The other Jude funny

I remembered it!

We drove past a train that was just sitting on a train track.

Jude says, "I've never seen a train run out of gas before..."

Maybe I'm not getting old and senile after all... Just yet.

Jude

is cracking me up here lately. I need to get these down, since, um, the kid doesn't have a baby book yet. I know. I know. I've been a little busy the last 2 years. And the 2 years before that.

We were going home late last night, and I mean, we NEVER go anywhere at night. Well, everybody already knows that. Anyway, Jude said, "Man, it's dark just like it was at Halloween."

(Yes, it's been since last October at the Fall Ball since my kids have gone anywhere at night.)

So anyway, he says, "Mama, I can't see you! Zane, I can't see you. Man, I can't even see MYSELF!"

Whew.

Then, this morning, he was sitting on the floor, in his Clifford house shoes, the kinds with the Clifford stuffed animal head on them, playing with googly eyes. You know, the kind you make crafts out of. So he asks me for some glue, and I, trying to cut him off at the pass, said, "Um buddy, you are NOT going to glue those eyes on your Clifford house shoes."

He replied, "Mom, my house shoes already have eyes. I'm gluing my eyes on my paper."

I think he may have even rolled his eyes, but I can't be sure.

He said something else funny to, later in the day, but now I can't remember it. That's what happens when you get old. And crazy. And you don't blog fast enough.

The Devil

I keep thinking about him. Not in an obsessive way, but just pondering. It started with the study on Job that Pastor David is doing.

I know that God created the Devil, and Satan made the choice to disobey God. I just don't get why God created him.

God KNEW what choice the devil would make. He KNEW what evil and horror the devil would be the father of. So why create him? Did God need evil in the world? Was evil necessary to send Jesus? I mean, did God plan evil to come into the world so that He could send Jesus?

Basically, had God not created Lucifer, then the whole Garden of Eve fiasco wouldn't have happened. Because Lucifer wouldn't have been hanging around the Garden.

I don't want to go so far as to say that God created evil, because God is pure and no evil is in him. But He willingly created the thing that would become the basis of evil.

Why?

I think of Job, hanging out, having no idea that God offered him up to Satan, not once, but twice. I KNOW the good that came from all that, and I know that Job got "reimbursed" but I always think of what a dear friend of mine says. Job didn't get the 10 original kids back. What he went through cost him greatly. Dearly. I know what it did for Job, and I know that I've walked some harrowing paths with God that I wouldn't trade for anything. Not even what it cost me. But the point is, Satan cost Job a lot. Or was it God? God allowed it. Recommended it. Whew.

So I just can't figure out why God created Satan. I even wondered if God was... bored? Is that blasphemy? I mean, not bored, like we get bored. But if there were no evil, this would be heaven on Earth, and we wouldn't need a real heaven. Or a Savior. So maybe God needed a "bad guy."

So He could send the good guy. Jesus. Look what we would have missed out on if there wasn't a Devil. Would we have missed out on Jesus?

And I think about Satan, prowling about like a lion, seeing whom he may distroy. And I think about the lake of fire, and how he'll be tormented for an eternity. I think of all the bad that people I know suffer through. And to think that it's all because of evil.

David talked about suffering again on Sunday. He talked about how suffering is a result of sin. And how when you suffer, you need to realize that you're suffering because of sin. Not just your own sin, but sin in general. And how we should take an opportunity to use your suffering to cleanse yourself of sin. Use your suffering to feed your hate of sin. Or, I thought, turn the anger of suffering toward the Devil, the father of sin. Not towards God, whom from all blessings flow.

Oh well. I just needed to ramble that out. I need to go Google "Why did God create the Devil?" and see what the really smart people say.

Question

Why did God create the Devil????

My cross wall

I love it!

Before and after

I didn't put the kids' pictures back up, because I want to do a cross wall there, like this one.

I am more than exhausted. It was such a hard room, but we really do love the color. It makes the room so warm and comfortable. It's not too dark, although it is much darker than these pictures make it out to be. It's elegant and practical. And all the smudges and marks are gone! We washed the curtains, vacuumed under the furniture and wiped everything down. It feels clean and pretty. I'm tired. Wait, did I already say that?

Now it's just the hall way, foyer and stairwell/landing. And all the trim. And touch ups. I'm tired.
:):):P

Yeah, that.

"With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack? Surely we are the most favored of all creatures..."

Tozer

My funny Jude

I try so hard not to brag on my kids, but this one I just cannot help.

Allen has this exercise dvd that someone gave him called "Ab Ripper." It's a 12 minute video for you abs, of course. The kids love to do it with him. You haven't lived until you've seen Zane doing "Ab Ripper." Let me see if I can find a pic.

It really doesn't do the cuteness justice, but you get the idea.

So yesterday afternoon, Jude comes in the kitchen and asks where Daddy's "Ab Ripper" is. I told him in the dvd player. I wondered what that was about, but was busy with the kitchen, so just let it go.

Earlier that morning, Jude had gotten on Webkinz with his puppy he got from his grandmother for Easter. He loves that website, but we didn't register his puppy, so he just plays around.

When I found the kids doing "Ab Ripper," I texted Allen to tell him what they were doing. He called when he got a break, and I heard Jude talking to him. I heard Laney laughing, and I asked her what was so funny. She said that when they were doing the exercises, Jude was making his puppy do the exercises too. I thought that was funny, and asked Jude why.

He said that on the Webkinz website, they said you had to exercise your puppy. And what better way to do that than with your Daddy's "Ab Ripper" dvd?

I love that kid....

Short haired girl

So Allen took the kids to get hair cuts. Laney decided that she wanted her hair cut. I was secretly SO glad. It's been hard to wash, hard to comb, hard to brush and HOT. I love her new cut, and washing it and brushing it was a snap last night. She's cooler, and I think she looks really cute. So cute that I'm tempted to get MY hair cut!!!

