High And Lifted Up

There are days when words are not enough to express the heart.

Make sure you pause my regular playlist at the bottom of the sidebar before starting the video.

Wordless Wednesday: At The Park

Emily (in red shirt), Mommy, & Micah

"At the playground"

To join in the Wordless Wednesday fun or just enjoy everyone else's fun...

click here to go to 5 Minutes For Mom

Simple Woman's Daybook - April 27th

FOR TODAY

Monday, April 27th

Outside my window...

Blue skies and bright sunshine...a gentle wind slowly drying my wash.

I am thinking...

About how much I want to get done today, about how glad I am that I don't have to fix supper tonight (We've been invited to someone's house), and about how much I love having the windows open!

I am thankful for...

The ability to clean, the ability to read, and the ability to love!

From the kitchen...

Uhm...nothing much since I'm not cooking tonight! But I will be fixing lunch of mac & cheese for the kids with chocolate milk and strawberries!

I am wearing...

My "ratty" jeans with a "bummy" t-shirt...typical cleaning day clothes!

I am creating...

A more organized closet in our bedroom, a clean house, clean wash, and eventually clean kids.

I am going...

to the post office to mail more books with paperbackswap.com. I SO enjoy that site!

I am reading...

Humility by C.J. Mahaney

I am hoping...

For God to work a miracle.

I am hearing...

A truck running in our neighbors driveway, kids playing, washer washing, birds chirping, and the sound of my fingers running along the keyboard.

Around the house...

I got out my summer clothes and thinned out our bedroom closet for a clothing drive our school is doing, and I'm going to hopefully organize the entry way closet, too!

One of my favorite things...

Reading after a busy day.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

A run to the library, lots more cleaning...and I'm not sure what else right now.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Just me!

Say It Forward: week 14

This week's Loyal Commenter is Erna from The Beautiful Sojourn!

This is how she describes herself:

"I am an ordinary woman, living an ordinary life, serving an extraordinary King. This season of my life entails pulling a toddler out of cupboards, homeschooling two girls that get giddy about crafts, loving my husband, and journeying as a child of the King. Won't you join me on this leg of my journey? I hope you will put up your feet, find some encouragement, ideas, and perhaps a new friend. "

I hope you will take a moment to stop over there and visit her lovely blog and make a new friend while you're at it!

And Erna, click here to get your "Loyal Commenter Award"! (Scroll down till you see the right one!)

Thanks to all my loyal commenter's, aka: friends!, I appreciate you all! See you next week!

Browsing Or Buying?

I like to shop. I like to buy. I even like to "window shop" or browse, too. But most of all I like to buy! Who doesn't? If you have the money that is!

The difference between browsing and buying makes me think of what I read today in my TAG time: Time Along with God. (Thanks Donna for that great title!) Today's passage was Acts 24:17-27.

Paul is before Felix, a Roman ruler. Felix actually listens to Paul. He even keeps calling Paul back to talk to him more! But then we learn that Felix becomes afraid of what he's hearing and sends Paul away from him. Only a few short sentences later we read that not too long after...(2 years isn't that long!)...Felix is replaced by another ruler.

See, Felix was interested and even wanted to learn, but he wasn't "buying". Only browsing. I praise God that He has worked in me to go beyond just being interested and browsing. He actually caused me to accept the gift that His Son - Jesus Christ - bought and paid for me: eternal life and a relationship with Him.

I hope you aren't just browsing, but that you have accepted God's gift to you - the one Jesus Christ paid for.

Line Up!

Micah likes tractors, cars, and trucks. A lot. Like so much so that he spends most of his days just pushing one or two around the house. Over and over. Again and again.

He also has started to line them up around the house. I will come around the corner and find a line of vehicles. It's kinda like a mommy speed bump! Slows me down on my way to get the next chore done!

All this picture taking and thinking about Micah's new passion of organizing his toys on wheels made me think about life. We all have parts or compartments of our life where we like to line things up, so to speak.

