Thursday, March 19, 2009

To Nap or Not To Nap


That is the question! Zach has been struggling to sleep through the night and we have considered the possibility that he needs to give up his nap, well, here's what happened one day that we tried this theory! He finally sat down for a moment and then he kinda just fell over, we had a good laugh!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Just Plain Cute

Hide the Baby


You may recognize this from a post a long time ago when Zach was a baby, Ethan used to do this to him! He piles up the stuffed animals all her, she doesn't mind!

Faith & Frogs


Most know that I color-code my kids, then, Zach got a theme too-lions. Well, Faith's "theme" is frogs! So, this is one of my favorite outfits she has. I had to share! Check out that smile, isn't she gorgeous!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Forgiven

I have heard it said so many times “God has forgiven us, now, we just have to learn to forgive ourselves”, why? When did we begin to believe that there would be greater peace in our lives if we could just learn to forgive ourselves. Why should we forgive ourselves, does this have some impact on our eternity? Isn't God's forgiveness of our sins is the only forgiveness that matters in eternity? Hasn't Christ has paid the ultimate price for that forgiveness (Acts 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.), and, by not “forgiving” ourselves aren't we truly just not taking the Lord at His Word, aren't we just doubting His complete and perfect forgiveness? The Lord has called us to forgive others just as God also forgave them (Matthew 6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors), but if we don't, does that give us some power over them, to damn them to hell? We are not God! So where does this guilt, this shame, this feeling of unforgiveness come from? What better way than to trick us into believing that we are still in the bondage of sin than by riddling us with guilt and shame over our past (Acts 26:18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'). We continually let our past sins follow us, all in this dream of one day we will be able to forgive ourselves, when we have already been forgiven and we are now allowing the enemy to convince us that we are like God, choosing who lives and dies and at what cost. My brothers and sisters in Christ, we are forgiven, we must claim our forgiveness, and when we are plagued by shame, we must proclaim it to the the enemy and cast those thoughts away from us in the name of Jesus Christ's blood! For years I had been “working through” this ever-present pain of the past, but the Lord has told us we are set free in Christ Jesus, are you truly free, or do you allow the pain of sin and shame to keep you bound by Satan. You have been given the power through the Holy Spirit in you ( Acts 2:38 "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.) to cast out Satan, do you believe that? Have you used it? It took less than one week to show Satan that Jesus is truly the Lord of my life. A memory of a past sin would creep into my mind out of nowhere and my response was the same, saying out loud, “I am forgiven by the blood of Jesus, Satan you have no place here!”
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Mommy's Girl

Okay, so my wish has come true, but then there's the "be careful what you wish for" thing too! Yep, it applies. She is so much of a Mommy's girl that her Daddy thinks she doesn't like him! Yeah, it's that bad! Anyway, I'm growing very weary of being her one and only. It makes it very frustrating for all involved, well, mostly me. But, then again, who needs showers, or make-up, or painted nails, or shaved legs for that matter! I am getting very good at cooking dinner, and eating with her on my hip. I know, you're saying put her down, well, in a cage maybe to protect her from her VERY loving 2 year old brother!Then again, have you seen that smile? And...she is the last one!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Ready to Travel


Faith is ready for her first trip to Nana's! Her green Adventure Duffel arrived this week! Over Spring Break, I am going to take the plunge, by myself no less, and take Faith on her first road trip! Grace, Ethan and Zach are going too, so, it should be fun.
I am very nervous about this, but excited too, that could be a sign of the crazies setting in! Oh, wait, that was two babies ago!!!! You could pray for me, that'd be good!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Zach's the Boss

Around here, if you are out of line, Zach will let you know! He knows the rules and HE WILL enforce them! If Grace or Ethan tried to pick up Faith and I haven't asked them too, Zach will yell "Stop it" and come tell me, "Show you!", and tattle on them. I find this so funny, he acts like a first born, and doesn't seem to know he's the little brother! If you take something that's not yours and he sees you, look out! You won't have it for long, he will give you this look and use a tone, only a Mommy or Daddy should use and set you straight!

Zach Breastfeeds?

Yes, our two year old has attempted to breastfeed his baby lion! I was nursing Faith and Zach took his place next to me, to "help", but instead he placed his stuffed baby lion to his little nipple and told me that he was eating! It was so precious to watch him nurture his "baby", when he "finished", he took a tissue and wiped it off and said "all done" to his lion. I WISH I'd had a camera right then! He then burped his lion and proceeded to wipe his lions behind with a wet wipe, and then handed it to me saying "ewww, yuck!". I'm so proud of him!

Her Time

I am finding that Faith and I have at least this in common, she needs her alone time! She enjoys being left alone on her blanket with a book and a few toys to look at, to just kind of decompress! It's so cute, if you stand outside the room that she's in you can hear her pleased coos and sighs (of relief, I'd guess!). She enjoys this for up to twenty minutes at a time too! She doesn't go to sleep, she's wide awake, just wants to be left alone. With seven in our house, I know I like to just be left alone every once in awhile-you know "me time"!