Saturday, January 31, 2009

New Car!




We were blessed with a new car this week! Our friends, Jerry and Ginger gave us a great deal on a 2005 Dodge Neon. It will be the perfect commuter car for Ryan.
A few months ago, the car that he primarily used broke down and it wasn't worth the money to repair it. His sister, Elisa, let him use her old car, which was a blessing. However, it wasn't the nicest car, it had muffler problems, a broken window, no radio, etc. This new car is quite a change for him. He is very pleased!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Bath Time Fun













I love these pictures from last nights bath time! The girls rarely get bubbles in the bath, so they were extra excited to splash with bubbles! Can you tell they had fun?!


Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Anyone interested in lending?

I was wondering if anyone local has any of these books that I could borrow? I have heard lots of good things about these books, but I'm not willing to pay $15 for them. I'm wanting to read, The Kite Runner, The Secret Life of Bees, and Three Cups of Tea. If anyone has any other good fictional books that you think I might like, I'd love to borrow them as well. I have a stack of non fiction that I'm working through already so I don't need anymore of those right now (I'm in the process of reading 3 different ones right now).
On the flip side, if there are any books that I have that you would like to borrow, just let me know! Maybe we can get a book exchange going!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

25 Random Things

Thanks Sarah and Leanne for tagging me!
1. I'm addicted to espresso. Seriously, I'm starting to get headaches if I don't have at least a Grande!
2. I'm scared of butterflies.
3. I can't handle anyone touching my bones.
4. I went river rafting once and loved it!!!
5. I love to read and wish I had more time to.
6. I hate silence.
7. I prefer listening to someone talking than music.
8. I love taking pictures and someday would like to get a better camera and photography lessons.
9. I like to scrapbook.
10. I'm addicted to blogging. I can't go to sleep if I haven't checked every one's blogs!
11. I've been married 10 years.
12. Other than Worship music, my favorite band is U2 (and don't tell anyone, but I really like the Grateful Dead).
13. I have a BS in Humanities.
14. I would like to study Sociology.
15. I can concentrate best in a busy, loud coffee shop.
16. I wish I had the ability to stop time.
17. I accidentally hit the Puyallup River bridge with my car a couple months ago and didn't tell my husband for 3 weeks.
18. I was a medical social worker.
19. I want to be more creative.
20. I need to be more disciplined.
21. I love my church family (and of course my regular family!)
22. I love garage sales. It's like a treasure hunt.
23. I don't buy anything full price if I can help it. I'm always looking for a bargain.
24. I went rock climbing once and freaked out (remember that Mandy?)
25. I would love to travel someday. I've been to Mexico and Poland, but would really love to go to Italy or Greece!
I tag Dee, Karen, Brenda, Erin, Karrie, Wendy and anyone else who wants to join in the fun!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Big Girl


Anna had her Ten Month checkup last week. (It was supposed to be her Nine Month, but because of all the snow we had, it got pushed back a month.)
She is 75% for height and 15% for weight! She has actually gone down percentage wise in her weight and has only gained a pound since October. The Doctor wants her to come back in a month for a weight check. It was a little disconcerting to hear, but I'm not too concerned. I know that she eats and she has plenty of energy and feels bigger to me. She even has little rolls on her thighs.
She did not like getting her shots and got even more upset when Rylie got her flu shot and was crying. She doesn't like it when Rylie has a "hurt cry".
She is now doing a sort of crawl. She has one leg tucked under her as if in a sitting position and the other leg in the normal crawling position. It works for her, she is getting all across the floor. It doesn't matter how many times I sweep, she still finds the tiniest things to put in her mouth! She has been practicing crawling in her crib at 2:00 AM. She wakes up and crawls around and laughs and wrestles her stuffed animals and talks to them for about an hour. She has been doing this for about a week now. Thankfully she didn't do it last night. At least she's not crying!
She is still enjoying standing while holding on to something. It probably won't be too long before she's walking. She is running in her walker. She likes to chase us and giggle!
One of her favorite things to do is to go into the kitchen and take off all the magnets on the fridge and the dishwasher. It makes a big mess, but they are letter magnets, so it's educational, right?
She is such a happy girl, very social, always smiling and talking. She does have a bit of a strong will and a wild streak in her (must have gotten that from her Dad!)
She is a joy and we love her very much!