We make our plans. We line things up. We organize by color or by make or by model. We try to get things just so. Just to our liking.

But God says in His Word:

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are My ways your ways, declares
the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher
than your ways And my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9

No matter how we "line up" we still do not measure up to God's ways.

Have I ever told you how thankful I am for my Lord...my Savior?

"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the
ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for
the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own
love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from
the wrath of God through Him." - Romans 5:6-9

I have been saved by the mercy of God and now live through His grace. Praise Him! It's not about anything I do...it's about a God who loves me even though I'm a dirty rotten sinner! PRAISE HIM!!!!

Can I get an AMEN???????

Wordless Wednesday: Cool Guys

My brother & my son, Micah.

He adores his Uncles!

For more Wordless Wednesday fun go to 5 Minutes For Mom

A Book Review: From Pride To Humility

From Pride to Humility by Stuart Scott

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
"Of all the biblical examples of humility, the greatest by far is the example of Christ Himself." This book is a short study of moving from a life of pride to one of humility. A biblical perspective with a helpful list of manifestations of both pride and humility. You can't read this and not be challenged, encouraged, and humbled.


View all my reviews.

Simply Praying...

A Book Review: Grace Rules

I don't normally give you 2 post on 1 day, but this book is just TOO good to keep under wraps any longer! I seek to give you honest ratings and reviews and I hope that you will not just breeze through to "nose into" what I've been reading, but that you would read some...or all...of them yourself, too! This one is one you will enjoy!

Grace Rules: Living in the Kingdom of God Where by Steve McVey

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow. WOW. WOW!!!

This book is an amazing unpacking of God's grace and what it means to us as Born-again Christians. I am normally a fast reader, but this book made me read chapter by chapter, sometimes paragraph by paragraph! Take your time and open up your Bible and study it out as you go. You will walk away with a fresh look at life as a child of God...understanding what it means to walk in grace and not legalism, rejoicing in being able to have victory over sin, understanding the will of God, and being able to celebrate the fact that you have been SAVED by God's grace! This is a must read for every believer. I don't say this lightly, but this will now get the title of being my #1 recommended book to others.


View all my reviews.

The Biggest Bear & More

The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
A simple story of a boy who wanted a bear. Just as the story seems to be taking a sad turn, everything turns out all right!


View all my reviews.

You Can't Rush a Cat by Karleen Bradford

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
The fact that you truly can not rush a cat is now an adorable kids book. Jessica keeps telling her Grandpa that he can't rush the cat and she shows patience by waiting herself. A great little story for kids that also can teach them how to be patient with animals. Especially cats!


View all my reviews.


Maxine in the Middle by Holly Keller

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Maxine is the middle child and feels left out because she is not the oldest and she is not the youngest. Her sister & brother realize that she is needed when Maxine decides to leave.


View all my reviews.

Where's My Teddy? by Jez Alborough

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
A short but very cute story of a boy who lost his teddy bear.


View all my reviews.


Bubba and Beau Meet the Relatives by Kathi Appelt

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
A redneck story for young kids. It's great! Any country living or country loving parent should read this to their kids! My girls especially loved the part where they used the bed of Earl, the pick-up, for a swimming pool!


View all my reviews.


The Prince, The Princess, and The Bee: MissSpider's Sunny Patch Friends by David Kirk

My review

rating: 1 of 5 stars
Did not like. Do not enjoy the whole series.


View all my reviews.

Bubba and Beau, Best Friends by Kathi Appelt

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
The story of Bubba the baby & Beau the hound. A good country (redneck) story for kids! Funny and cute for country-lovin' parents, too!


View all my reviews.

Little Monkey's One Safe Place by Richard Edwards

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
An adorable tale of a baby monkey and his search for a safe place when there are scary storms or other scary things! Sweet story with a comforting lesson for kids.


View all my reviews.

Always In Control

Dear God,

You are always in control.

Lord, You know that and I know that. But thank You for Your reminders that You are always in control. Today's passage was Acts 23:11-22 and it's awesome to see how Your hand is on the smallest of details...working all things to Your glory and honor.

