Not Quite the Mother of the Year

Today I got to go help out at Annie's classroom Harvest Party. I was in charge of the cupcake table helping the little ones decorate their treats. It was a lot of fun getting to know Annie's classmates. Anyway, Annie needed to use the restroom so I took her. When I was going to help her pull up her tights I noticed something was missing...underpants! Hello! No wonder she'd been fidgeting in the morning. Sorry, Sweetie. Thankfully each child has an extra change of clothes at school so we were saved.

Just To Be With You

This evening at church we will begin going through the book of Ephesians with the youth. As I was reading through some of the verses in chapter 1, it just hit me how much Jesus loves us...

verses 4-5 "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,"

Its like Jesus saw you and said "I have to have that one there. I can't live without him/her. I will pay anything to be with him/her. I will even pay with my own blood if that's what it takes." And He did. That amazes me that without the certainty of having our love reciprocated He still paid the price with His blood, suffering the torture and shame of the cross. His love is unfathomable.

If you've never done so, click on the song in my playlist at the bottom of my page called "Love Song". Its from Jesus to you.

It's Been Too Long

I've missed blogging in the last week so much! I've been so busy and I'll try to condense our happenings of the last week.

Last Wednesday the girls and I ventured out to The Huntington Library in San Marino with my friend from church, Claudia, and her 5 homeschooled children - Natalie, Ben, Lydia, Poeima, and Christian. What a fun and beautiful adventure. The kids had a great time looking at the beautiful gardens and running crazy through the grass field. Bekah almost perfected her somersalts that day. A little boy of about 8 or 9 years befriended Bekah. He sounded just like Charlie of "Charlie and Lola" with a heavy British accent. It was the cutest thing!! And Annie discovered a new special friend...Ben. She is quite taken with him and we hear quite a bit about him now. :) Yes, she is only 4...what will life be like 12 years from now???? I don't want to think about it...one day at a time, Laura. :)

Thursday we celebrated my mom's birthday with dinner and presents and had a nice time together. In the evening we went to church and had some more great discussion amongst the jr. high and high school aged girls. I truly look forward to that time with them each week.

Friday we ventured out to Annie's school's Harvest Festival. We had a nice time, even though all my kids wanted to do was jump in the bounce houses. They don't give a hoot yet about games or even the goodies much.

Saturday I attended 3 parties. The first was a baby shower for my girlfriend, Carin. She is expecting Baby Sophie next month and we can't wait to meet her. Just by looking at the beautiful shower she was thrown, it was quite obvious how much Carin is loved. On we went to Elijah's 3rd birthday party. It was a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse party...super cute!!!! Bekah was dressed as Minnie Mouse and Elijah as Mickey...what a cute pair they made especially when they danced to "Hot Dog". After that it was on to Janel's surprise 30th birthday party. Okay, I'm tired all over again just from remembering that whole day.

Sunday was church and the message was great as usual. That afternoon I drove, or should I say rocked in the wind, to my dad's to watch this season's accumulation of Dancing with the Stars. Even though it was one more place to drive, it was so relaxing just sitting to watch TV and eat and converse.

Ahhh, now Monday was nice...I didn't even leave the house! I got to clean!!

Yesterday was Bek's birthday. Annie stayed home from school due to a barking cough. Grandpa came over to help make Bekah's day special and he brought her a new kitchen! She loves it!! It is in our dining area so she can work in her kitchen as I work in mine. After her nap, the girls played and then we went to Albertson's to pick up her cake. The plan was to meet Daddy for pizza (Bek's birthday dinner choice) and then have Finding Nemo cake. That was our plan anyway. We ended up in urgent care due to a urinary tract infection with Bekah (happy birthday huh?) and Annie's continuing bark. We waited for almost an hour and half (though I'm not complaining...thank you Lord for doctors, medicine, and our health insurance). So on we went to drop off a prescription as we're all starving at this point. We didn't make it to Victoria Gardens for pizza as planned. We ended up at Pizza Hut/KFC. Then back to the drug store to pick up the medicine and back home again. Finally we had Nemo cake and got the kids ready for bed. They were both up for much of night off and on with their ailments, so please forgive the lack of creativity in my writing today. I'm a bit tired. Poor Annie missed out on her first field trip today. They were suppossed to ride the school bus to a pumpkin patch, but with her cough, etc. it just didn't work out. My mom came to visit and bring Bek her birthday presents today and we had a nice visit. Both Annie and Bek are beginning to feel better and hopefully our normal lives can resume tomorrow. (sigh)

Thank you to Auntie Lulu and Nettie for the e-cards for Bekah's birthday!

