Brotherly love

When Allen and I first got married, I only wanted to have one child. I wasn't sure if I could be a good mom to more than one child. After 6 years of marriage, I started to wonder if I wanted to have kids at all. Luckily God intervened, and I got pregnant with Laney.

She was about 8 months old when I decided I wanted another. So much for an only child. I wanted my kids to be close in age, since I didn't have that growing up. Thankfully, blessedly, amazingly I was pregnant again when Laney was 18 months old.

I was so excited that they would be close in age. I just prayed that Jude and Laney would be close all their lives. It's even on my list of things I'm believing God for!!!!

They get along so incredibly well, and I'm amazed at their closeness and their love for each other. I remember the first time they held hands across their car seats. My heart was happy.

Anyway, Laney wrote this book the other day, and it really put into words what I wanted for her and for Jude. I'll be glad to
translate for you!!!

"I love Jude" by Laney

"When Jude was born, I was very...

happy that I had somebody to play with and as Jude got bigger...

I got to play with him. Now I love him to the moon.

I kiss him every time I see him. The end."

I just love to watch them, and listen to them.

Laney asked me yesterday if she could call Jude "sweetheart."

I said, "Well, you'll have to ask Jude about that."

He replied, "She can call me whatever she wants to."

I told Laney that I would help Jude make a book for her called, "I love Laney." Jude is excited about that...

I am just so thankful for how God is blessing our family. I am just amazed at His goodness.

Satan is patient

Jennifer has already heard these ramblings today, so I'm giving her fair warning so she can go peruse someone else's blog!!

I picked up Battlefield of the Mind this week, just to read, and I didn't get past the first few sentences. Where I got stuck is the idea that Satan is patient. Evil, cunning, plotting, seeking, father of lies, and horrific. I had all that.

Patient??

He's much more patient than me. Waiting, watching. Never faltering in knowing that if he just waits long enough.

Patience isn't my strong suite. I get antsy. Let's go, already. I start praying over something, and then I'm ready to see some action. None comes, so I go on to something else. Leaving wide open an area of my life that needs tending. Needs guarding. Needs the protection of prayer.

I'm off-on to something, and Satan sees an opening. Because he wasn't hasty. He was willing to wait. He has nothing to lose, really. His demise is certain. He can wait. He gets pleasure in the knowing that he can cause such pain, destruction and misery. All because he can out wait me.

So I've decided that I can outlast Satan. I can pray over the areas in my life that needs the Lord's protection. I can be more diligent that Satan. I can do better than he can.

I've seen recently firsthand the result of Satan outlasting and out persevering someone who once served the Lord. It can happen to any of us. Not one of us is safe, unless we are willing to outlast the Devil.

Scary stuff.

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith..."

Oh Lord, show me how to stay firm in my faith. Show me where I am weak. Show me where I am vulnerable. Show me where there is a crack in my fence. I don't want to give the Devil any pleasure.

My thankful list

I just need to be thankful today:

I love the location of my house and the neighborhood it's in. It's clean to, by the way. The house, that is. Or as clean as it's going to be with three little people.

Allen and I had a great weekend, and I'm very blessed by my husband.

I have great friends. One even made me sushi today.

I love the warm weather and sunshine we had today.

We have been so healthy in the midst of so much sickness.

I am thankful that God isn't letting me rest where I am spiritually.

I love me some love!

We had such a great Valentine's Day. We started off the day with a Valentine's breakfast, complete with heart shaped cereal and heart shaped toast. The kids got treats from us and Mimi, and cards from Grandmother. Then we met friends at Chick-fil-A for a breakfast play date. We then headed to Ronda's house for a Valentine's party. The kids made "mailboxes" and then traded Valentines. Whew. Such great fun...

That night, Allen got off work early, and brought home Tortuga's pizza, his favorite. That was his treat, along with some new Alabama pants. He surprised me with roses, chocolates (Okay, I told him to bring those home...) a new David Crowder cd and this super cool balloon!!! He knows me so well...

We munched on pizza, chocolate cake (another of Allen's surprises), heart shaped donuts from Krispy Kreme and watched "Lost." It was such a great way to end the day.

I love Valentine's Day so much. It's a little happy spot in the winter!

Washable doesn't *always* mean washable

Jude so kindly left out a nice green marker today. While we were *trying* to do school, Zane so kindly colored on my wall. Grrrrr.....

After much scrubbing with my every trusty vinegar/water combo and not having much luck, I realized we needed to pull out the big guns. I pulled from my arsenal the Magic Eraser. Not so magic after all...

