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.