Another Post That Has Nothing To Do With My Kids...

Sorry.
My camera is not uploading pictures today for some reason.

So, here is a Video I absolutley love, and I can never get through it without crying. It portrays the relationship between a loving God and his beloved- me, you, and everyone that has ever lived and will ever live. He desperately loves you and is fighting for you right now. He will never leave you. He suffered and sacrificed so that we wouldn't have to. He was resurrected so that we would never be a slave to death but could be slaves to love and righteousness.

If you aren't a believer-What is keeping you from coming to Christ? What is keeping you from salvation and the hope of eternal life?

He is waiting for you.

Today's Post has Nothing to Do With My Kids...

But if you want to see some embarrassing photos of me as a kid, please- read on.

So this weekend finally, after years of inner struggling and gnashing my teeth and hemming and hawing, I went and got my eyes checked.

I know that most people who read this blog have never seen me in glasses. But, from Kindergarten until about 5th grade, I wore them every day. That was fun.

And no, I don't wear contacts. I just decided one day that I didn't need them anymore, which may have been correct, but mostly I think it had to do with the fact I was late for school and couldn't find them. And thus, the butterfly emerged from her cocoon.

And now, nearly 16 (wow) years later, that butterfly will soon be able to see where she is flying-uh, driving.

So here are a few little morsels from my childhood with glasses.

Please, have mercy on me.

This is one of my favorite pictures of me. In this case, the glasses actually enhance the cuteness. My mom made the dress. I think the was in kindergarten. I loved that metal purse/lunchbox thing and carried it everywhere.

I think I was a little too old to be visiting Santa here. By the looks of it, I was probably 8-9 in this one.
It's hard to tell , but those are pastel teddy bears dancing in the clouds all over my sweatshirt. A sweatshirt with a collar. And baggy stonewashed jeans.

Here's another Christmas one. This one's not as much about my glasses, as about that 2 sizes too big neon chalk printed outfit (check out the pants) monstrosity my sister was wearing. Hi Becky!

One year I was a clown for Halloween.

But this one... oh this one takes the cake. I wish you could see it in person to get the whole effect.

Before you see it though, I'd like to present a list of excuses for why this "look" isn't my fault.

1. It was around 1992, so technically, I guess it could be worse.

2. My mom made the outfit.

3. It was the first day of school, so I wanted to make an impression.

4.There was something horribly wrong with the camera so as to make my ponytail (in a matching scrunchie) appear to be off-center of my head.

5.Um, hmmm. My mom made the outfit.

Prepare yourselves...

There was an unusually and inappropriately large amount of elastic used to construct this stunning piece.

And lace.

Also buttons.

Those are eyelet slip-ons, in case you can't see the detail. And this is ALL ONE PIECE. Meaning I had to put my feet in and pull it up, much like a baby jumper.

I think Greenpeace would object to the amount of cotton harvested to make this outfit.

Only a block away and I miss him already...

Jeremiah is taking Ethan to the lake this weekend.

They are about 2 minutes away.

I want him back.

Maybe I should call Jeremiah. Do you think he would turn around?

Yeah, you're probably right.

But still...

No, I couldn't do that. This is all he's been able to talk about all week. I asked him if he's excited.

"I'm soooo decided!So decided!"

He's been practicing his "Turkey Vulture" call.

Which has me a little worried.

He will have lots of fun, though. I just feel...alone.

It's just...weird.

Kinda like him.

Goodness, I love this boy.

Is There a Full Moon Out or is it Just Me?

I mean really.

{----- See this? This was the bane of my existence this morning.

A Harmless apple, you say?
Ha! That is what it wants you to think. That is the lie it would have you believe since the dawn of...time. Well, since the Garden anyway. You know what I mean.

"Oh, Adam, look, what a pretty little apple. Let's just have a closer look-see. Oh my how sweet it smells. Let's just take one...little....NOOOOOO!"

Temptation.

That's what it really is. And then its all a big mess, and I'm not talking applesauce.

I'm talking a big mess of tiny apple peelings dug out with tiny fingernails and strewn all over my house this morning. I'm talking perfectly good sweet and beautiful apples in my trash for no apparent reason, just because said tiny-apple-peeler felt like doing it.

And I was going to make something yummy from them too. I don't know what. But I would have thought of something soon enough. And it would have been good.

And speaking of bad apples...
How do kids know how to lie?

When I confronted Ethan about The Incident this morning, our conversation went like this:
Me: "What is the WORLD is all over your floor?"
Ethan: " Um, I don't know."
Me: "You don't know?"
Ethan: "I think it's apples."
Me: "Who put the apples there?"
Ethan:" Um, I don't know. I think Charlotte did it."
(Let me just pause to mention that Charlotte was asleep in her crib, and has not yet mastered climbing out of bed . Yet.)
Me: "I think you did it. Why did you do it?"
Ethan: "I didn't know I was doing it."

And it went on from there, but you get the picture.

How do they figure out, even before they can talk in complete sentences, how to lie? Because believe me, this is not the first time.

So I looked it up. Not because I'm a nerd (beside the point..) but because I thought God would know. And guess what?

"Aha, Eureka!" I actually shouted this. (In my head, because it's naptime.)

"Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies." Psalm 58:3 for those of you who will look it up. You know who you are.

Not that I think my kid is wicked, but he is a sinner, just like me. Just like you. Sorry- God said it not me. And that's why we need a Savior- to save us from ourselves, from our sins. From our sin nature, which is always and forever leading us towards doom and away from the promises and hope of God. Because without Jesus, we would have no hope. We would all be mired in our sins, whatever they may be, and we would never know the love and peace that He offers us, for free no less. And we would never get to Heaven. Which I hear is pretty AWE-some.
I'm so glad I have a Savior. I'll just say that right now.

So even my sweet little babies have a sin nature. Mostly, though, you couldn't tell just by looking at them. I think they get it from their father.

If You Let Your Husband Get a Bow for His Birthday...

Your little boy will want one too. He will use all his creative brainpower to make one- A thomas the Train push bar, a stray net from the Elefun game he got for Christmas,

And a pipe cleaner. For the release.

Once he has constructed his "Amazin" new bow, he will need a case to carry it in. This is where the cover for the carseat comes in. Never mind that its 40 degrees and you may need to take the baby out at some point this week.

You keep reminding yourself it's a small sacrifice for engaging and expanding the imagination of your first born. Or something like that.




When he has the essential hunting equipment together, and he's ready to go and shoot anything that moves, he'll suddenly remember that he hasn't got any gum. So he'll find the first thing his daddy wouldnt want him to lose, like the cell phone holder.

"That will do just fine," he'll say.

And then you will look upon the apple of your eye, and shudder to think what your husband will want for Christmas.