Sunday School

This Sunday my big little girl (Sophia) went to Sunday School for the first time.  Here teacher said that she did very well.  For the rest of the day she told me the story of Naaman (sp?) the leper.  She said that he was dirty and stinky and had to go into the water to get clean.  I was shocked that she had retained that much information of the story.  She is growing up way too fast.  In the last few months I have seen her blossom before my eyes.  It's so neat to watch her go from being a baby to this little person who can now hold conversations with me...and they make sense.  =D  I feel time slipping away sometimes...   

Things I want to remember . . .

• To allow your kids to have friends over. If they’re in your house you wont have to wonder what they are up to.

• To always allow your children to tell you (nicely) how they honestly feel even if they or you have misunderstood the situation.

• To support Phillip when he makes a decision about the kids.  Back him up.
  
• To love their daddy with all my heart, and not to just say it; but to let them see me show it.

• Remember what you do directly shapes your child’s outlook on life.

• Show your children to Jesus…

Potty Trained

Yep you read that title right. 
I think she has done it!! 
I think the trick was for me to calm down and wait her out! =D 
I think I will remember this as being one of the proudest days of my life!!!

Now in a few months I get to do it again with Maya Lyn.   

Potty Training Day 2

Today was not the greatest day.  I had to leave to take a piano lesson and I think it messed my little girl up.  She had several accidents today.  She had a rough day.  She didn't go #2 either and I think her little tummy hurts.  Tomorrow will be a better day.  I will have to just focus on her the next couple of days till she feels a little more comfortable.  My poor baby :(

Potty Training Fun

Well today was Sophia's first "official" no diaper day.  Last night before she went to bed I told her that today when she woke up all her diapers would be gone.  I showed her where they were and told her that when she came back tomorrow they would be gone.  I told her that it was time for her to use the potty like a big girl.  So I told her lets go brush your teeth and go to bed so that you can be a big girl tomorrow.  I was putting the toothpaste on her toothbrush and when I turned around she had taken her diaper off, climbed onto the potty; and was going potty all by herself!!!  PRAISE THE LORD!!!  I chuckled to myself and prayed "Lord, let this mean that tomorrow will be a breeze".

When we woke up this morning I took her to the potty and she was very excited.  I showed her that all of her diapers were gone and that the only thing left were big girl panties. 

We started off the day bare bottomed.  I had read an article that said that this approach would guarantee that she would be potty trained in 3 days.  Hey, sounded good to me.  She made it all the way to nap time that way.  She would say I'm going potty and take off running to the potty where she WOULD ACTUALLY POTTY ON THE POTTY!!!  No kiddin'!!   Needless to say I was very excited.  After her nap I decided to put on her panties and see how that went.  She decided she did not WANT to were her panties.  :o) 

After a little coaxing she decided to were her special Cinderella panties. 

We ended the day with only one accident in which really, it was my fault for not paying attention; and one happy mommy.  Tomorrow may be another story; but for right now we are doing great.

A little side note:  My baby girl Maya Lyn was very interested in the potty today as well.  Sophia would take off running to the potty, mommy would follow to help; and then here comes Maya Lyn.  Didn't matter what she was doing she had to come and sit down in front of her sister while she went potty.  If I had thought about it I would have posted a picture.  I think I spent most of my time cleaning up Maya from playing in the potty instead of Sophia from having accidents.

Awww  well, such is life.  Just another story to write down in my journal for my girls to read later. 

Not very good at this...

I am new at this so you'll have to be patient. 
I really don't know what I'm doing.  :-)

Clean Floor

Ok guys, so you're going to look at this picture and say "This is just a picture of a bare floor. Am I missing something?". The answer is no, it's just a bare floor, nothing special; but it's the story behind this floor that is interesting.


The rest of the story:

I am not a domestic person. I hate housework. I only do it because if I didn't our house would end up on the show "Hoarders" within a couple of days. One reason I hate doing housework is because I feel (as I'm sure others do at times) that I am the only one who knows how. 

To me my house is just a place that I sleep. My life revolves around things outside my home. If I could, I would live in the church and spend my life piddling around there all day. My house to me is not really what I consider my HOME. Which would be well and good except that I am a wife and a mommy. I have realized that my husband and children do not feel the same way that I do about our house. They see it as a place of safety, peace; a refuge. To them it is a home. Because I am the woman of our house it is my job to maintain that safety and peace for them. (lightbulb) I am sure that you all have already figured this out; but it has taken me a while to learn that my family is just as important as my drive to work for the Lord. They are both different and have different responsabilities; but they are BOTH important.

The Lord has been dealing with me about Proverbs 31 and trying to become that kind of woman. The entire scripture talks about NOT being lazy!!

Ex. - ...worketh WILLINGLY with her hands...

... She ariseth also while it is yet night...

... She looketh WELL to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness...

and so on.

A few weeks ago I started out with a strong determination that before I went to bed EVERY NIGHT my children's toys would be put away, the laundry would be put in its place; and the kitchen would be clean. I know these sound like small tasks; but in my house they are not!! I did well for a while and then the snowball effect began. I went out of town to see my sister. Since then it feels like I have been playing catch up; but never the less I AM DETERMINED!!!

Now that I have given you the background let me tell you about the floor...

When we came back from my sister's house I quickly unpacked the suitcases (normally they sit for weeks) and put everything away. Now, because I am short I have to depend on my husband to put the suitcases away. I am NOT telling you this to gripe about my husband!! I have a very good husband!!  I have a point. For weeks I asked him to put them away and day after day they remained. Finally the youth trip rolled around and we needed them again so I asked him if when we got home he would put them away for me. When we came home from the youth trip I immediately emptied them and set them in this small space of floor. I didn't say anything except for once to ask him to put them away. I had determined I was not going to gripe. I was going to see if I could actually keep my mouth shut. By this time the kids have figured out that you can 1) - stack them like dominoes and then push them over, 2) - Stand on them and jump off REALLY HIGH; and 3) that they make great chairs.
Still trying to keep my mouth shut!!

So today I decided to ignore them and start my project of getting rid of toys and clothes etc. out of the girls' rooms. I was working away and Phillip got up to get ready for work. When I opened the door he was taking the suitcases out to the shop. PRAISE THE LORD!!!

That small task that he did inspired me to keep on going. One day I will get this house organized and if I keep my mouth shut sometimes the Lord will answer the desires of my heart. Yes, this patch of floor being clean was a desire of my heart.

So this small patch of clean floor symbolizes something more than just a patch of clean floor. I see victory written across it. No there are still dishes in the sink and toys on the floor; but I am determined that with the Lord's help I will be able to change from a messy person to a well-oiled cleaning machine. :-D

Hope that made you smile today. Keep on working!!