It's A Boy!!

Look at my gorgeous sister-in-law at 20 weeks pregnant! And she just found out that they are having a baby boy. We are so thrilled for them and cannot wait to meet our little nephew. We love him so much already and are so looking forward to having a new baby in the family!! Congratulations Liz and Jon!! We love you guys so much and are praying for you constantly!!

In A Funk

Do you ever get into a funk? Like you are busy but you don't seem to be going anywhere? This happens to me every once in a while and I feel like I need to shake things up a bit. I'm all rearranging furniture, wanting to put down new flooring, buy new appliances, paint..just a little bit of change. I even told the director of CDO that I would consider coming back to work for her..turns out that it wouldn't work out with me doing Day School part time though. I just need a change in my routine. I think I'm lost because I'm not doing the cleaning anymore and I'm not sure what to do now. I'm losing sleep over the fact that my sister and I aren't talking and I have no idea how to fix it. I just feel blah!

In good news....

The painting in the preschool will be done and paid for this week. That I'm excited about!

I got to work at Day School for my first full day of subbing today. That was awesome. I know for sure that if I was ever offered a full-time job there, I would take it in a heartbeat. I got to work with Kay Byford today and it was such a pleasant day. I like that the class is in such a routine. There is a time and place for everything. There is a lot of organization that goes on behind the scenes and I love that part.

Charlotte wants me to clean her house this week. It's a one-time gig and I'm excited about that.

Oh, and HUGE news!! I was invited to speak at the ladies retreat for Second Baptist in March. I'm soooooo nervous. I'm excited though. God has already laid some stuff on my heart and I'm excited to hear what He wants me to say. I'm amazed at the impact that the last presentation had on other people. I think God is working mightily and I'm so shocked that he's using me to speak through!!

You know, a funny thing happened to me last week. I had an appointment with Dr. Buck (yes, I'm getting braces, ugh!) and it was a great appointment, I really like him and his staff. Well, I had some issues with my health growing up, stuff that I don't think about too often. Every time I sit with a new doctor though I have to sit and go through the list; born with cleft palate, bad hearing, right ear drum partially deteriorated, cataracts, blind in right eye, glaucoma (and this doctor didn't need to know but there is also endometriosis and infertility issues). I mean the list is kind of overwhelming when you get it all in one shot. So, the next day I go to get my molds made and Dr. Buck came in and said that he had told his wife all about me the night before and that he just thinks I have such a great attitude. I was like, okay, thanks, not knowing what he was talking about. Then he said, no really, you've faced a lot of adversaties in your life and you have a great attitude. I thought..you know he is right. God has really put some things in my path but thankfully they were not stepping stones that I had to jump out of the way of, they were building blocks that really helped me to become who I am today. I also thought, it's amazing how much of an impression we can leave in just a small amount of time. We need to be careful and really show God's love to everyone.

In my Sunday school class the teacher asked this question: If someone spent the afternoon with you, would they know that you were in love with Jesus by the time they left? Think about that!

CBUMC Children's Wing

I was asked to paint the children's wing at CBUMC (where my children go to preschool). It has taken me much longer than expected! First I had to paint all the hallways yellow and then I'm painting murals all over. The murals were picked out by the children's director, Tricia, and they are perfect. Here is some of the work.

I did it!!

I gave my first presentation ever today...to about 25 women! I spoke to my MOPS group about organization-how to organize your calender, finances, home, diet and exercise, and clutter. It was so great! It didn't start off so good though.

I knew that I was supposed to go up after Charlotte read a story. Halfway through the story I could feel the nerves come on. I started to feel hot at the top of my head..I don't know if it's just me but whenever I have fainted, I've always had that feeling on the top of my head. And then I could hear my heartbeat as loud as thunder in my ears. I thought, NOOOOOO I have to at least get up before I pass out. I can't just pass out from the thought of stage fright !! I realized I had my legs crossed so I uncrossed them to let the blood flow and then took a few deep breaths while I said a million little prayers! It was very scary sitting there.