Thank You that on the days when I feel like life is great You are still in control. Thank You that on the days that things are spinning out of control You are still in control. Thank You, dear Father, for Your comfort. I trust in You. You alone are in control of my life.

Lovingly Your Daughter,
Mandy

Simple Woman's Daybook - April 20th

For more Simple Woman's Daybook fun, please click on the above picture.

FOR TODAY

April 20th

2009

Outside my window...

Overcast and chilly. A few birds looking for worms in the front lawn, and the glimer of hope with buds and fresh green in the tree branches.

I am thinking...

About how very much I need God...about how very much I need a Savior...about how great His love is for me...about how I can live because of Him.

I am thankful for...

A loving husband, healthy children, caring parents, supporting friends, a cozy house, an operating vehicle, sweet teachers for my children...the list goes on & on...

From the kitchen...

I'm making bread.

I am wearing...

Jeans & my Third Day sweatshirt.

I am creating...

A clean house and asking God to create a clean heart within me.

I am going...

To the library at some point this week.

I am reading...

Grace Rules by Steve McVey...I'm almost done (for those keeping track!) I just finished From Pride To Humility, by Stuart Scott.

I am hoping...

for lots of things!

I am hearing...

The dryer, Emmy turning pages in a book, Micah driving a truck around.

Around the house...

Bread rising, wash drying, stuff, and more stuff!

One of my favorite things...

Hugs

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Lots of things!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Abby & Emmy with little buns in their hair.

Raising Goldfish: Kid's Say...

Sometimes kids say the craziest things.

Things that make you about bust your seams laughing and you scratch your head and say: "Where did that come from?!"

Normally it's funny. Normally we share the story with other adults and we all get a good dose of chuckles for the day.

Normally.

Normally it would all be well and good. But when your husband is the Pastor - which makes you the Pastor's Wife and your children the Pastor's Kids - the "normally" stuff is anything but "well and good". It seems that when you're raising "goldfish" the term "normal" doesn't apply.

My normal is trying avoid any situation where my almost 4 and 6 year olds can strike up a conversation!

A normal conversation can go awry very quickly...like this....

This morning after the service was over Abby turned to me and asked if we could go out to eat today. I responded with "No". She then asked why. I gave my explanation and she then countered with a plea to call her Grandma & Grandpa to ask them if they would take us out. I told her no and explained that you don't ask to be taken out, you wait for someone to ask you out.

Fast forward a few moments - like 20 minutes - and as I come out of church Abby and Emmy are both talking to a lady who is waiting in her car for her husband. I call to the girls and say we are leaving. Abby comes running...."Mommy! Mr. & Mrs. D are going out to eat! We could go with them!" Thankful this family is very understanding and I gave a blanket apology for whatever the girls said, or in this case, asked of them.

In the past few months Abby has told her Awana leader that her Daddy didn't have enough money to buy her Grand Prix car and would she please buy it for her (all $2); she has told another lady that her shirt "smelled funny" (she had bleached some of her clothes and Abby smelled that); called several men in the church "Mr. Grinch" just because she was going through the phase of calling people "Grinch" after watching The Grinch; told a teen with a cold that she sounded like a horse; and the list could go on!

So as I share once more for the sake of helping others understand the "goldfish life", I plead with you to help us be "normal" by understanding that even PK's say the craziest things. Won't you be normal and just laugh with us?

I can't keep my kids from conversation much longer!

TSMSS: Say Hey!

Simply Share

Dear God,

Thank You for Your Word in the Bible.

I enjoyed reading how Paul shared his testimony with the crowd who wanted to kill him as his defense. I pray that I would share my testimony more and more. We often think of that as "witnessing"...but my prayer is that I would simply share what You are doing in my life with everyone I meet and cross paths with. Let the first and few words from my mouth be of Your goodness to me through Your mercy and grace.

Thank You, Father, for being my defense.

