Minnie-Me

Okay...so you can usually find me wandering around the house doing whatever I am doing with a kitchen towel thrown over my shoulder. I have found it to be a very comfortable thing to have on my shoulder...I use it quite often and feel pretty "undressed" without it. Doesn't matter if I am in my robe, my pj's or dressed up...it is usually perched right there on my shoulder. It comes in handy for wiping up spills, tear stained cheeks, dirty hands and face that go flying by, and a myriad of other messes. I remember once a number of months ago I was at my friends blog and her latest entry was about that very rag on her shoulder...I was humbled by what she had to say and from that day on, I look forward even more to the little friend that I grab out of the drawer each morning as I start my day. (Check out the article here )

So this morning I was in the laundry room rebooting the washer, Lili was in her bedroom cleaning up the endless pile of shoes that seem to be scattered about, and Alyson was busy cleaning up the family room for me. It has been hard these last few years for me trying to get around and some tasks have been easier than others for me to handle. The bending, stooping, and standing of cleaning up the family room is one that is really hard...so Aly has taken it on like a real trooper. No, she doesn't fold the blankets perfectly and she may miss something here and there, but I am truly blown away at how this five year old steps up to the plate and can clean up that room better than many adults I know!!! So, today she was puttering around and as she passed through the kitchen to deposit a glass into the dishwasher, she hollered to me in the laundry room , "Mom, I finished straightening in here!" I turned to see her and thank her for the help and I saw a sight that brought tears to my eyes... my little Minnie-Me!

There she stood with a kitchen towel over her shoulder. She smiled and said that she was wearing her towel "just like you Mommy!"

God is so good!!!!

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord" Ps 127:3

Father...help me...teach me, to be worthy of the heritage you have given me!!!!

In His Mighty Grip

Looking for rest...

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16

Wow...don't let anyone tell you that parenting is easy!! Oh...I'm not talking about the physical stuff...meals, laundry, bath time, bedtime, play dates, activities, the playing and the dressing up...I am realizing daily that those are are definitely the easier parts!!

(Play doh time with Lili!)

(you can take my picture, but you CAN'T make me SMILE!)

(Play doh creations by Aly)
I'm talking about the part where we get to lead these two Noodles down the road to adulthood. The part about shepherding two little hearts into the loving arms of their Savior. I'm talking about seeing that they get the spiritual food they need...and making sure that we don't leave any gaps that are big enough for the weeds to get in and when they do get in we promptly get them weeded out...by the roots!!! I'm talking about finding the balance of keeping them in the hothouse until their tender shoots are ready for the world and encasing them in a bubble so that NOTHING can hurt them ever!!

(Dinner out with the Noodles at the Mexican rest.)


(The Noodles making cookies)

I'm talking about the parts that God pours into my lap every morning when I sit at his feet and ask for guidance as I teach them. I'm talking about the stuff that God shows me as I am reading the bible to my two precious babes...feeling so very in over my head. Oh, how I FAIL-FAIL-FAIL each and every day, but stand amazed each morning as God continues to pour out GRACE on me and gives me another chance and another task to teach them.

(Aly reading over the Psalm that we are memorizing)

David and I have been talking lately about the season we have found our little family in over the last couple of years. I feel like we have kind of retreated into the hills and are just clinging on to each other for all we are worth. But then it dawned on us that that might not be such a bad thing for now!

(praying for our day)

(the ballerina giving us a taste of her mad skills!)

The more I look at the world around us, the more I think we need to be clinging to each other more. I'm not talking about "Gosh, I don't want them to grow up...I want them to stay little forever" kind of clinging. I'm talking about too much worldly influence and not enough parental influence. I'm talking about not being able to distinguish the "christian kids" from the "non-christian kids"...because they all act/dress basically the same! How sad is that!! I have seen too too too many families just throw up their hands and let the world have their kids. I mean, even "the world" under the guise of "the church" is pretty scary anymore.

I would venture to say that the parking lot on Sunday of most churches today looks much like the parking lot of any other place on any given day. With the exception of a few bibles going in, they all pretty much look the same as the rest of the world. We attended a church a while back where the after-school youth program looked like the mall parking lot on any given afternoon. You wouldn't believe clothing that the kids were allowed to wear or the things that were going on in the parking lot!!!!! But nobody would stand up and do anything about it because they didn't want to offend the parents and they didn't want to exclude the kids from coming to "church." What on earth is THAT about?? We are supposed to be different!!!