When I got called up I told them how nervous I was and then introduced myself and went into the presentation. I spoke for about 30 minutes. I talk really fast when I get nervous so I was scared that I was going to be done in 5 minutes. God really spoke through me today though and I was amazed at how easy and exhilarating it was. The feedback when it was over was wonderful. My favorite was an older woman who told me that I did great and that I was "definitely doing the work of God." How nice is that?!!

So, it's over now and I'm thrilled. All week long I couldn't think past this moment. Then as soon as it was over I had to refocus because I have a house to scrub and studying to do since I'm hosting and teaching small group tonight!

Until next time....

Most Embarrassing Mommy Moment Ever!!

And it was Jagger...

The older two were at AWANAS and it was just Jagger and me. I took him out for pizza and then to Old Navy to buy him some new pants. I got to the register and apologized to the teenage cashier because Jagger had ripped the tags off, although I was holding them and handed them to her. She said it was fine and was glad he wasn't like half the kids that come in there running around. I said oh no, I usually have three running around but tonight it's just him and he's pretty good in the stores.

Then my children's Dr's wife came behind me, and I know her well since I'm a frequent flyer at the Dr's office, and we began to chat.

Then it happened...Jagger pushed the button for the fire alarm. BEEEEP BEEEP BEEEP and the lights began flashing. I was so embarrassed. I was apologizing to the cashier, to the Dr's wife, anyone who could hear me. Then the manager came running up and I explained that my son had pushed the button and apologized. He fiddled with the alarm and tried a few codes that didn't work. He then got on the phone to call his boss at home to figure out the code. At this point I figure I've done enough and that it was time for me to go. Apologizing profusely, I grabbed up my bags and headed out the door.

I get Jagger all settled into his car seat and I start the car. I see Mary coming out of Old Navy and can still see people inside holding their ears and the lights flashing. I ask her what's going on, can they not figure out the code?? She explains that only the fire department can turn off the alarm. At that exact moment I hear the sirens in the distance. I was like OH NOOO..ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? She says I might need to give them my name and number, I might get fined for this. I was like are you sure, do you think I should go in. She says..no, I think you should just leave. I said yeah, that's probably a good idea and off I went as the sound of the sirens got closer and closer....

And this is my well-behaved child

A New Year

Oh my goodness...2008!! Time flies. I read a saying in Reader's Digest once.."when you have children the days are endless but the years fly by." I have repeated that saying many times. I can't believe how fast this past year went.

So..New Year's resolutions. I have many. Not diet. Not exercise. I want to keep my body healthy. I want to treat my body as the temple for the Holy Spirit that it is. I want to have my body ready and available that if God should call me to do something that I would have an able body to do it with. Plenty of good food, exercise, and rest.

I want to be a better mom. I am so good at taking my kids places. Movies, museums, out with friends. I am not so good at sitting on the floor and playing with them. I want to spend more time on the floor with my kids this year. I want my kids to say they had a fun childhood and that mommy loved them with everything she had.

I want to be a better leader. I think Jim and I will even go to leadership conference with the church this year. I want to have a small group of six to eight couples that meet regularly and have strong Christ-based relationships. I want to be convicted in my beliefs and not sway so easily. I want to be a better role model.

I will read my bible daily this year. Quiet time every day in 2008. I know God is going to use this in a mighty way and I can't wait to see what He has planned. I am most excited about this resolution but also this is the hardest one to tell others about because I know I'll be held accountable.

This year I will celebrate my ten year anniversary with my husband. Ten awesome years. Some were tougher than others and we almost lost the battle at one point..but through Christ, we were victorious! We will celebrate in a big way. My husband is my everything and I am so very proud to be his wife. (ugh..I just got teary. I really am thankful for my Jimmy!)

I want to do a lot this year. I want to continue on our journey with God to be better with money. I want to continue trying and finding ways for me to make money that are creative and fun. I really want to move..and Tanglewilde is what we are set on finally. I want to create more friendships with strong christian women. I want to blog more. I want to better organized. I want to have more fun with my family. We have lots of travelling planned for this year..I want it to be fun and safe for our whole family. I want to feel God's grace.