Today is our baby girl's 3rd birthday already! She brings so much joy and laughter to our home and we couldn't imagine our lives without her. We thank the Lord for the gift of our little Rebekah Rose and pray that He gives us many many more years to enjoy her. Happy Birthday, Bek. We love you!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Mom! We'll be celebrating with dinner and presents later. My mom is and always has been the best and in the past 4 1/2 years I've seen her be an awesome Grandma to my daughters. We love you!!

Chicken Donut

Last night I tried something that I'd been wanting to do for a while. My kids love the chicken stars from Carl's Jr. So I thought, "I can do that! And I bet mine will be healthier and less expensive, at that!" So I tried using a cookie cutter on boneless skinless chicken breast...it doesn't work. Neither does using a knife freehand. So we didn't have chicken stars last night...we had some odd shapes and the chicken that was not cut out made for what looked like a chicken donut with a hole in the middle. Back to the drawing board.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Happy Birthday to my Grandma...even though she won't ever see this blog. :) She is 82 years old today and still as sweet as when I was a little girl. The highlight of her week is to go to her apartment complex's Bingo night. And she gives all of her winnings (which is usually an average of $2-$3 per week)to my girls for spending money. In the picture above, she is standing with the person she loved most, my grandpa. He passed away last year. They had been married for over 50 years!

Today would have been my Aunt Terry's birthday. She passed away 2 1/2 years ago...and I miss her terribly. I was especially sad as I searched through my pictures of her for the above slide show. She had a heart of gold and was the most generous person I've known. As you can see in the pictures, she would go all out for Thanksgivng and Christmas...which are some of the most wonderful memories I have. She truly brought the magic to our holiday gatherings. So here is to Aunt Terry and all the wonderful memories she created for so much of the family.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back...

(Big Sigh)...well I thought we were making progress with Bekah, and in some things we are. Bekah will be turning 3 on the 23rd of this month and there are two goals I had hoped to accomplish by then....have her potty trained and have her pacifier done away with. Yes...I know, that pacifier should have been long gone two years ago. But I always had some reason or excuse as to why she still needed it...either we had just moved or she was sick and needed comfort or I didn't want to wake the house (or neighborhood) during the withdrawal period. So anyway, goal number one is almost attained. I am proud to report (and so is Bekah) that she is wearing big girl underwear just like sister! Yay! Although she did pee on me at the dentist's office this morning but I think that was a reaction to her fear (as was biting Dr. Ma's finger)...how embarrassing. Other than that, we're on our way. As for the other goal, I really thought yesterday we said farewell forever to the muk (yes, we call the pacifier a muk pronounced mook, not something cute like Binky or Paci) as her last one got some holes in it. Bek knew it had to go in the trash and as I held her she reluctantly said "good-bye" and tossed it. I have never seen such a sad face on my little girl. We cried together (I know I'm pathetic) but she loves loves loves her muk. Sleep evaded she and I last night and she was a pretty cranky girl today. After seeing all her sadness and my lack of sleep, I caved and ran to Target about an hour ago to pick up a new package of muks. Hey, at least they were on sale! Her rule is that she can only use them in her bed. So that leaves one happy Rebekah and one frustrated but soon-to-be-rested mommy.

What Makes Children Happy?

I've always heard it said that the best thing a parent can do for a child is to love his/her spouse. On Thursday afternoon I spent the afternoon at my mom's house and as I was freshening up Annie excitedly came asking me to look at a picture. So I walked with her to my mom's bedroom thinking it would be a picture of herself with Bekah or something like that. But no, it was a picture of Jose and I on our 5th anniversary. She said, "Whenever I see this picture it makes me realllllly happy." That warmed my heart to know that she feels secure and happy when mommy and daddy are together.