I mean, think about it...we live in a society with more churches, more bibles, more Christian "tools", more "church" activities, and more "church" schools than every before, yet it seems that fewer and fewer "Christians" are living lives that are transformed and defined by Christ! What is wrong with that picture? It has become all about "church" and less about Christ!!!

"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts

are far from me."

Matthew 15:8

Do David and I want that for these girls that we fought so desperately to get? I mean there are still adoption issues that we are dealing with and I don't want those to be resolved by the world either...they need to be resolved by us and a loving Father who is guiding us. They are only 5 and 3 now, but they will be teenagers soon and if we mess this age up then we don't stand much of a chance later on!! I read somewhere that kids are pretty much who they are going to be by the time they are SEVEN! SEVEN YEARS OLD PEOPLE!! Whether that is right or not, it makes a good point. Don't you think?

(Aly reading to her sister)
We have been attending a wonderful church, but wow...it is just so big. Is it too big for us right now in this season of our family? Is it too big to be effective for us? Is there still too much of the world getting in and not enough God getting out? Are we turning over too much of the raising of our kids to even the church? Then there is the fact that we have chosen not to send our children to public school. We have chosen to home school them. Their futures and their character and their lives are just too important to trust to anyone else. I'm not starting a debate here...just letting you know how we feel, so don't get offended. I'm just saying that we felt that there was just no room for compromise for our family. (Check out this article for a wonderful explanation...) We are JUST getting started and sometimes I feel like I am the biggest idiot on the planet for thinking I can do it all ...but then I remember that it's not about me. God doesn't call the equipped...He equips those whom he calls. So we will continue and fail and try again and all the while God's grace will be enough to cover all of it!!

(Aly teaching Lili to play "Twinkle Twinkle" on the little keyboard)

(Is it Liliana or is it Cindy Lou Who?)

We are praying for God to lead us to a group of believers with whom we can cling closely. A small group of like minded families. People with whom we can worship as a family. For now we will continue to pour the words of the Lord into our little ones hearts and minds. We will trust that these words will take hold and guide them as they grow. A confederate soldier by the name of Hugh A. White memorized scripture as a small child under the watchful care of his mother. He said, ..."Before our minds could grasp their meaning, simple formulas were fixed in our memories which should afterwards prove lights to guide our steps aright."

(Then again, maybe it is Watson or Sherlock Holmes?)

So, here we are... asking you God. We are standing at the crossroads and we are asking for the ancient way...we are looking for rest for our souls...for our family.

" Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him'" Lamentations 3:22-24)

In His MIGHTY Grip~

Kikko-who?

Okay...I have a HUGE post with lots of pictures that I am working on. We lost the cable to the camera so I couldn't download that 5000 or so pictures that were on there. (Yes, David...we did find the cable on my desk under God only knows what!!) Anyway...we found the cable and they are downloaded and you will see some fun stuff in the next few days.

In the meantime I MUST tell you a funny that happened at the grocery store this past week. Aly, Lili and I were meandering through WalMart and we came to the Asian section. Aly knew that we needed Soy Sauce because she and Lili LOVE LOVE LOVE them some Soy Sauce, so they keep a close eye on the bottle in the fridge!! Aly (who is 5) runs ahead and grabs the bottle of Kikkoman and says, "Mom I've got a bottle of Kikko-moo!" Lili (who is 3) stopped and threw her little hand up on her hip and bellows, "Aly it's not Kikko-MOO...it's Kikko-Man!"

Oh...the drama of it all...let's get it right People!!!!

Lili and her bottle of Kikko-MAN!!!

Blessings,

The Simple Woman's Daybook- May 25th edition

For Today...

Outside my window... Dark with just a hint of the morning light peeking through the trees. I think we are supposed to have more rain today. The sun came out yesterday for a little while...I almost didn't recognize it!

I am thinking... about all the men and women of all the Men and Women who have given their lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have today in this country. I am hoping that we continue to enjoy those freedoms in the frightening days that are ahead!! Come quickly Lord Jesus!!

