're walking down the road of kindergarten applications, I am sure it would be wise to help her make those words corrections, but there is something really endearing about the little four-year-old speak that makes me smile when she talks.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Early morning run down
So, if you were to walk in the door at our house at about 6:30 or so on any given morning, here's what you'd see:
Caroline drawing.
And smiling.
Charlotte eating toast.
Lots of toast (please note the double fisting she has going on). Not to mention yogurt, cheerios, puffs, some kind of fruit, and of course, a bottle. Girl loves to eat! Her sister on the other hand, not so much. Give her some white paper and a bunch of crayons (or as she calls them, "craylons") and markers, and she's good to go.
Caroline drawing.
And smiling.
Charlotte eating toast.
Lots of toast (please note the double fisting she has going on). Not to mention yogurt, cheerios, puffs, some kind of fruit, and of course, a bottle. Girl loves to eat! Her sister on the other hand, not so much. Give her some white paper and a bunch of crayons (or as she calls them, "craylons") and markers, and she's good to go.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October 15, 2009
Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Some of us open our eyes each day to remember, but knowing that so many are praying and remembering alongside us today means more than words can express.
I wish I had some meaningful words to share today, but they just aren't coming. These women (and this one), however, did a fine job and if you click on over, you'll be blessed by their words. I would really appreciate you joining me today especially in praying for those presently enduring and grieving the loss of a child.
Grace and peace.
I wish I had some meaningful words to share today, but they just aren't coming. These women (and this one), however, did a fine job and if you click on over, you'll be blessed by their words. I would really appreciate you joining me today especially in praying for those presently enduring and grieving the loss of a child.
Grace and peace.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Monday, October 05, 2009
Career aspirations
Tonight when I was putting Caroline to bed I was rubbing her back for a few moments, and she sleepily said, "Hey Mama, you know what?" I replied, "No, Caroline, what?" She continued, "When I grow up I'm going be a builder. And a cooker. And a worker. And a doctor. And a cleaner. And a mama."
I love how her little heart comes out in those moments. Caroline is truly one of the the most helpful children I've ever known. I know I'm biased, but she genuinely wants to serve others and gets true joy out of helping. When we are baking together or when she is helping me unload the dishwasher or sweep the floor, you would think I was treating her to an ice cream sundae. Her face is abeam with the biggest smile because she enjoys being part of helping me do something. Anything. Her sharing her dreams with me and that smile are the reminder I need to enjoy those times when she wants to help, when really it would be easier to do it alone.
Caroline is an extremely sensitive, very emotionally adept little girl, so as a result, I have to be very careful how I respond to her. I have to think before I decide whether to tell her "no" about something. The question I started asking myself when Caroline was about 18 months old is, "Is this important enough for me to say no and stick with it?"
If there is really no good reason for saying no (like when she wants to help me unload the dishwasher; she is able to help, she won't get hurt, and the only thing it costs me is a few extra minutes and a lesson in patience), then I try to be really diligent about saying yes. I want to cultivate that helping, caring spirit in this little gift God has allowed me to care for and not quench the spirit that makes her who she is and who she will be.
One of my most frequent prayers as a mother is, "God please give me wisdom to raise these girls well and the patience to let your will be done in them and not mine." I think that as adults we lose sight of the journey because we are so focused on the destination. I have my list of "to-dos" and I just want to get through it, but Caroline sees each thing on that list as something else she can be part of. No offense to the wonderful women who taught me in my school years, but Caroline is definitely the best teacher I've encountered in life thus far.
I love how her little heart comes out in those moments. Caroline is truly one of the the most helpful children I've ever known. I know I'm biased, but she genuinely wants to serve others and gets true joy out of helping. When we are baking together or when she is helping me unload the dishwasher or sweep the floor, you would think I was treating her to an ice cream sundae. Her face is abeam with the biggest smile because she enjoys being part of helping me do something. Anything. Her sharing her dreams with me and that smile are the reminder I need to enjoy those times when she wants to help, when really it would be easier to do it alone.
Caroline is an extremely sensitive, very emotionally adept little girl, so as a result, I have to be very careful how I respond to her. I have to think before I decide whether to tell her "no" about something. The question I started asking myself when Caroline was about 18 months old is, "Is this important enough for me to say no and stick with it?"
If there is really no good reason for saying no (like when she wants to help me unload the dishwasher; she is able to help, she won't get hurt, and the only thing it costs me is a few extra minutes and a lesson in patience), then I try to be really diligent about saying yes. I want to cultivate that helping, caring spirit in this little gift God has allowed me to care for and not quench the spirit that makes her who she is and who she will be.
One of my most frequent prayers as a mother is, "God please give me wisdom to raise these girls well and the patience to let your will be done in them and not mine." I think that as adults we lose sight of the journey because we are so focused on the destination. I have my list of "to-dos" and I just want to get through it, but Caroline sees each thing on that list as something else she can be part of. No offense to the wonderful women who taught me in my school years, but Caroline is definitely the best teacher I've encountered in life thus far.
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