-Mandy

Scuffed Up Knees

I don't remember the first time my Mom told me about her childhood knees. But I remember the stories she shared with me through out my own childhood. Stories of how her knees were always scuffed up.

As you can see in the picture above, Abby's knees are always scuffed, scraped, bruised, scratched...you name it! She crawls around on the floor both at home and at school being anything from a horse to a spy. She trips and falls and puts holes in her pants. She's a child. You can tell by her knees.

So the other day as she sat across from me I had a thought...

You can tell she's a child because of her knees. It's part of the process of growing up.

And then another thought hit me...

I want my own knees to show what part of life I'm in. I want my knees to be worn and calloused from being on my knees in prayer as I grow as a child of God.

From the trenches of motherhood...
where my knees are going to start showing how "old" I am...
-Mandy

A Book Review: Praying Wives Club

Praying Wives Club, The: Gather Your Girlfriends and Pray for Your Marriage by Marita Littauer

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you want to pray for your marriage this is a great book to read. Why not get some girlfriends together and pray?! This book explains, why, how, and gives all the help you need to kick-off your own group. Don't let fear of praying with others stop you. They cover everything from group commitment to confidentiality.


View all my reviews.

Interesting...

I was just told that this little ol' blog is featured in a list titled "Top 100 Blogs On Christian Families". You can check it out here.

Interesting...

I'm not quite sure what to think.

A Book Review: Kid's Books

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
A short story of a family who had relatives come visit them. A great book to introduce children to the word "relatives".


View all my reviews.


No Nap by Susan Meddaugh

My review

rating: 1 of 5 stars
All about a little girl who didn't want to take a nap and the father kept trying to tire her out. Why read a book that encourages kids to disobey?


View all my reviews.


If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Joffe Numeroff

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
A cute story about what might happen if you gave a pig a party. Silly, but funny.


View all my reviews.


The Napping House by Audrey Wood

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
A addition tale of people sleeping and then what happens when the flea bites the sleeping mouse. A simple bedtime story or funny read.


View all my reviews.


Mr. Putter & Tabby Bake the Cake by Cynthia Rylant

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
A really cute tale of a man who wanted to bake a cake for his neighbor. A good book to read to the kids or a great book for a young reading to be introduced to chapters.


View all my reviews.


Ella Sarah Gets Dressed by Margaret Chodos-Irvine

My review

rating: 1 of 5 stars
The little girl wants to wear what she wants to wear and not what her parents want her to wear. You could take it either way, but I don't like how the little girl says "no" to parents.


View all my reviews.

A Book Review

The Quick-Fix Home Organizer: Making Your Home Beautiful and Your Life Clutter Free by Emilie Barnes

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
An easy read, quick tip book! Full of tips and help for getting organized from the kitchen to the bathroom, from your clothes to the kids rooms. Emilie covers it all in a quick, "easy dosage" style.


View all my reviews.

Simple Woman's Daybook - April 13th

FOR TODAY April 13th

Outside my window...
Sunny, blue skies...but oh! so cold!

I am thinking...
How I would love to be gone on a spring vacation. It's one of those days.

I am thankful for...
My warm home.

From the kitchen...
I'm making bread and surprise cookies. I also have chicken cooking in the crock pot for supper tonight.

I am wearing...
Jeans, and a nice new shirt I just got with my jean jacket.

I am creating...
A tidy house, a toddler who can live without his pacifier, and a grocery list.

I am going...
CRAZY!!!!!! Grocery shopping & to meetings.

I am reading...
Grace Rules by Steve McVey. Very good book that every born-again child of God should read.

I am hoping...
For some peace at some point in today, and for a miracle to take place and get more done than I can humanly get done!

I am hearing...
Micah cry...going on 30 minutes now...because I won't let him have a pacifier. So take that!...all of you who think I'm just a big softy with him!

Around the house...
Wash in the washer & dryer, wash to be folded, a bathroom I am cleaning, beds are made, and I need to sweep.