Friday, January 23, 2009

New Years Eve

First of all, I want to thank everyone for the wonderful, encouraging comments! You all are a real blessing to me!
I realized I never posted pictures from our New Year's Eve! I know you have all been on pins and needles waiting to see pictures of our night! I probably would have just skipped this post, but as it was Anna's first New Year's, I need to document it.
As you can see from the pictures, she was a real party animal. About 6:45 she was rubbing her eyes, wanting to go to sleep. We were at our friend's beach house with my family when we were surprised by visitors. Becky and Andy stopped by to visit. They had a night away from their adorable little boy, Nathan. It turns out, Becky's parents have a beach house in the same neighborhood. It was fun to visit with them for a little while. (By the way, Becky is due with her second boy in a couple weeks, please pray for a safe and easy delivery for her. Her baby shower will be 2/2 for all you EBC folks!)
The kids all ended up going to bed by about 8:30. My parents, Matt, Pam, and I stayed up past midnight to ring in the New Year. I got a little giddy with the sparkling cider and laughed so hard I spit it out all over the kitchen floor! Of course this got me laughing even harder and made my brother giggle. He's so funny when he laughs so hard he actually giggles!
We also played a fun card game called Dutch Blitz.
Later that night, Anna decided she would wake up and cry for a couple of hours. She did not like sleeping away from home. It was a fun, but tiring night.














Thursday, January 22, 2009

I Am Shredded!

I didn't want to write about this until I actually accomplished my goal. I am not a very disciplined person, especially if what I'm trying to do makes me uncomfortable at all. Working out is not something that makes me comfortable! I have tried working out several times in the past and only made it one or two days.
In steps, Pamela, my sister-in-law. She got me the Jillian Micheals (from the Biggest Loser) 30 Day Shred DVD. She also kept me accountable, very accountable! She was constantly texting me making sure I had worked out almost every day. She also would put a sticker on her calendar for me each day that I did my workout. It was a great motivation for me to be able to text her each time I was done and tell her to put my sticker on. (I know, I'm 12!)
I have completed 30 days of working out! This is a huge accomplishment for me. The best part about it is that I have gone down a size! I feel so much better too. I have more energy, it has made me feel better in so many ways.
I am now starting another 30 days, but this time at Level 2. I did the first workout tonight and I thought I was going to die! I'm sure taking a week off didn't help at all. This level is harder and is more leg intensive.
Please feel free to help keep me accountable. I need it!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Another Update

Dad's surgery went well and he is home resting now. He is having some pain though, so he could still use your prayers. Thank you!

Update on Dad

For those of you waiting for an update on Dad, his surgery for his ankle was postponed (while he was in pre-op), so it just started now. The surgery should last about an hour and a half with an hour or so of recovery time then he gets to go home. I will probably have left for Awana by the time he gets out, so I won't be able to do another update until late tonight (especially if I go watch Lost!) Thank you for your prayers!

R.Y.L.I.E.


Last night Rylie wrote her name all by herself for the first time! I am very proud of her!!!
She has never even written an "R" before. That is like her though, I will try to teach her something for months and she doesn't seem interested or even that she's paying attention, then all of the sudden, she can do it all by herself! She did this with spelling her name, with drawing, with lots of different things and now with writing!
I was sweeping the floor and she was playing with her magna doodle and said, "Mom, I'm going to write my name." I didn't think too much of it until I looked and saw that it looked like real letters! Then she started writing on paper and really got the hang of it! She was very excited and kept informing me that she was almost four, that's why she could do this.
She has since, written her name about twenty times! We are very proud of her!








Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Inauguration Day


In our Homeschooling today, I read Rylie the story of Harriet Tubman and tried to explain to her the horrors of slavery and conversely, the excitement of today as the 44th President of the United States is also the first African American President! She wanted to understand why I was crying with joy, as we watched the Inauguration and why I was excited about our President, when I didn't believe in the things he believed in.
I think it is okay to have mixed emotions on this historic day. I think it is okay to feel a sense of pride and joy in the transforming work in America, that we are able to elect a black man President. I also think it is okay to be saddened by the beliefs that this President holds to, specifically of pro-choice.
As I explained to Rylie, the best thing we can do is to pray for our President. Dr. Al Mohler has written a wonderful, balanced prayer that you can read here. I highly encourage you to pray this along with him.
(By the way, Rylie says that when she is a grown up she is going to vote for Ariel to be President!)