From the learning rooms... we are pretty well done for the summer, but I spent a good bit of time last week getting our "summer reading list" together. We "swam" to the library late last week and checked out 22 books off the top of the list and so far we are enjoying them! David cleared out a space on a low book shelf in our living room for the girls to keep their library books (so they don't get lost) and Aly now refers to that shelf as "The library"

I am thankful for... the love between my girls. Oh, it isn't always love...sometimes it is pure-tee venom!! But, last night the girls were eating their hot apple-pie that their Daddy brought them. Lili had finished hers but was desperate for more. She went up to Aly and asked, "Aly, may I have a bite of your apple pie?" To our delight, Aly broke off a piece and said, "Sure, Lili" Lili thanked her and then gave Aly a kiss. Oh how I pray that they will stay close as they grow!! The moment Aly became our daughter I wanted her to have a sister, and as David said when we started Lili's adoption..."The Lily of the Valley has a Lili for our Aly"

From the kitchen... Um...uh...well...uh...Okay, I don't have a clue!!! Gimme a break...it's 6am!!!

I am wearing... black pants, a red tee-shirt and my Birks. I woke up at 5am, couldn't sleep, got up and had my bible study, finished cleaning up the kitchen, started some laundry, got the trash up in the kitchen and straightened up the living room. And now here I sit!! Whew...got a lot done before 6am today!!

I am reading... are you kidding? 22 books from the library!!!

I am hoping... that I like the laundry detergent I made yesterday! It was super easy to do and if I am pleased with the results, we will save a good deal of money and I won't be loading up my family with a bunch of chemicals from the other stuff!! Both David and Aly have very sensitive skin and so this could be a really great find!!! I'll let you know the results...I have a load of towels I just washed in the dryer right now.

I am creating... our homeschool Fall reading list. I LOVE the online features from the library. I can look up all the books, save them on "my list" and then they send me an email when the books are all ready to be picked up!! WHOOO HOOO Then we get to go to the library and have fun finding new treasures and reading instead of losing my mind looking up all the books on the library computer while keeping my kids from running loose.

I am praying... for a few personal requests, and for wisdom in teaching my daughters. Not just the school stuff...but the life/heart/mind/soul stuff!!!

Around the house... getting the pool ready for summer and the homeschool ready for fall.

One of my favorite things... is when I actually get some alone time in the morning before the girls get up. I love love love my time with them when they first wake up, but I am much less frazzled when I have had some time to do my bible study before they get up.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Aly's last gymnastics classes before the summer break. It was supposed to go all through the summer on an abbreviated schedule, but you know those darn wrenches!! Always jumping in when you don't want them too!! Oh, and I have to get her registered for her VBS programs. She is attending two this summer and is so excited! She loves going to VBS!! Last year she was too young to go the one at our church, so she just went to another one. This summer she gets to go to BOTH!!! Happy girl!! Lili has to wait one more year until she is old enough. Unhappy girl!!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... okay...well not a picture, but a video. I cannot believe how much Lili has changed in the last year. This was taken in January 08.

This next video was just one short year later in January 09. BTW...the "poem" she is saying is a poem that David's grandfather used to say to him when he was a child. I have heard it all of our married life and he taught it to the girls as soon as they were able to talk!! It is quite cute!!

To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.In HIS Mighty Grip~

Simple Woman's Daybook- May 4th edition

For Today...

Outside my window... it is supposed to be near 90 today. Oh how I wish the pool was ready to use!!

I am thinking... about all I have to do today

From the learning rooms... just winding up stuff and thinking about the summer.

I am thankful for... my home and all who live here!!

I am wearing... my black house dress...getting ready to go hit the shower.

I am reading... no leisure reading now...too busy reading stuff to get organized for school in the fall!!

I am hoping... to get all my school planning wrapped up this week or next.

I am creating... some knitted dish rags and still working on the knitted hats

I am praying... for less pain in my legs this week!

Around the house... I am trying to tackle the homeschool area...it is way too chaotic and I want to figure it all out before the summer starts.

One of my favorite things... is listening to my girls play at the table. They are "secretly" making a card for us for our Anniversary, but I can hear them talking about it. Too funny!!

A few plans for the rest of the week... Hair cuts today, grocery shopping tomorrow and Wednesday is our 14th Wedding Anniversary. We were going to get a sitter, but we just don't want to go out without our girls!!! I know...we're weird!! Anyway, we are ALL going out to dinner and a movie!!!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Looks can be deceiving!! This was mere moments before the first two hour scream-fest from Miss Tiger-Lili. (The first of MANY to come!!) This was also just moments after she was placed in our arms for the first time. Oh, how our lives changed in those few moments!! It has been the hardest few years of my life for many reasons, but I wouldn't change this part of it for anything in the world!!! What an amazing child she is...thank you Lord!!!