One of my favorite things...
A clean house.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Library...I hope! Possibly keep some kids for a friend, deep clean some...and live the life I live each day!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

My friends, Heather, Ashleigh, & Hillari holding Me.

Oh! And this was taken back in 1997, I think. Right Hill?

He Is Risen!

We are enjoying a wonderful Easter Sunday celebrating the fact that our Lord and Savior is ALIVE!!!!! Here are a few pictures I was able to snap before my camera battery died.

Micah with my Dad.

Abby & Emmy with their Great Grandpa.

My cute little brother.

All 3 kids with my Dad & his Dad.

Micah & Grandpa again.

Abby & Emmy with Great Grandpa again.

Micah watching his uncles.

An attempt at a picture of the kids in their new easter clothes.

Another more casual attempt!

Finding eggs.

Uncle Adam helping Micah.

Hurry Micah, hurry!

My Book Addiction

Mandy's 2009 "Books I Have Read" List

(See introduction below)

#26 - June 11, 2009
Do Hard Things, by Alex & Brett Harris

#25 - June 11, 2009
The Four Seasons Of Marriage, by Gary Chapman

#24 - June 2, 2009
The Horse And His Boy, by C.S. Lewis

#23 - June 2, 2009
Son To Susanna, by G. Elsie Harrison
(Click here for my review)

#22 - May 29, 2009
The Magician's Nephew, by C.S. Lewis

#21 - May 20, 2009
The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis

#20 - May 21, 2009

A Busy Woman's Guide To Prayer: Forget The Guilt & Find The Gift, by Cheri Fuller

(Click here for my review.)

#19 - May 11, 2009
Humility: True Greatness, by C.J. Mahaney
(Click here for my review.)

#18 - May 6, 2009
I Really Want To Change...So, Help Me God, by James MacDonald

(Click here for my review)

#17 - Apr. 21, 2009
From Pride To Humility, by Stuart Scott
(Click here for my review)

#16 - Apr. 20, 2009
Grace Rules, by Steve McVey
(Click here for my review.)

#15 - Apr. 12, 2009
The Praying Wives Club, by Marita Littauer & Dianne Anderson
(Click here for my review.)

#14 - Apr. 11, 2009
Naked Fruit, by Elisa Morgan

#13 - Apr. 6, 2009
The Quick-Fix Home Organizer, by Emilie Barnes
(Click here for my review)

#12 - Apr. 6, 2009

Parenting With Scripture, Kara Durbin
(Click here for my review)

#11 - Mar. 17, 2009
Becoming The Woman God Wants Me To Be, by Donna Partow

(Click here for my review.)

#10 - Mar. 14, 2009 This Side Of Heaven, by Karen Kingsbury

(Click here for my review)

#9 - Mar. 11, 2009
The Five Love Languages Of Children, by Gary Chapman & Ross Campbell

(Click here for my review.)

#8 - Mar. 2, 2009 Parents' Guide To The Spiritual Growth of Children, by Focus On The Family & Heritage Builders

(Click here for my review.)

#7 - Mar. 1, 2009
Shopping For Time, by Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, & Janelle Bradshaw
(Click here for my review)

#6 - Feb. 28, 2009
Ordering Your Private World, by Gordon Mac Donald

(Click here for my review.)

#5 - Feb. 25, 2009
The Cross Centered Life, by C.J. Mahaney

(Click here for my review.)

#4 - Feb. 20, 2009
Confessions From An Honest Wife, by Sarah Zacharias Davis

#3 - Feb. 18, 2009
Sacred Marriage, by Gary Thomas
(Click here for my review.)

#2 - Jan. 24, 2009
Grown-Up Girlfriends, by Erin Smalley
(Click here for my review.)

#1 - Jan. 8, 2009
One With A Shepherd: The Tears and Triumphs of a Ministry Marriage, by Mary Somerville

(Click here for my review.)

_____________________________________________
Welcome to my 2009 book addiction!

My husband says that I'm addicted to books.

