First Boat Ride of 2012 Quotes

Nora, "Mom, what COLOR is the water?"

 Maleah: "It's really windy and Nora's hair is blowing in my face."

 Gavin: "Dad, can I drive?"

 Addi: "We go fast, daddy. I can see the back of the town from here."

The whole family enjoyed the ride, although we pretty much fill the boat up :)

Pisteuo

Did you know the word pisteuo, to believe in Greek, appears in Matthew and Mark ten times each, in Luke nine times, but in John ninety-nine times? NINETY-NINE, that's like almost a hundred. I have read before that John's purpose was evangelistic. He wrote to produce faith in Jesus Christ as the son of God.

So what does it mean to believe? The local high school cheerleaders chant, "We believe that we will win!" at games. I guess you can say that to believe means to hope against all odds. But I agree with the author of Deeper into the Word, Keri Wyatt Kent (my newest Kindle Fire download), that this is not the belief that John speaks of.

The author says;

To be a believer is not to consider yourself His biggest fan. Rather, it means you stake your life of his claims; his proclamation of divinity, his assertion that he can forgive sin, his radical statement about being "the way, the truth and the life." To believe is not just to give intellectual assent, but to stake your life on the premise that such truth will save you.
Pisteuo means not only to believe but to place your confidence in something, to rely upon it. It is often translated "commit to," or commit to one's trust."

Belief does not simply change our mind about God, it changes who we are. We are filled with life- not just for eternity but for now. Belief means we live differently, because we live fully.

I believe.

I participated in a Bible study awhile back with some awesome friends. (really miss you guys) It was a Beth Moore study called Believing God. We learned about Godstops. A "Godstop" is any means by which God goes out of His way during your day to make Himself known to you.

Recently I have been experiencing some of these Godstops. They have been real, consistent, and continue to strengthen my faith. I would like to share just a couple of them with you.

We got the news from the dentist that Maleah would need braces. We also got the estimate of what it would cost. I got scared. I prayed. I got a second opinion. It was still scary. I prayed about it. Then Ryan came home from work and told me about a year long contract he was thinking about signing. It would be a small raise. Guess how much? Almost exactly what the braces would cost. Godstop.

Gavin had been begging to shop at the mission Haiti store uptown. (A local business was having a thrift sale and all the proceeds went to Haiti.) So I grabbed the cash in my purse and a shopping we went. We spent about a half an hour looking at stuff, picking out things we couldn't live without, we got some new things, some new to us things and something for everyone. We got to the checkout and I pulled my cash out. I had exactly the amount that the total was, thirty-seven dollars. Kinda weird, but no big deal. So we came home to show our bargains. Gavin was showing his father the FCA New Testament Bible he got. They read a story and the Bible verse together. Later, Maleah wanted to go up and shop for a bit. Dad took her. When he came home he had the biggest grin on his face. "Do you know what verse I read out of Gavin's new Bible before I left?" It was Psalm 37. Cool, huh? Yes, I spent $37 and I Ryan read Psalm 37. Coincidence? Nope. Guess what? Ryan found a wall hanging with that verse on it at the sale. It stared him down and he just had to bring it home to me....Godstop! Do you know what Psalm 37:4 says?

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

Which may mean nothing to you, but to our family, in our present situation. It means a lot. All of a sudden we looked at each other and just laughed. We have been crazy worried and stressed about "things" in our life and this verse just reminded us that as long as we keep the Lord in our life and believe and delight and trust in Him our life will change for the better. Whatever the Lord desires for us will be in our hearts and because He loves us, enough to sacrifice his one and only son, He will provide for us not only our needs, but our wants, too. Is not that AMAZING?

Ryan was snapping photos of things for Grandpa to sell and Nora had to get in on the action! Don't worry Grandma, we won't sell Santa!

The obligatory I haven't blogged in too long 10 list...

Yesterday I needed three of me. I had a Dr. appointment and I got called to sub, twice.

That pretty much sums up how this winter is going. It's as crazy as the weather. I just got back from a short run and I feel like I may have heat stroke, something told me to turn around after a mile and a half. I am glad I did. I was way overdressed and my goodness it's almost 70 in the sun! WOW.

I know I have been neglecting the little blog. It's a bit dusty and all the corners have cobwebs. I am online everyday, I just feel like I don't have time or worthwhile words to post. Here is a brief update of what is going on in Mommyville;

1) My mom is getting married. MARRIED!!!!!! This event planning has pretty much taken over everything in my life at this point. The lucky man is from just East of Sioux Falls and he has swept my mom off her feet, quite literally. I am extremely happy for her, although it will take some getting used to having her in a different city and not in church every Sunday. I have been spoiled. The wedding is in April and will be a gorgeous, blessed union of two amazing God loving people. I can hardly wait.