To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.
In HIS Mighty Grip~

April 27th Edition

For Today...

Outside my window... The sun is shining very brightly, yet there are extremely dark clouds off in the distance. It is amazing how those dark clouds make the brightness of the sun that much brighter. Do I even need to expand on the thought there is a WHOLE sermon AND a song somewhere in the above statement???? Wow!!!

I am thinking... about what the next few years will hold for our family and how he is preparing me for it. I see so many things that God is trying to work in me right now. I pray that I will listen and learn!!!

From the learning rooms... continuing to make the transition to full time schooling in the fall. Or rather should I say "official" homeschooling in the fall. I have to officially register with the school board as a homeschooling family in August. Trying to get all of my ducks in a row early so that it doesn't catch us off guard and so I don't spend all summer obsessing over it!!

I am thankful for... a God who thinks I am worth it, even when I don't!!

From the kitchen... are you kidding me?? I just got up!!! I'll get back to you later...maybe.

I am wearing... my black housedress and my Birks

I am re-reading... or rather still trying to read "Fields of the Fatherless", but it is hard as I haven't been to the eye doctor yet. My glasses are really not working and I need to get my eyes checked.

I am hoping... to get a lot accomplished this week. There is a lot to accomplish!!

I am creating... a paths toward making our lives more simple and less complicated. I am really tiring of complicated!!!

I am praying... for wisdom for David and I in dealing with some issues with our little Lili. Please join me in that prayer!!

I am listening to...Lili. She just got up and is currently sitting on the potty, singing. It is hilarious!! I have no idea what she is singing, but she is singing the mess out of it!!

Around the house... ..I am planning,organizing, cleaning, creating and attempting to maintain a nest for my brood. Like I said before...I'm really getting quite tired of everything being so complicated!!

One of my favorite things... is those few last stretches before I fall asleep at night.

A few plans for the rest of the week... re-arranging, organizing, planning, dreaming, accomplishing...oh, and always LAUNDRY!! :-)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

This is Alyson the morning after she was placed in our arms. (Dec 2004) It is also the day before her first birthday. We couldn't believe that we got such an amazing smile out of this little pumpkin this soon!! She bonded with us quickly and has never looked back!! And now to think that it is 4 years later and we have been blessed with TWO amazing children!!! How did that happen?

To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

In HIS Mighty Grip~

Laughing Angel

The Wild Noodles love love love the movie, "Arthur and the Invisibles". We watch it quite regularly. Last night we were watching it and one particular scene sent Lili into hysterics. She had never laughed quite that hard at the scene, but this time she just wouldn't stop. David kept rewinding and replaying it and the laughter just got better and better.
We all know how infections the laughter of a child can be, so if you are in need of a good laugh or just a smile across your evening...then sit back, watch, and enjoy our little Laughing Angel!!


"Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with joyful shouting."

Psalm 126:2 NASB

In HIS Mighty Grip

What have the Wild Noodles been up to lately??

We went to Jacksonville to see Disney On Ice!!!

We drank sugary drinks and clapped wildly when "Mater" and "Lightning McQueen" came flying out onto the ice!! Okay...well, mostly Mater...we LOVE Mater!!!!

Girls Day Out with Mommy at Disney On Ice was the best ever!!

We found out that we make stunning Princesses!

We endulged our passion for drinking salsa through a straw.

We just looked stunning no matter what!

We practiced smiling with Bailey, our Jack Russell.

We took charge of the bar in gymnastics class!

We kicked booty doing hand stands!!

We did splits like a Pro!!

We ate all the cantaloupe within 50 miles of our house...

...and most all of the watermelon as well!!

We did cool science experiements with water, baking soda, citric acid, and red cabbage juice powder!!

We were very proud of those experiments.

We lovingly knit a fun hat ...

...on the knitting loom.

The hat was for Lili

...and she loved it!!!

We snuggled a little extra close that night. awwwww....

We had lots of fun at the park

We continued to look beautiful!!

We did lots of laughing...

...and lots of kissing

We made amazing things with our legos

We continued to practice brushing those teeth!!

We took wonderful naps in Honey's chaise !

We decided that it was much easier to stir the OJ while sitting ON THE COUNTER rather than on the stool!!!