Just because I'm on CBD's "best customer" list doesn't mean I'm addicted....does it?! (Okay, so I'm not even on their best customer list...yet...but I should be!)

Being a mom of 3 little ones has slowed me down some, but I hope to step it up a bit more this year as we phase out of the baby stage of life. So be sure to check back often to see what books get the wonderful and "coveted" (yeah right!) status of being added to my "Books I've Read List"!

I'll be honest with you, I'm a picky reader. You can be sure that I try to read books that are Biblically sound and that will help me grow closer to God. However, from time to time I do read things that I don't back 100% and I'll be sure to give you a disclaimer. And links, too! I like to be able to share websites that go with the books or of course where you can get it cheap!

Random Ramblings

Hi Everyone!

The kids are tucked into bed, Justin is running an errand, and after a long day I'm sitting down to relax and hopefully unwind from a pretty edgy headache. As I was browsing I thought I would take these few moments to give a family update and just ramble in general about life in general!

Today I enjoyed a good shopping trip with some teen girls from youth group, another leader, and a Mom of 2 of the girls. It was fun just to browse and "hang out" with them. I was able to find a decent Easter dress for myself. The first time I've had a new dress in several years...and the first Easter dress in a long, long time! I also managed to snag a few other good deals that have been on my "looking for" list. So yeah for that!

I'm keeping busy as usual with being a wife, mom, and helping with things at church. Right now I'm going through another flair up of my injuries from my car accident almost 9 years ago. Carrying 30lbs of Micah around doesn't help matters at all. Plus, my TMJ is in full swing and that and my shoulder/neck combined just isn't very fun. But the kids are starting to get to the age where they can understand what's going on a little better. I only read 1 book to the kids tonight before bed and explained that I just couldn't read anymore because I didn't feel good. Then Abby so sweetly gave me a back rub - which for her little 5-year-old hands felt really good! My dentist and doctor both have said that stress is a big time factor for the TMJ and that I should avoid that. {insert glazed over stare} Yeah. Any ideas on that?! I'm not quite sure how I'm supposed to avoid stress... I'll be working on that one! {insert giggles} However, despite my physical frustration right now I am enjoying a wonderful period of time where I have been able to "hit the books" more often. One of my goals for this year was to make up for the past 3 years of hardly not reading at all. I'm doing well so far at meeting my goal and more importantly enjoying some wonderful Bible Study time and spiritual growth through my reading. (You can see what I'm reading here.) Besides my hobby of blogging (which has become my way of recording our family life) I am enjoying my beginning hobby of bread making. I've been making our sandwich bread for a month now and loving it.

Justin is keeping busy in ministry. As usual! He also is really excited about the upcoming spring turkey season. In fact as I type this very post he just got home and is serenading me with his new turkey mouth call. He's got the fever! He's trying to teach me to use a mouth call, but well...it's not going so well. On another note, he just had his DOT physical to keep up with his CDL and was given a 2 year medical card which is a big praise.

Some very, very good news to share with you all is that Micah is really, really walking! He's been walking a bit for 2 months now, but mostly at church. This week, though, he took off here at home and has been getting out of bed at night and walking down the hallway. Figures the first thing that a child uses their new skill for is doing naughty things! It's to the point now that walking is his first thought rather than only when we made him. This is a huge praise! He has a huge interest in trucks now, too. In fact, yesterday while out for ice cream with Grandma, he was more interested in pointing out the trucks passing by than eating his ice cream...and that says a lot since Micah and his food are really tight!

While Abby is counting down the days until summer break, Emmy is counting down until school begins. She is very excited to be starting preschool come September. She is full of energy as normal and keeps us all on our toes. She is big time into skirts and dresses and wearing stockings. (I'm doubting she's mine! I hate stockings!) She's a tomboy but at the same time into style and being "pretty". We continue to work with her about being pretty on the inside first. My grandmother recently sewed both girls cheerleader dresses and and then my Mom just bought them pom-poms. They are having fun. I'm looking for a good pair of ear plugs!