Office is done!

*ahem* Blogger is on crack this morning, and it's not cooperating with anything I'm trying to make it do. That's why the "after" picture is before the "before" picture. And other pictures aren't showing up at the bottom. Bad Blogger.





















So the office was next. It was, *finally*, an easy room to do. I see now why people think painting is fun. I just painted a whole easy room in one day. Allen was amazing and took care of the kids and then took them out for a long time. I just listened to old sermons of David Platt's, and he gave me such deep, troubling things to ponder on. It was such a great day. Very relaxing and productive.

I love actually starting a finishing a project. That's the thing around here. Nothing is ever done. I can clean, but there's always something else to clean. Not like the old days when you cleaned and then you were done for a week.

Anyway, the bamboo blind isn't exactly sun blocking like I had hoped, but I'm going to Lartigue it and put some sun blocking fabric on it. But not today. I'm having another one of those laundry problems this week!

We're doing the living room on Saturday. The room I've been dreading. Allen is going to do this one with me, and we'll just paint all day. I'm already praying about that one! lol...

I have pretty toes

I needed some pampering. Self indulgent, narcissistic, whiny pampering. So I went for my first ever pedicure. I was nervous! I'm so ticklish, and I was afraid I was going to laugh. It helped that they had CNN on, and they were running a story about women in Afghanistan. That made me feel even worse! But sober, and I definitely didn't laugh.

It was hard to spend the money too. I am the epitome of cheap. Or thrifty. I tried not to think of just how many bottles of nail polish I could buy with what it costs to get a mani and pedi. Then I told myself to shut it and just enjoy the experience. So I read my book.

I have pretty nails too, even though I managed to ding them before I was even out of the nail place. And I had them done because I'm painting tomorrow??? Oh well. Guess I'll have to put to use my plastic gloves.

And the nice lady said, "You really like color?" Yes, I'm a weirdo, and I love this color!

*sigh* That was fun. I won't do it again for a long time, but Jamie's a bad influence, and I had to cave at some point! It was fun to cave!!! *smooch* :):):)

And Allen said, "Hey take a picture of my ugly toes by your cute toes!!!" So I did. We're just crazy that way!!! lol....

For Jenn, my Muse

I do wish it was in Jenn's handwriting... I think you have to be born with that handwriting gene! But I like it, and it's done. You can't really see all the dooies and doodles. They're there.... And oh, the Lord is so very good....

Let's pretend...

My kids love to pretend. I think all kids do. I just love it, because it reminds me of being a kid, and how much I loved to dress up and pretend. These are some of my favorites....

The made these Incredible costumes, even down to the logos and the masks.

Heh. Bless her heart. She has no idea how hard it's going to be to actually get a boy by her Daddy.

She watched Mulan today, so I found my hidden, surprise kiddie chopsticks and they at their chicken dogs with them! They it was the best lunch ever! lol...

Guess what we're reading in school?

There are no words. I'm sure you didn't realize that Superman wore a bike helmet. In case his super cape didn't work, I guess. :)


We went to the library and loaded on movies and books when we all got sick. She's watching "Mary Poppins" right now. Guess I'll go dig up my umbrella...;)

It's here!!!!!

I love, love, love it!!!! I think I want everything on her website... And here it is, by the way, so you can send the link to your hubby and give him great hints for all your upcoming occasions!

http://lisaleonardonline.com/

And me in all my sick glory!! The real me!

Check that one off the list

Done. I like it. On to the office/breakfast nook. *sigh* Who said this was fun???? :)

Gymnastics and Mexican food

Allen got off early, on Tuesday, our anniversary, and my mom was coming to stay so we could go eat. Laney developed a fever late in the day, so I scrambled and cancelled my mom. It was a rainy, dreary day, so the thought of staying at home with a movie and some yummy good sounded great to me, actually.

The kids and I headed out, even though Laney was sick, because the PS3 game Allen wanted came out on our anniversary. I was going to get a snazzy outfit to wear to dinner, but instead found this great capri/short sleeve jacket/comfy outfit. Perfect for the couch!

The kids had helped me get Allen's presents and wrap them, so when he got home they were super excited to see him open them. We went ahead and asked him to open them while they were awake. So much for romance! I got him his game, the Indiana Jones triliogy and the Alabama Football Vault book he's been wanting. He was really happy about his presents, and that made us all happy!

My present hasn't come yet! I got some beautiful white roses, though. What a happy surprise! We had white roses in our wedding, so that's why he got me those!

The kids went down easily, and Allen scooted out to get Habaneros. I love that place! We ate and watched the Olympics. After dinner, we put in "Raiders of the Lost Art," but after a bit I got up the courage to tell Allen I really wanted to watch women's gymnastics. He rolled his eyes just a bit, but was really kind about the whole thing. It helped that swimming was interspersed throughout the gymnastics, so he liked that!

It was a sweet, cozy anniversary!

When I went to bed, I realized that Zane was burning hot with a fever and he was sleeping uneasily for most of the night. I thought, "Well. that was a quick return to reality!" It's okay, though, because Allen always can make me laugh. That's the most precious gift of all!

I'm so glad we some pictures of the two of us. We don't have that many. We were so tickled because Jude was taking them, and he was so cute with the camera! I had to post all three of them. Yea!!!!!

First day of first grade

I can't believe how worn out we are during the first week of school. I've been snowed under with school, painting and the usual stuff I'm trying to find time to do. It's going great, though. Laney and I love this curriculum, although it's pretty hard some days. Zane's had a few problems transitioning to us being back in school, but I'm hoping that smooths out soon. I need more time to Facebook and blog!!! :):):)