Here's wishing you all a Happy New Year. Hope it is a blessed year for all of you!!

What's going on...

I know you will get tired of my excuses soon, but it really is harder than I thought to keep a blog. I think part of the problem is that I have such a great social network. Whenever something happens to me I have my family or my friends to call and it all gets off my chests...good or bad. I'm not one of those people that hides anything inside...you get what you see with me..no holding back!

Last week we had Vacation Bible School. The kids had a blast. Kaylee cried the first morning, she is the one that is scared to try anything new. By the end of the week she was inviting friends and telling them how awesome it is. James was running in on Monday morning..finally!, something to get me away from my mother! That boy thrives on seeing and doing new things. If I could find something for him to do every minute of every day, he still would want more! Jagger had a great week too. Lots of play time in the nursery with lots of yummy snacks and crafts. It was a perfect week for them.

I painted the nursery while the kids were enjoying VBS. I was soooo nervous. I couldn't sleep for three nights beforehand. This was the first time I had painted where so many people would see my work. The first two rooms turned out cute but the monkey room is my absolute favorite. I think I surprised even myself with that mural! I still have some finishing up to do on all of the rooms. I want to write bible verses in each room. I have found ones for the koala, turtle and bunny room but I need one for the monkey room. The kids in that room are about to turn two and are kind of at a wild stage. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

We all made our six month visits to the dentist last week. It was kind of interesting for all of us. Jimmy had this black hole thing on his gums....made him kind of look like a redneck. He was nervous but it turned out it was just calcium build up, it's a hereditary thing he's always dealt with but never had it gotten so bad in six months. Too funny..poor guy thought he was going to lose his two front bottom teeth!! haha Next up was James, he went for his first dental visit on Tuesday morning. He did awesome! Swallowed the toothpaste though! He wanted so bad to use the straw sucker but any time he had to part his lips a bit he always swallowed first. Other than that the dentist said he has perfect teeth and he does not foresee any orthodontics in his future. Kaylee went next and she did great. No cavities. Great hygiene. Her appliance is pushing against her gum and moving one of her adult teeth around but that can be dealt with.

I'm going to start a whole other paragraph for me. I had the hygienist from hell!! Okay that's probably kind of dramatic..but she hurt me!! First she took forever with the x-rays while I gagged forever on the bite-down-thingys! Then she scraped my teeth and made sure she went under every single millimeter of gum to do it! I was bleeding so bad. I kept wincing and she asked if I wanted a topical solution. I said no. She said that she noticed that I've used the laughing gas before and I explained that was to help out with the cavity that I had filled, not for a routine visit. She says that I seem like I'm very sensitive to which I reply that I have just never had this done before. She is amazed that no one has checked under my gums before. At that point I correct her and say that they have checked just never quite like this!! I think I hurt her feelings because she didn't even scrape my last molar. Then when she rinsed with the water sprayer she went right over the front of my teeth and got it all over my face...she had to get a cloth to clean my face off!!! Ummm...I don't know if we can request to not get a specific hygienist. but I don't want her again!!!

We put our house up on the market two weeks ago. I'm already impatient about the whole thing. I like things to move quickly..like if we could just sell this week then that might be quick enough for me. We've decided to go out to Atascocita. We're just not thrilled with Baytown. Don't get me wrong, I love our friends here. The hardest part of leaving will be starting over with new friends, new church, new schools...etc. I think it will be a good family move though. I need something that is more outdoor based. I want sidewalks, bike paths, real shopping centers and fun, safe parks for my kids to play at. Baytown has been fun but it's time to move on.

Nothing much else is going on. It's a rainy day and I believe it's going to be a rainy week. We have fourth of July on Wednesday and I'm looking forward to doing some festive stuff with the family but other than that, I think we're just hanging out at home. My sister and her kiddos will be here in 9 more sleeps!! Now that I can't wait for!!