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Life is never boring!

We had a bit of excitement today when we got a call that my Dad had fallen and was being taken to the hospital. Ryan and Mom made it to the church (where Dad had fallen) in time to see the paramedics. Ryan followed them to the hospital where it was diagnosed as an ankle fracture. He actually broke two big bones in his ankle and had two smaller breaks as well. He also tore all of the ligaments. They put him in a splint and sent him home. He has to see an Orthopedic surgeon on Monday to determine when he can have surgery on it. They want to make sure the swelling has gone down first.
Dad was at the new church building helping various people work on different building projects. He had gone exploring while everyone else was having lunch. Someone had left a trap door in the floor open and in the darkness, he didn't see the hole in the floor. . . and you get the idea. He was stuck in this hole up to his chest and had to wait for someone to hear him to come help him.
Thanks to Becky coming over and watching my girls, I was able to go to the hospital too. I was very thankful that she wanted to do that, it enabled me to take my Mom to the pharmacy to get Dad's meds and I needed to see for myself that my Daddy was ok. I ran into a friend from High School (Kristen H. for all you TBS readers) at the hospital. She is an EMT and was there on another call. It was fun to reconnect with her, since I haven't seen her in about four years.
Thanks also to Eric and Gary who came to the hospital and helped get Dad home.
Thankfully, in God's sovereign plan, Ryan was already scheduled to preach tomorrow.
Please pray for Dad, as this will be a long recovery and for Mom who has to take care of him!

Friday, January 16, 2009

All I have is pictures






I just don't have it in me to write tonight. I'll leave you with pictures from our day. My sweet princess, my adorable monkey, and the letter "r" I painted for Rylie.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Praise the Lord!!!!

I have a lot of random things to talk about, but I am exhausted and need to get to bed. I will share with you the best news of all though. Patty, my mother-in-love, had her cancer test results today and they came back negative! That means, as of right now, the cancer has not spread in her body and may be gone all together! What a praise! She will have to get tested again in a few months. Statistically, the odds aren't for her, but our God is not a God of statistics, so we will see! For now, we are rejoicing!

Monday, January 12, 2009

Yummy!

Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce Ingredients
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. Cream Cheese
1 pint of Heavy Cream
1/2 - 3/4 C. Parmesan cheese
1 stick of butter
1 tsp. Garlic powder
Instructions for Olive Garden Alfredo SaucePreparation:In a saucepan combine butter, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Simmer this until all is melted, and mixed well. Add the Parmesan cheese and Garlic powder. Simmer this for 15 - 20 minutes on low. You may wish to season with a little salt and pepper. I have done this with half and half, but we prefer the heavy cream. But I wouldn't try it with plain milk.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

How To Pray For Your Pastor






1. That [your pastor] would know and love the living God, would have a saving interest in Christ, being purchased by His blood, and thus would be bound to the Lord by the indissoluble bond of the Holy Spirit.
2. That [your pastor] would know, embrace and ever more deeply understand the Gospel and be shaped by it in life and ministry.
3. That [your pastor] would be useful servant of the Lord, that he would know and love God's word, God's people, and God's kingdom; that he would be used to build it up and so that it prevails even against Hell's gates.
4. That [your pastor] would study, practice and teach the Word of the Lord, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
5. That [your pastor] would love to pray, because he loves to commune with his God, and that he would be a man of prayer, characteristically.
6. That [your pastor] would be ever dependent upon and filled with the Spirit; and that he would possess true Spiritual wisdom.
7. That [your pastor] would be holy unto the Lord. That his tongue and heart would be wholly God's.
8. That [your pastor] would be kept from pride, and especially spiritual pride. That the Lord himself would be gracious to slay pride in him, and that your pastor would endeavor to always be putting pride to death, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
9. That God would give [your pastor] guidance as to where to focus his efforts in ministry.
10. That He would protect [your pastor] from himself, from the enemy of his soul, and from all earthly enemies.
11. That no decision which [your pastor] ever makes or desire that [yourpastor] ever pursues would restrict his ability to pour his whole soul intothe Gospel ministry.
12.That many would be converted and many built up under [your pastor]'s ministry, to God's glory alone.
13. That the Lord would bless [your pastor]'s wife, [. . . ], with holiness and happiness, Gospel assurance and Gospel rest.
14. That God would make [your pastor] a decent husband and father.
15. That [your pastor] would be a good friend to his wife, and love herself-sacrificially,16. That [your pastor] would be a good daddy to his children. That they would love God, their parents and the church.
17. That [your pastor] would be a testimony in the home so that his wife might be able to respect him when he is in the pulpit, and so that [yourpastor] will be able to feed her soul, along with the rest of the congregation
~~By Ligon Duncan (Thanks Dad!)