Abby is enjoying school and doing very well. She's reading some basic books and reading words while we are out shopping. The other night she surprised herself as she sounded out words on a sign! She has a very tender heart for the Lord and loves to read her Bible even though she can't read much of it on her own yet. I have been getting books from the library on a weekly basis now and all of the kids look forward to reading together each day. Abby's dream for her upcoming 6th birthday is to ride a horse. She's afraid of many things but horses are not on that list and she wants to ride one in the worst way! If you are an IRL friend and could help us out with making this dream come true it would be sheer delight for a little blond hair, blue-eyed girl!

As a family we are getting to see quite the selection of wild life visit our back porch on a regular basis. So far we have a raccoon, skunk, 'possum, and we're just waiting for a bear to show up! Hey, you never know! Actually we are trying to trap the raccoon in a live trap because about 4 times a week he dumps our garbage and makes a huge mess with it. That gets old after the first time! The other night I was just tucking the kids into bed when I heard the bang of the can being tipped. The girls and I snuck out to the back door and watched him for about 10 minutes before he spotted us watching him. They wanted to shoot him!

Well, that's our recent life in a blog post for you all! I'm off to finish my Turkey Hill Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream that my dear husband just brought home for me. He's so sweet!

Have a great weekend celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I'll be sure to post about our Easter next week sometime.

From the trenches of motherhood...
where being a mom has me in tears one minute and in giggles the next...
-Mandy

Mousse

Abby was watching me put mousse in my wet hair the other day. As I sprayed a pile into my hand she asked me, "What is that stuff, Mom?"

"Oh, it's mousse." I responded.

"What is mousse?"

"Uhm, it's stuff that makes my hair fluffy."

How else do you explain volume to a 5 year old?!

In The End

Dear God,

What a scene is painted in the passage I read in Acts 19:11-22! Here is Paul being used by You to do mighty works and then a bunch of guys decided to copy what he's doing. I can't imagine their faces as the demon spoke back to them that he did not recognize them!

Lord, sometimes I look around and see people doing things that they shouldn't be or I hear of things going on all around the world that are not right. It doesn't seem "fair" to my human mind. But this passage shows that YOU will be magnified in the end. We may think that some copy cats are getting away with stuff, but they aren't. You see it and You will take care of them in Your perfect timing.

I pray that my life will magnify You today.

Kid Konversations: Mashed Potato

Emily and Abby were actually playing nicely together with their potato heads. Emily got up to go get something. A few minutes later I heard Emmy say:

"Abby, can you bring me my mashed potato?"

Kids say the cutest things!

This Moment

A friend and I are going through a Bible Study called "Loving God With All Your Mind" by Elizabeth George.

Today as we (almost) finished chapter 11, we were looking at Philippians 3:13-14.

"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I
do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I
press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus."

As we read that today the word "forgetting" jumped off the page at me and so I looked down to my foot notes in my Bible. I have the John MacArthur Study Bible and here is what he had to say on this word:

"Forgetting what lies behind - The believer must refuse to rely on past
virtuous deeds and achievements in ministry or to dwell on sins and
failures. To be distracted by the past debilitates one's efforts in the
present."

We won't be able to forget it as in not remember it...but we can choose to not focus, think, or dwell on it and think about this very moment. Not the moments to come. THIS moment.

So what am I doing right now? I'm focusing on writing this post to share with you what God is teaching me today. I'm learning on taking one moment at a time. I'm choosing to let the past be past and to live in the here and now.

Won't you share with me what you are learning, too?

A Book Review

Parenting With Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments by Kara Durbin

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
WOW! This is what I call a parent's dream book! This is a book that any/all parents should own and keep at their finger tips. Kara gives you a topical book with scripture references, discussion guides, action steps, and several other great, easy-to-use tools. Whatever the situation may be - discipline, questions, devotion time - this is the book that will give you the answers with the passages written right out along with things to ask your kids and things your kids can do to learn through the situation. She covers topics from anger to love, from hate to godliness, from joking to suffering.


View all my reviews.