We decided that we really do look awesome in our new helmet and pads!!

We mastered the art of the curve on our Razor scooter!

We dyed Ressurection Eggs!!

Aren't they wonderful??

We are the Wild Noodles...Lili and Aly. Thanks for stopping by and checking in on us!!

God Bless You!!!

The Simple Woman's Daybook...April 13th Edition

For Today...

Outside my window... The Sun is shining, but I see dark clouds off to the North!!

From the learning rooms... a little math, a little geography, working on our books of the Bible, catching up on Aly's journal from all of our adventures last week.

I am thankful for... A friend who thought of us last week and passed on tkts to Disney On Ice when they could not go. The girls were so excited and had such a wonderful adventure! More pictures from our adventure later in the week.

From the kitchen... getting ready to go make a big blender full of Green Smoothie. For dinner I was thinking maybe Taco Salad.

I am wearing... My black house dress.

I am reading... still reading "Fields of the Fatherless" but I haven't gotten very far as I my eyes are bothering me. I desperately need to get new glasses!!

I am creating... plans for the spring and summer. Lots of stuff I want to do with the girls and lots of projects I want to get a grip on.

I am praying... for David as he continues in school. He is doing well and I pray for that momentum to continue! We are counting on him!!!

Around the house... continuing to get the girls room organized as well as Lili's old room. Cleaning out some cabinets in the bathrooms also.

One of my favorite things... is getting caught up on laundry!!!!

A few plans for the rest of the week... just getting back into our routine after being out of everything last week for spring break.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

...RESSURECTION EGGS...

Stop by The Simple Woman's Daybook for links to others and to start your own. Thanks for dropping in today!In HIS Mighty Grip~

Simple Woman's Daybook- April 6th Edition

For Today...

Outside my window... it is overcast and 75 degrees.

I am thinking... that I am not a fan of pollen. Nor are my sinus's and my eyes!!

From the learning rooms... not a lot formally at the table today as the girls and I are heading to the grocery store later. There is always lots to learn while we are there!! We will work on memorization in the car. When we get back we will do some reading. (We got some new readers this weekend and Aly is very excited about them)

I am thankful for…my Daddy. He will be 75 yrs old in a few months. We have lived here with him since my Mom passed away two years ago and we are so blessed to have him in our lives. I am so thankful that my girls get to see him every single day of their lives now and not just talk to him on the phone like before! These are the memories they will have forever!! We all will!

From the kitchen... My hubby requested some of my Vegetarian Chili...so that is what I will make for tonight (with plenty of leftovers!) I think I am going to let the girls help me make some Banana Coconut bars this week...we found a great recipe!

I am wearing… my jammies still! I am heading to the shower when I am done with this post. :-)

I am reading... "Fields of the Fatherless" by Tom Davis Wonderful book that has been on my bookshelf for a long time. I kept meaning to read it, but never got around to it. It is wonderful!!

I am hoping... that I can get Mt. Laundry under control this week!! Holy Cow!!!

I am hearing... Aly playing on her computer next to me. She was working on a reading game where she can form words, but now she is playing a "Handy Manny" game.

One of my favorite things... is smelling fresh bread baking. I won't get any made today, but hopefully tomorrow!!! YUMMY

One of my other favorite things just happened...Lili woke up and ran down the hall and jumped up into my arms to tell me "Good Morning" She is such a little snuggle bug and I love to snuggle with her. I just LOVE those first few minutes with them when they first wake up!!! I have always told them first thing in the morning that I missed them so much while they were sleeping and recently Lili started saying that back to me first thing. I am so blessed!!

A few plans for the rest of the week... well, since most of the world is on Spring Break around there this week, we don't have gymnastics or choir practice or Mission Friends this week. That means we won't be running around like crazy trying to be somewhere on time. So...hopefully we can get some projects done or at least "worked on" without sacrificing any school time. I have an apron I need to make, I have to finish going through the girls clothes and weeding out all the stuff that doesn't fit anymore. We have a few other family projects that I would love to get to!!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

The first picture is Aly the morning after she was placed in our arms in Dec 2004. The second picture was a few weeks ago...what a difference 4 years makes!!! I still don't know how she got so big! She is so smart and strong and beautiful. She is my Amazing Alyson...my gift from God!!!

Stop by The Simple Woman's Daybook for links to others and to start your own.Thanks for dropping in today!
In HIS Mighty Grip~