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Untitled

If you will permit me to take a moment and be transparent with you, I will tell you that I am struggling. I am feeling sad and inpatient, and panicy. I think I can attribute the majority of it to a spike of hormones, this is pretty common about six months after a miscarriage. It has been a bit difficult thinking about the fact that I would have been 8 months along and almost done with my pregnancy now. But, I honestly do rejoice in the fact that my precious baby is at home in Heaven, resting in the Lord's sovereign, loving arms!
I have not been a very good mother lately. My girls are sick and have been needing me every second (or so it feels like) and I have been impatient with them. I have been feeling panicky as I look around my house and see all that needs to be done (my Christmas tree is still up!) and all that I want to do. I have been feeling guilty and at times a little out of control.
There are also a few things that I have been feeling anxious about, the Lord really convicted me about that in my devotions from Matthew 6 today. In paraphrase it said, that I was to not be anxious about tomorrow and to just focus on God's kingdom and righteouness and not worry about anything else! Good reminder of what I need to be meditating on!
I also read two things in the Valley of Vision that really encouraged me.
"Continue to teach me that Christ's righteousness satifies justice and evidences thy love; help me to make use of it by faith as the ground of my peace and of thy favour and acceptance, so that I may live always near the cross." (pg. 88)
"I rejoice to think that all things are at thy disposal, and I love to leave them there."
So there it is, my transparancy for today!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

I Don't Sew

but Mom and I decided to try and replicate these "creatures" we saw at a store while we were on our beach vacation last week. We went to the thrift store and bought various forms of material and sewed away. This is what we came up with. Anna and Rylie are quite pleased with them!




Tuesday, January 6, 2009

9 ways to pray for your soul (by John Piper)

Here are some ways to pray for yourself so that you're praying in sync with the way God works.

1. For the desire of my heart to be toward God and his Word.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to gain. (Psalm 119:36)
2. For the eyes of my heart to be opened.
Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. (Psalm 119:18)
3. For my heart to be enlightened with these “wonders.”
[I pray] that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. (Ephesians 1:18)
4. For my heart to be united, not divided, for God.
O Lord, I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. (Psalm 86:11)
5. For my heart to be satisfied with God and not with the world.
O satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)
6. For strength in this joy, and endurance during the dark seasons.
[I pray that God] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16)
7. For visible good deeds and works of love to others.
[I pray that you] will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord...bearing fruit in every good work. (Colossians 1:10)
8. For God to be glorified.
Hallowed be thy name. (Matthew 6:9)
9. In Jesus’ name.
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? (Romans 8:32)
--John Piper

Monday, January 5, 2009

Happy Birthday Mom!


Happy Birthday Mommy! We love you very much! You are such an example of the Proverbs 31 woman! Thank you for all you have taught us and done for us! You are an incredible Mother and Grandmother! Have a wonderful day!
(pictures are from her Birthday party we had yesterday evening)























Sunday, January 4, 2009

What an amazing day! We had our first service as a combined, merged church today. It was incredible! Last night we went to the church so Ryan could put together the power point. As Rylie and I sat there in the chairs I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to pray for the service today. Rylie and I prayed that the Lord would be glorified through it all. As I sat in those same chairs today, listening to 450 people singing, as one body, "In Christ Alone", I felt that prayer being answered. As the tears trickled down my cheeks I praised the Lord. I am so excited to see how God works this next year!
(pictures from the service in post below)

First Service!

The Pastors








Rev. Sprague













Dad, the Senior Pastor











Joe, Kim, Carlee doing a special.










Awesome Worship time.









Before Service



























Becky doing an amazing job at the piano.










My girls in their Sunday best!