All that scrubbing, and it got reduced to this: (It's much darker than it appears)

Now if you are laughing, either one of two things are happening. 1. Your children aren't old enough to pull this kind of stunt. 2. Your children are too old to pull this kind of stunt.

"So, Amy, what was Zane doing while you were scrubbing with your toxic not-so-Magic scrubby? Cowering in the corner, feeling much remorse for his bad deed???"

Oh, not so, my friend. He was using the newly moved-so-Mommy-could -vacuum-up-all-the-stuff-on-the-floor chairs to play in the sink FULL of dishes. He's learned to pose for the camera too, by the way. I know that's hard to tell by this photo.

*sigh*

I'm going to miss these days, you know. That's what they tell me.

And any suggestions for what to do with my wall is much appreciated. Moving the mirror down isn't an option. It might bonk a kid on the head and cause damage... Okay, tempting, but still not an option.

There is progress on the house, though. I can't post pics of the kitchen yet, though. David Crowder and I are about to go tackle that now...

There's a ton of laundry on the sofa to be folded, but at least the laundry is moving through the proper channels. And you *can* dig through the pile for clean underwear if the need arises.

Hope your day was green marker free. :)

My house is a wreck

I just said this to Hayes, and she chuckled and said, "Sure it is."

Okay, I know I can be a bit Stepford, but seriously, this is *bad.*

I don't even know where to start. Usually I just click into overdrive, and bust it and get it done. But I don't have an overdrive mode today, and we've been so busy this week that I'm exhausted. Zane is super fussy and the others are high maintenance.

So I'm posting pics to make *you* feel better about your house. Which is, I'm sure, perfectly clean. Dinner is on your table, and you've been a patient and kind mother all day. This is what I tell myself, anyway. :P

Jackie and I did this once. We were having a "fight" about whose clean laundry waiting-to-be-folded pile was bigger. We both sent each other pictures, and I think I won. I laughed so hard, and it made me feel better about *my* pile.

So here's hoping I make your day. I know my mess wins. I just know it does!!

David Crowder and I are off to make a gourmet dinner of turkey dogs and broccoli. Don't you wish you lived here??? :)

From us to you

Laney did a great job!! We hope your *heart* day is wonderful!!!!

John 15:12

"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

The first garage sale

Jude, Zane and I were on the way back from the store Saturday morning, and I saw it!! The first garage sale sign of the season. Granted, it's a little early, but I've been yearning for a garage sale. I nearly tipped the van over whipping it around to make my turn. (not really)

I wish we had seen the sign on the way *to* the store, because the girl said they were sold waaay down in stuff by the time I got there.

Nonetheless, I got a super cool kukui necklace and bracelet from Hawaii (I love learning about new stuff... http://waynesword.palomar.edu/tungoil1.htm ). I love them and I've worn them everywhere I've been since I got them. I'm going to wear them when I get to Hawaii one day too. :)

Anyway, I got my necklace and bracelet, a bike helmet for Jude, a Jimmie Johnson hat for someone I love enough to buy Jimmie Johnson merchandice, two sweaters and three shirts for Jude and two shirts , one of which is a Scoobie Doo shirt, for Cody,who is presently in a Scoobie Doo phase.

My grand total???

$3.75

I LOVE GARAGE SALES *twirling around in circles*

I agree with Ann Coulter

So either the world has stopped spinning, or it has frozen over in the deep nether regions.

I do think she is a deplorable woman. But I find myself agreeing with her. Heaven help me..

http://www.anncoulter.com/

Here is a summary:

"If Hillary is elected president, we'll have a four-year disaster, with Republicans ferociously opposing her, followed by Republicans zooming back into power, as we did in 1980 and 1994, and 2000. (I also predict more Oval Office incidents with female interns.)

If McCain is elected president, we'll have a four-year disaster, with the Republicans in Congress co-opted by "our" president, followed by 30 years of Democratic rule.

There's your choice, America. "

Happy Birthday, Jude!

Four short years ago, in about seven hours, my sweet baby Jude was born. I cannot even express the joy that he brought to my life that night. I walked around, holding him, thanking God for him for days and days after he was born.

Jude just has a sweetness about him that is so recognizable. That's the word I hear used to describe him the most. Even from strangers. He is sweet. To the core.

I know that God has such an incredible life planned out for him. I can't wait to see him embark on that journey. But not too soon. I want to squeeze every bit of time I have with Jude that I can. He says he'll live with me forever. I'm sure he'll change his mind, and that's fine. He's got an amazing life to lead.

We have a new game. It's called "I love you more than...." It's usually silly. Things like "I love you more than toes."