I Love Finishing Projects

Last night I stayed up finishing a project that I started a long time ago. I made an animal letter for each letter of the alphabet to put up in the girls' room. Annie and Bekah think they're pretty fun and they know the song that goes along with them. One of the things I miss about working outside of the home is that fulfilling feeling of finishing projects and being visibly productive with visible results. I've been really contemplating homeschooling lately and I don't want to make a decision based on it being something I think I'd enjoy, but what my children would benefit from most. I do think I could teach them if the Lord called me to do it, and lately I've been finding out that homeschooling can include classes with other students, tons of field trips, and even involvement in public school's extra-curricular activities. There is so much to weigh, but ultimately I want to do what the Lord calls me to. We'll see!

My girls have been excited to help out in the kitchen lately (I hope this enthusiam continues for years to come). Bekah was quite proud of herself as she scrubbed potatoes for dinner last night. And Annie had a great time today learning to make apple pie. I'm determined to pass down as much practical knowledge that I can to my daughters. This really is a fun stage of parenting...and after last week, I could certainly use a little fun in this area of life.

I'm learning to be content and truly enjoy each day with all of its tasks. God gives us each day and each season of life to live for Him. I don't want to be constantly looking forward to the next big event or the exit of a certain stage of parenting. I want to fully enjoy and make the most of what I've been blessed with.
Just some thoughts I've been thinking lately. :)

Another Special Birthday *30*

Happy Birthday to our good friend, Chris.
Jose and Chris have been friends since they both became Christians over 12 years ago. We love Chris and his wife Melanie and all of their children. Sorry about the picture...I would have liked to have posted one of Chris with his family but all I could find in my computer files was him holding Bekah the day she was born.

Calling All Creative Geniuses!!!

My four-year old decided she wants to be a snail for the 31st. Does anybody have any ideas on how to make a costume...namely a shell? I can't find any costumes ready-made in the store or online. Thanks in advance for the ideas!

Answered Prayer

The picture you see is of a precious girl from church, Fatima. She was so happy yesterday at church when she told me of the answers to prayer she's been getting. Without going into much detail, Fatima has not had a very easy life. She is 17 and in the last month or so has suddenly needed to move out of her mother's home. She wants to go to college to become a fashion designer. However she doesn't have supportive parents or really any means to accomplish this. But we've been praying and praying and within the last two weeks, the Lord has provided a place for her to live, a job at JoAnn Fabrics (which is the type of store she wanted to work at), and her own phone. The thought of having to grow up all of a sudden and become self-sufficient can be daunting. But as Fatima is seeing first-hand, we truly cannot be self-sufficient...God's grace is what suffices and it is through the power of prayer that He makes His grace evident.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. - 1 John 5:14

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
-Matthew 5:7-11

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. -Psalm 84:11

Just Call Me "Queen Itchy"

This morning I went for my scratch test with the allergist. They did the test on my back...43 pricks with 43 different allergens. Almost immediately I began getting itchy. I had to wait 15 minutes before moving to allow any reaction to occur that was going to. Oh my goodness...that was the loooongest 15 minutes of my life! I was so stinkin' itchy and irritated and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. I was stuck in the small room with nobody else around...not even a TV (I may offer a humble suggestion to put a TV in the room for distraction purposes). I tapped my fingers, bounced my feet, sang quietly to myself, and ultimately consciously counted each chew of my gum. Finally the nurse came back in and as soon as she opened the door her eyes got big and she said, "whoa!". I was sooooo allergic!! Once she documented the results she told me that I reacted to everything except maybe four or five allergens, and most of the those reactions were a "4" on a level of 1-4, with 4 being the highest. She was kind enough to apply calamine lotion and give me a strong anti-histimine to take home. They'll be calling me soon to set up my first shot visit. I don't know yet how often I'll have to go, or how may shots each time, but I'm sure happy to be on my way to a better quality of life.

I had planned to run errands after my appointment since I was without the children, but no way! I raced home to jump in the shower and grab my Benadryl itch-stopping cream. Once I got home I checked out my back, which I had not yet seen, and was pretty disgusted with what looked like a checkerboard of huge hives. I invited my husband to join my pity-party and he certainly did. :)

I'm much better now, especially psychologically. A few people who will read this may remember the craziness I went through in May, June, and July as my allergies began manifesting themselves through my skin. I seriously thought I had scabies and I was completely grossed out. I visited the regular doctor many times and even made them give me the medication to treat scabies. I know so much about that particular condition now because I would research it constantly on the internet...which made the power of suggestion even worse. I would feel so guilty every Sunday holding the babies in the church nursery thinking I would be passing on an infectious condition that would make their little lives miserable. I would turn my house upside down vacuuming and washing tons and tons of laundry. It totally consumed me. Yet I never got a diagnosis for any such thing. Finally I asked for a blood test which came back positive for so many allergens. Still, I thought I had some gross condition that made me itch fiercely from head to toe. I think I am now completely convinced I don't have any gross condition. :) I have a back full of allergic reactions to prove it!

