Personal Best

A New Record For Me

I had my week's laundry (just clothes) all washed, dried, folded and put away by 9:30 am. Yep, you read that right 9:30 AM. This is my personal best record. To qualify, however, I had it all sorted and ready to go yesterday when I found out that the laundry room in our apartment complex was closed for repairs. So first thing this morning my laundry was ready to go. I climbed out of bed and in my pajamas (I'm sure no one could tell) walked down the short sidewalk to our laundry room and got an early start (truth be told I only got myself out of bed at 7 today). It also helped that my husband was home and was feeding the kids breakfast while I was folding the first batch. And thankfully the two older kiddo's are big enought to fold the entire white load and put them away. Although, I have often longed for the day when I don't have to go down the outside stairs, down the sidewalk and through the parking lot to do launry, I do enjoy being able to wash 3 loads at a time. It sure does speed things along. So really it wasn't just my personal record it was a group effort. I'm not trying to gloat, although, I have a very sinful heart so I'm sure there is that selfish motivation, but I'm again trying to monument that not all days end in a flop. There are days when things run smoothly and I get to enjoy the fact that my plans hadn't battled against God's plans.

More Please

One of Those Days

Every once in a while one of these kind of days happen. It's been a joy to be a mom today and I'm documenting it so I'll remember the good times. Somehow my mind remembers the tougher days, but let this be a monument that there are good days. The kids were by far not perfect (although this picture was the first shot in the series), but they were better behaved than normal.

Silly Things I'm Thankful For

1. The swimming pool in our apartment complex and for how well the kids sleep after a long evening swim.

2. A son who can sweep the kitchen floor (I hate that chore for some reason).

3. Fruit loops (I'm sure a bowl of fruit loops has got to be less calories than a bowl of ice cream)

4. Fixed plumbing in the apartment complex laundry room, clean laundry soon to follow.

5. Air Conditioning!!! (And a gracious husband who after seeing the electric bill still lets me run the air conditioner)

6. Days like today :)

This is Elias and Emma mimicing their silly Grandma and Grandpa with Elise.

Summer Days

She's Wet

And these are the culprits.

The rule: Get permission before squirting someone.

Unfortunately for Brooke she can't talk and thus her wants and dislikes are up for interpretation. I think for the most part, this time Elias had the right interpretation.

I think she's thirsty

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG GUY

Look who's 6 !?!

My little guy isn't so little anymore.

I got the great idea of making a pizza cake. It was easy, quick and quite yummy. I used a deep dish 14 in pizza pan, red frosing, shaved white chocolate, and fruit leather for the pepperoni. I had to go to two different pizza places to get a box to put the cake in. We tried convincing Elias to have pizza for lunch for his birthday, but he had his heart set on Haystacks .












After we were done eating lunch we pulled out the cake. Elias on the other hand wasn't quite that impressed. It took a little coaxing to get him excited about the cake.

I think part of his lack of excitement over the cake was the delay in opening presents. Who wants cake when there is a world of unknown surprises under all that wrapping paper?

This is my Mom's way of making sure the grandkids know who the gift is from.

What kind of gift could bring this excitement? A squirtgun.

And look who's playing with the toys after the kids all went to bed.

More Sayings

A Rainbow of Conversations.

Some revealing some interesting heart attitudes

1. This conversation began at the grocery store

Elias: Why are you buying those?

Mom: We are going to have carrots with our lunch.

Elias: So I'll be strong enough to wrestle Dad?

Mom: Um, yeah

(After coming home and eating lunch Dad and Elias were wrestling with Dad obviously winning)

Dad: What happened I thought you ate your carrots?

Elias: Yeah, but they came out of my tummy when I went poop

2. I've often heard this since Emma's birthday

Emma: That was a long time ago, back when I was 3

(most recently)

Emma: I won't cry when I get shots anymore because I'm four now. I only cried back when I was young.

3. This happened the other night when I left the kids at a friends house. Her husband and teenage daughter watched all the kids while we had a Mom's meeting for Elias's school.

husband: sat down on the couch to read a book

Emma: climbed up on the couch onto his lap straddling him. She put both hands on his face making him look directly at her and told him "I was talking to you."

