U

Our Sunday school class is doing the iMarriage study by Andy Stanley.  It's been great so far.  The concept is that everyone starts a marriage with certain desires and those desires can turn into expectations if we're not careful.  Eventually those expectations will lead to disappointment.  "I" marriages exist when all a person can think about is what "I" deserve and what "I" am owed.  Well, what I discovered yesterday is that I also have a big "U" in my marriage.  The "U" for me is when I read a study and all I can think about is what you (meaning my spouse) need to do better.  Nothing in the Bible teaches us to examine others to make them better.  In fact, it tells us the opposite. 

Matthew 7:4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

Isaiah 11:3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see,or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that you be not judged.

I shouldn't worry about what my spouse is doing wrong, while I myself am not a perfect mate.  Well, pretty far from it actually.  I have struggled to focus on what I can do to make my spouse feel good about our marriage.  It's like I always tell the kids, "You worry about you."  Nothing gets accomplished by simply telling others what they need to do.  We are called by God to follow his commands and He will take it from there.


Psalm 50:4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people

Isaiah 11:4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

"Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate." - Barnett R. Brickner

Pictures before Pictures

Today is picture day at school, so we did a little photo shoot before we left.



Porsha and Alexa



Porsha



Alexa

It's hard with every child.

I spent most of last year dreading one particular day.  The day my baby starts kindergarten.  Since we're having another baby, I thought maybe it wouldn't be so hard.  But today was that day and it was still hard!  It wasn't any easier or harder than taking Precious to school last year and I'm sure taking the baby to school a long, long time from now will be just as hard.  It didn't matter to me that before long we will have a new baby to snuggle and spend the day with.  What matters is the time I will not be spending with Sissy.  Because while she is at school all day learning important things and making wonderful friends, I will be home NOT spending time with her.   Not playing Barbies with her, not eating lunch with her, and not snuggling with her on the couch watching cartoons.  While I know from Precious, it will get easier each day, I will still be spending today with a lump in my throat wondering what Sissy is doing every moment of today. 

Dear Lord,  Thank you so much for the wonderful girls you have blessed me with.  Thank you for allowing me to stay home and spend all my time with them.  Watch over Sissy as she starts school and has new adventures when I'm not there to guide her.  Remind her that You are with her always.  Guide her to the right friends and bless the relationships that she will make this year.  Help me to adjust to parenting the girls at this stage.  Prepare Sissy and me for the challenges and situations that she will face this year.  As Sissy would say, "Thank you for everything in the whole world."  Amen.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.  For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.  Psalm 5:11-12

3 Words - Gum...In...Hair

Yes that happened to my sweet little Sissy today.  Apparently she was trying to spit it out but it got caught in her hair.  So, if this ever happens to you or your kids, peanut butter actually does work.  First I tried ice, but it didn't do anything.  The peanut butter broke down the gum and I could slide it off her hair in chunks.  So we made it through without cutting any hair.  She's working on taking her gum out of her mouth with her fingers and placing it in the trash now.

Announcement

Here is how we shared our news with everyone.

Super Girls

Here's what a boring summer day can bring about when it's too hot to go outside.  The girls found some masks that I had leftover from Precious's birthday party and decorated them.  Of course, it wouldn't be complete without the entire costume...

Meet Super Girl.

And this is Golf Girl (because her hat is a golf visor).

Update

Remember the spider that Precious brought home from school and then the snake that found its way to our house.  Mainly because my husband bought it and gave it to my girls to torment me with.  Well, it keeps making its way to some pretty impressive places.  One time, while I was taking a shower, the girls put it on the bath rug so it would scare me when I got out.  Then, today, I found it under our bedspread.  I'm not sure how long it's been there.  I only found it because I was washing the sheets.  If I didn't hate the thing so much, I would be pretty impressed at the thought the girls have put into their hiding places.  Although, it does scare me to think of what they'll be able to come up with when they get a little older, or even worse, teenagers.