Thursdays are usually one of my favorite days of the week. It's also one of my busiest "on the go" days as I take Annie to school, attend MOPS, pick up Annie, then head back out in the evening for church. MOPS was again so nice to be a part of today. The speaker addressed the issue of how our adult relationships affect parenting. He described four parenting styles and one which we all agreed is most desireable is "authoritative" which means we treat our children as adults, yet expect them to act like children. We set boundaries in which they are free. The most important aspect of this style of parenting is consistency in discipline. Oh how I've been asking the Lord for help in this area this week. Wisdom in my parenting has been my heart's cry the last few days (its been a wearisome last few days). Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing anything right at all. Then usually the Lord will show me that yes, I am, however not all the time. Consistency...its not easy. Anyway, the speaker talked about the two parents in the home being a team. There should be no "good cop/bad cop" so to speak. It was interesting information and I agreed with everything, for the most part.

We had a good time at church tonight with the youth group. Our cousin, Joser, guest-taught and gave an encouraging message. We also had a girl come in for the first time who just wanted to check things out at the church. She turned out to be such a blessing as she ended up giving her testimony of what the Lord has done in her life and encouragement to the rest of the kids to walk with God even in their young age. I thought this was so great because they need living examples of teenagers who love God and really do live for Him. The young girls in our church just fill my heart with so much joy. You can see a picture of a few of them in this post. There are some who you can just tell really have a hunger and love for Jesus and if they stick to pursuing Him, will be used mightily in His service.

Tomorrow I finally go for my scratch test with the allergist. Yay! Relief is in sight!

Regarding "Why Do Children Yell and Interrupt?"

When I looked back over my post, I realized I may look as though I am making excuses for undesirable behavior. I'm not. I didn't place enough emphasis on the manners a child should regularly possess so please forgive me if I sounded like we need to always please children and put aside respect for adults. More than anything, it was self-reflection on what I've observed in my relationship with my children. Thank you to everyone for your comments, contributions, and encouragements.

A Morning With Grandma

This morning Bek and I spent some time visiting my mom while Annie was in school. Bekah loves to go to Grandma's house and she gets such a thrill out of just taking a walk to collect the mail and putting together puzzles with Grandma. Sometimes the easy and free things are the best!

Why Do Children Yell and Interrupt?

I've been dwelling on this question for a while now. Here are my thoughts and I'd love to hear yours.

Personally, I verbally have taught my daughters that we should not interrupt others, particulary adults, when they are speaking and also that we should not yell, scream, or whine to be heard. Do they always obey these rules? No way! And here is what I have observed (which I am ashamed to admit):

So many times I have interrupted my own children, whether to finish a sentence for them because of my own lack of patience or out of translation to another who doesn't quite get what my little one is saying (which is understandable). I also have been guilty of interrupting simply because I stopped paying attention to what the child began to say (which means the child probably lost their train of thought) or because something more important, or what seems like it at the time, came up. Currently my 2 year old yells, "Excuse Me!!!" when she realizes I've stopped paying attention or someone else began talking over her. It may not be the best approach for her and I'll work on modifying it, but can you blame her? How horrible is this? I have not been walking my talk or practicing what I preach! I would never treat an adult in this way...so why should I treat my precious little girls so rudely? What am I teaching them? That they are less important? You know what I've also noticed? Other adults, but not all, do the same thing to my kids (and I'm sure its not unique to my own children). I was watching my daughter's preschool teacher and she is so patient with each child. She does not hurry them along when they speak, studder, forget what they were saying, or repeat what they just said a few minutes ago. I want to be this way. Please join me in being aware that the little children in our lives are people too...with feelings and things to say that are important in their own little world. Some (like mine) don't always speak up or hurry up in their speech, but they still deserve the same courtesy we are shown by others. Thanks for listening to me rant and share my heart. I'd love to hear your perspectives on this issue.