(I was so glad this story was relayed to my husband the next day at work and not to me.)

4. As we passes a man on the street I had this conversation with my eldest child. Unfortunaly the man only heard the first sentence and kept on walking.

Elias: That person is strange.

Mom: Elias, that is not kind. Why would you say that?

Elias: Do we know him? Isn't he a stranger?

(Now I ask you, how do explain the fact that someone can be a stranger and not be strange?)

This is the time...

that Alex gets home from work. It's been a month now and we are getting use to a different schedule now that Alex is working the swing shift (3pm-11:30) at UCLA. And so far so good. It's been hard going to sleep without him, but having him home during the day is a definite bonus. We are very thankful for the job God has provided. Alex is working with the plumbing department despite the fact that he has absolutely no experience with plumbing (he's mapping out the manholes on the campus right now and will be doing those type of projects throughout the year). I was not looking forward to the odd hours but so far it has not been bad and we are actually enjoying our mornings. The benefit to this job is that it will enable him to be in class this fall in the mornings. We are very thankful to God for providing for us during our unplanned "3 month vacation". It was very fun having him home and the Lord was so very gracious in providing for us that is almost did feel a little bit like a vacation. We very much appreciate the friends and family that were praying for us.

heart surgery

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

At 11:30 pm last night the temperature outside was 90 degrees and this morning it had only ropped to 83!! It is my heart's prayer that Philippians 4:11 would be true of me regardless of my circumstances, but my flesh so loves it's comfort. It may be that the entire city of Los Angeles is having to deal with an early summer heat wave because God is being faithful to his promise in Phil 1:6 and perfecting his work in me. But thankfully, there is also the promise of Romans 8:28, and I know that although others may be suffering because of my need for high temperatures, that God will work it out for their good. Because He is a good and sovereign God who works all things together for everyone who loves him.

I have recently been wrestling with the idea of contentment. I know that God is completely in control, and that every circumstance is not only allowed but ordained by him. But that fact does not put contentment to rest in me. I know and believe the truths of Romans 8:28 that God is working all things together for good. My lack of contentment lies in the definition of "good". I want the good to be my pleasure, my comfort, my ease. I often don't care if that good is "me being conformed into his image". When it comes down to it I value my pleasure over my being conformed into His image.

So now what? How do I learn to value being conformed into His image? How do I not only believe God is sovereign, but be thankful that he is sovereign and working against my flesh to conform me into the precious image of His son. Maybe I've just answered my question. Maybe I need to study and meditate on the image of His Son, consuming my thoughts with that image that is so very precious and to be treasured. Any thoughts?

Eat your Veggies!!!

So clean you could eat off the floor

Ok, I had just mopped the floor the night before, but if I hadn't it really wouldn't have changed my actions. This morning while making a salad I dropped a bunch of frozen corn on the floor. Multiple responses ran through my head: a) sweep it up and throw it away b) gently pick up the pieces and toss them in the salad (hey, I had just mopped the night before) c) call the kids to come and have a snack. My kids love frozen vegetables (if I don't cook them). I need to remember this healthy snack. Often, however, it's just a snack they get when I make a mess and call them to come clean up. Frozen corn is thier favorite, but they'll clean up frozen mixed veggies pretty quickly.

Fireman Elias

When I grow up...

I want to be a firetruck. I can't tell you how many times I've corrected Elias and told him no a fireman. His response, "yeah I want to be a fireman." Somehow though, firetruck is stuck in there and tomorrow if I asked him he would revert back to firetruck.

One of the elders at our church is a captain at the local fire department and on occasion gives tours to the youngsters. These pictures are from two different occasions, a Calvary Kids field trip, and a father and son outing.

Vacation Part 4

Fun in the Sun
I'm finally getting the last of our vacation pictures up. We took a break from swimming at the pool and found a fun beach that had lots of tidepools to explore.

Going to the beach is not quite as relaxing as it was a couple of years ago. I remember 2 years ago trying to coax the older two into the water, just to splash thier feet. Since then they've overcome their fear and have gained a sibling who has never had fear of the water. No more laying in the sun at the beach while the kids play in the sand. It is still fun, but now we just make sure we have time to take a nap when we get home.

All tuckered out