"Well, I love you more than bubbles."

"I love you more than chocolate."

We go on and on like that forever. But every now and then, he buries his face in my neck, and says, "I love you more than anyone in the whole world." And in all fairness to my other children and my husband, I love him more than anyone in the whole world. He's my Jude, and I love him in that special way that only a mother can love her child. We understand each other, that Jude and I.

(I love each of my children in this way. I promise... and my husband even more.)

I'm so incredibly honored to be able to be Jude's mother. I feel like God entrusted me with this amazing little boy. He makes me want to be a better person. Walk with God closer. Show him what it's like to be in love with Christ. I want to be an amazing person like he is. I want to be worthy to be his mother.

David prayed this over his son, Solomon. We're studying it this week. I can't think of anything more fitting for Jude's life...

"My son [Jude], acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts." 1 Chron. 28:9

Happy birthday, Buddy!! I love you...

I hate money

Take me to a small Caribbean island where we can live in a grass hut and barter and trade for everything. Really. I hate all this materialistic mess we've gotten ourselves into.

Or "we have a new budget." I guess this is the reason for the above paragraph.

I'm fine with not spending money. I'm fine with a tight budget. I'm fine with not eating out much and pinching pennies. I'm not okay with having to think about money this much.

Obviously I'd rather spend and not think about it at all. Could that be part of the problem??

At least with the new budget, there's not much guesswork. It's in the budget, or it's not. That's easy.

So I have a new spending plan. I'm resisting calling it the "no spending" plan.

Feel free to ask me how it's going. I need accountability. And don't let me rationalize or justify.

And you'll probably see a random admission of how things are going here or there. I'm going to put it out there. Sort of a way of shaming myself into obedience.

Because I can do this. I have the spirit of the living God inside of me. That living God can resist the Target dollar spot, for goodness sake.

This message is brought to you by...sponsorship?? Anyone?? :):):)

Soaked in love and mercy

I heard a sermon on Sunday where the pastor used this phrase. 

I just sat there, thinking. 

I want to be that. Soaked. Dripping. Saturated. Oozing. Flowing with love and mercy.

Boy was I far from that this weekend. I was rude, judgmental, selfish and harsh.

*sigh* 

Do you ever get tired of running around the same old mountain? I am so tired of the areas in my life where I battle. I'm war weary.

We stay at home a lot. It's essential for all of our well being. When we're at home, I am quiet, reflective, prayerful, praising and peaceful. I measure, most of time, what I'm going to say and how I'm going to say it. 

But get me busy. Put me out in the world. I act just like the rest of the world.

Blech.

I can't live my life at home. I've got to become merciful and loving all the time. Not just when I'm not too busy. 

The sermon was about David. I love that my spiritual life runs in parallels. We're doing a study on the life of David, and so is a church we've visited. 

This really got me. Nathan, a prophet, came to Bathsheba. The last time they met, was 30 years prior when Nathan judged her sin with David. He came this time to help her and her son-David's son, to get him on he throne. Nathan showed love and mercy. He put past him exactly that-the past.

Solomon was Bathsheba and David's son too. According to this pastor, Solomon was the viable and visible sign of God's mercy. They lost their first son, as a consequence to sin. Their second son took the throne in his father's place. That's a big jump. God is merciful and quick to forgive. And full of love.

It's trite to say that God is soaked in love and mercy. He is love and mercy so much so that He sacrificed His baby boy. 

I am desperate to be this. Soaked in love and mercy. Gentle. Patient. Understanding. NOT judgmental. Not prideful. And busy. Outside my four walls. Pray for me, please. I really want to get there...

To the ZOO!!

Zoo Pictures

**Laney was in charge of the camera for a large part of the trip. She can't wait to make an animals lapbook of her zoo trip!!!

Aunt Sandy and Uncle Van gave us the best Christmas present this year. We got a family pass to the zoo. We took advantage of the WARM weather and headed that way.

Some of our friends were there too, so we met them for lunch. Michelle and her two daughters, Hazel and Violet were there. Kathy was there with Maddie and Nicholas. Jennifer (and/or Laura Teague) was there with Katie and William. We had big fun.

After lunch, Jennifer and her two sweet babies and we toured the zoo. We loved it!

Jenn left us to get her sleepy girl home, and we were so lost! We found what we wanted to see, stopped in the gift shop for a special birthday treat, and headed home.

It's definitely a place that we'll go over and over again. WE LOVE THE ZOO!!!

(And yes, I do get sad seeing the animals in confinment. I guess this isn't the time to discuss that!:) )