Sometimes I Just Can't Argue....

I am blond. I really really can't argue this point today.

I am trying to fill the chickens waterer. The one we got from my parents/brother had a crack, so I had to dig the one out of the cat house and fill it up. No problem, right?

Picture a chicken waterer in your head. It's gravity-fed.

Picture me, putting the bottom down on the ground.

Picture me flipping the full-of-water top part over to screw it on to the bottom.

Laughing yet?

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Let me help you-- all the water went everywhere. The chickens all gave me a thoughtful look before they went running to catch the water worms. (That's what water looks like on dust.)

And I realized I didn't quite think that through before I did it.

Way Too Funny Link

My friend Karalee posted about our playdate on her blog-- click and read to find out what Karston (her 4 yr old boy) thought of Melia and Kiera, aka, MaKiera ;-)

PS. He has a sister named Makaila....

(Edited: Karalee reminded me-- her blog is private, so I copied and pasted for you here! )

"What cracks me up more than anything is Karston today when ever he would refer to Kiera. He calls her Makiera. I never heard him say Melia and realized after everyone was gone he was rambling about who knows what and was something along the lines of the girls who sister, something about a twin. I was confused because neither myself, Brooke or Denaye have twins.
"I asked him if he was talking about Melia and Kiera. He replies "yea, that's their names" seeming puzzled that both their names were Makiera and they were twin sisters. :) It was rather cute. :)"

I am one of the distinct minority

Check this out:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20080623/us_time/christiansnoonepathtosalvation

Basics of poll:
70% of pollsters say that there is no one path to heaven (not suprising)
57% of "evangelical Christians" say theirs is not the only path to heaven (shocking, at least to me)

Wow. I guess I can be positive and say "Maranatha Lord Jesus! Come quickly!" because this is another strong indicator of the age in which we are living.

Me? I believe the Bible (GOD) says what He means, and means what He says.

Cleaning Update!

Well, due to our worthwhile getaway, I was a little behind, but yesterday I tried to play catch up. I finished most of the kitchen/dining area, one living room, and about 1/2 the laundry. So today, working on the girls' rooms, the other living room and more laundry!!!!

Motivation!!!

Happy Anniversary to Us! *8 Years*

Eight years ago I don't think we could have possibly fathomed how much we would grow together, but it has been a very, very blessed time. Thanks to Gabe's suprise planning, we had a very special time together reflecting on what God has done and being humbly grateful for everything.

Monday night, Gabe showed up as I was walking out from work. He kidnapped me (!) and we drove together to Leavenworth to spend the night at the Enzian Inn. Tuesday we played a round of mini golf at the Enzian's putting course, had lunch at the Baron Haus, enjoyed some Starbucks and a little shopping. We stopped at SleepyHollow Nursery on the way back to town and picked up some more mature blueberry plants and 4 grapes :-)

This was all a complete suprise-- I totally thought he was at work :-) Tricky fellow! But what a blessing-- the funny part was that all morning Monday I was feeling a little melancholy about him going back to work, and he was laughing inside, knowing how happy I would be later when he picked me up!

Thank you Lord. I know that everything we share is from You and not ourselves. Without You, we would never be so happy together, nor have such an exciting future to look forward to forever.

Cleaning Week!

Due to the stress and craziness of our lives, our house is a pit! Therefore, I am declaring this week cleaning week!

Please, keep me accountable!

Monday-- basic pick up, due to leaving for work at noon
Tuesday: Laundry and kitchen
Wednesday: Both living rooms
Thursday: Girls rooms and sort out too-small clothes
Friday: Bathrooms
Saturday: Catch-up

If I think about it, I will post pics (if I am not too embarassed!)

The "BOY" Experience

Do I really need to try for a boy? Am I afraid of missing the little boy experience?

No.

I am already emptying treasures out of Kiera's pockets before washing her clothes....

Tonight... It was rocks.

:-) Someday, I am sure I will find frogs.

Long Weekend...

Just a quick note to say that you will not be hearing for me for a few days, unless I have something I just can't stand not sharing, which is entirely possible and likely....

This weekend is my dad's family "camp" (not really camp this year, due to...) and celebration for my grandparents' 60th anniversary and grandpa's 80th birthday!

I promise I will post pictures upon returning... pix of cousins playing, cousins chatting, celebrations, picnicing, the fabulous anniversary/birthday cakes that I am make(ing), and....

Gabe's new truck!

:-) Later!

Trusting God: Part One

My auntie Brenda posted a intro post over on her blog (see list at right) on what she is dealing with on trusting God.

Instead of commenting, ('cause long comments by me are a bore), I thought I would post a little here, (so then if you are reading it, it is your own fault! And you want to be here!)

Anyway, I really appreciate what she had to say-- Trusting God is huge, and the second you think you're ready, you'll be afraid again. At least that's how I feel. But each challenge is put before me to help me grow! Sometimes it is two steps forward, one step back... actually, it often is. But Baby steps is how we do it. Leaps of faith don't come until later :-) based on our trust in our past experiences that we can trust Him.

Here is one of my recent baby steps:

Last Monday at work, I entered the break room to find the occupants watching the evening news talk about the hows and whys of Tim Russert's death. Because my mouth is SOOO big, I piped up with "Maybe it was just his time." And the guy sitting next to me turned and said "Do you really believe that?"

Oops. But yes, I do. Why? I don't know. We talked some, and both left to do our respective jobs. While working in my dark little hole in the wall (literally... except the dark part), I prayed and talked to God about how sorry I was that I blew that opportunity that He placed in my path, and He gave me this
"For it is appointed unto men once to die..."
I wondered what the scripture was, and immediately Gabe called. He finished the verse for me
"... and after that is the judgement."
But no address. Over the course of the next hour or so, I really felt led to share this verse with my co-worker. I called my dad-in-law and got the reference (Hebrew 9:27). Then I was ready.

And then I was terrified. Frozen with fear. So I took a baby step.
"God, help me get to the break room." He did, but J wasn't there.
"God, help me find him." I went out on the floor (what we call the shopping area) and sure enough, the enemy was there with distractions of customers needing help... But He helped me finish those tasks, and keep looking. I had to walk all the way back to the freezer section before I found him. When I saw J, I nearly collapsed. I prayed "God, I am terrified. Help Me!"

I went to him, told him he might think I was crazy, but that I had prayed about our discussion and this was what God had given me. He was amazed, but didn't think I was crazy, because he had a grandfather who could quote Scripture for any situation. (Thank you Lord, for the legacy you give to Godly men!) He appreciated what I brought to him, and was not offended at all. I shared where I attended church, and we talked a bit more. And then I went back to work. It lasted 2-3 minutes, maybe, but seemed like longer!

God gave me strength to do what He was calling me to do. Baby steps. Next time, that won't be quite so difficult!

Stay tuned for my future leap of faith... regarding our family situation. (Hint: it includes the initials BRCA)

Which One: Encourage Creativity or Teach the Cold Hard Truth

A while ago I ended up with some kind of kid's meal toy, which has a Belle (disney princess) necklace in it along with some stickers.

I have Melia the necklace last Sunday, which she then was heartbroken over because she left it at Gramps' house. To help ease the pain, I let her open the stickers. In the package there is some little things, it looks like maybe the two pieces are supposed to be taped together and then they might make the magic mirror off Beauty and the Beast.

Anyway....

Melia brings me these two paper pieces and tells me something, and then has to tell me again because I just can't believe she is saying this....

"Momma, can I go outside and plant these in the garden so they will grow and grow and make me a necklace?"

So... Do I lie, or do I tell the truth? Hmmm????