2) Our piano broke. Middle C just came right off. Which means Maleah is practicing on a keyboard that is VERY LOUD. We are in search of a (nearly free) piano if anyone knows of one. The smaller the better :)

3) Gavin (8) is aspiring to be a chef or at least a baker. He has made cookies twice in the last week. He has learned the difference between T. and t. and now knows how to fluff flour. He also loves making supper. He has made barb-ques, chili and eggs and pancakes. He loves to be in the kitchen about as much as loves to watch football. He helped me make chili the other night for the preschool chili cook off and we won 1st place in our category. He got his picture taken and everything. He was so pleased!

4) Uncle Glenn showed the girls his false teeth. Addison was scared of him but Nora says, "that's what happens to old people, they are just like babies!"

5) Dad and the girls went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Gordon and Uncle Glenn yesterday and the decided to take the boat out. It was quite the adventure. You will have to ask the girls about it, their rendition of the event is quite hilarious. Let's just say old gas and no oar makes for a interesting boat ride.

6) Ryan has applied for the twelve month work every weekend position in his department. It will make for some changes around here. Some good some not so good. We made a list of cons and pros and he decided to turn in his application. We'll see if he gets the job and then we will plan a lot of during the week camping trips, I guess :)

7) I have been busy driving the kids to the dentist, orthodontist, preschool and games. I have subbed enough to make me feel like a professional and help out a bit with the budget. I can't believe how quickly February went. I think I am getting old. The days are spinning past me faster than I can cross them off the calendar.

8) Yesterday on the way home from the doctor I saw thousands of geese flying north. It was quite the sight. People were pulled over on the interstate taking photos. If that isn't a sign of spring I don't know what is.

9) We are still trying to sell our place. I haven't done anything but word of mouth. We are 'on the fence' about moving and I truly believe that if it's God's plan it will get done no matter if I hire the best Realtor or not. Well, that, and I am cheap.

10) What are you doing at your computer? Get outside and sit in the sunshine today and get some vitamin D. It's way good for you :)

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Camo

How cool is it when you match your bedspread without even knowing it?

Deprived

 This picture was taken one week ago. We had a "picnic"on the deck for lunch. Yesterday it was near 50 degrees.

 Today, however, my snow deprived three year old was in HEAVEN. She was outside for over 2 hours. I had to beg her to come in.

 She did beg me for some raisins and carrots to make a snowman, which was actually more of a snow pile, but who is judging? I watched her spend at least 45 minutes making the perfect face and devour most of it in less than 5 minutes. I guess playing in the snow make you hungry. Sorry little snow pile, your life was short lived.

She also ventured over to the neighbors house to 'help' her brush the snow off her car, but ended up trying to start a snowball fight, good thing she can only hold a teaspoon of snow in her hands or we may have had to call in a mediator. It was like she had never seen snow before. All morning she was smiling and laughing and really soaking it all in. Literally, she went through three pairs of mittens :)

Heart Hair and She Shoots She Scores!

Yesterday morning I cut my workout 15 minutes short (thank you Michelle) so I could come home and do heart hair.
Then; I got ready, sent two off to school with valentines, made my lunch, got one off to preschool with valentines, subbed, came home, ate candy, made supper, crammed everyone in the car, drove to Maleah's ballgame, spilled goldfish all over the bleachers, watched Maleah score 10 points, visited with friends, came home, got the kids ready for bed and REALIZED I DIDN'T TAKE A PICTURE OF HEART HAIR YET. So, forgive me for the worn in heart hair look. This is truly an all day style :)

 side pig tail hearts for Maleah

 
 back pony heart for Addi

one tiny toddler pig for Nora

and some of the game for Grandma and whoever else is interested...ignore my commentary, something comes over me when I watch her play and I pretend that I am the smartest coach in the world, foolish, I know, but it's that transformation thing I was talking about...   

Wintring (Winter + Spring) or Sprinter

Maleah has been really enjoying her basketball season. I am shocked at how much it changes me as a person. I turn into a crazy screaming mom who yells from the bleachers with no concern for her other children or those seemingly normal, quiet people who sit near her. It's sort of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr Hydeish.

Anyway, this last game was only her age group and she really had fun. So did we, watching her. Hence, no really good pictures, sorry.

Last night, for some reason, the kids conned me into making valentines. After much online searching and looking for the perfect ones. Gavin decided on these...

Maleah and Addison, thank you Jesus, decided to use some of the boxes I had purchased at the clearance sales last year. Then Nora made a "yist" of people that she really needed to give Valentines to. So we made some for her, too. Addi and her signed every one all by themselves. They wanted me to write their names on scratch paper so they could "copy". They are growing up way too fast.

Speaking of fast, anyone else think January went by pretty quickly? And here it is the 10th of Feb? Yikes!