My Surprise

It is a glorious day today. It's cold as of right now, but it's going to warm up. I woke up @ 8:30 to the tune of Jonah screaming, "YES!!! MOM I BEAT LEVEL 8!!!" That kid has 2 volumes: loud and louder. I came downstairs and found donuts from a place that we do NOT have in Collierville. Which didn't make sense, because the only ones here were me and the boys. Todd left @ 7 to go to a men's breakfast at church.

All of a sudden, I heard a car alarm go off, and Andy the wonderdog went nuts. I looked out of the window, and low and behold, my sister Trish was here. :) I love her. Well, I saw her car but not her. She came through the back door a minute later. She came over @ 7 this morning! Todd had opened the garage and had his car warming up and came back inside. When he was on his way out, he heard footsteps on the steps and just about had a heart attack. And in walked Trish.

So, my day has been blessed by my amazing sister. She brought yummy donuts, too, so she's their hero on this cold Saturday morning. They LOVE Daylight Donuts!!! Thank you, Trish, if you're reading this. And I loved drinking coffee and chatting with you!!!

Word Of God, Speak

This is one of my very favorite songs ever. Listen to the music and read the Scripture. God will pour out His blessings on you.

Some More From Matthew

Matthew 10:16 Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.

Verse 18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.

Verse 19 When you are arrested, don't worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.

Verse 20 For it is not you who will be speaking~it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Verse 22 And all the nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.

Do you ever feel these things? That you're persecuted because of your faith? Or you find that people won't be your friend because they probably consider you quacky because of your morals? I've encountered those things. I've also felt like my world was crashing down around me, and I received peace when I read John 16:33. It says this: "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Sometimes I just seem to be so completely lost as to what to say to someone who hurts me, or who is overreacting about something, but I can gain understanding through these verses. I really love that one that says it will be your Heavenly Father speaking through you. I have felt that so many times, and words cannot explain that feeling. I have looked back when it was over and just been astonished.

Living your life in God is not easy...His word says that the road to hell is broad, but the one into heaven is straight and narrow. He promises troubles and trials, not easy times. Not every second will be bad, but we take joy in the fact that we can rely on Him to get us through whatever it is we're facing. He has brought me through many times, and I'm sure there will be many more. I read His word not because I want to say that I've read the Bible all the way through, but I read it so it will just soak into me. I want to be fully saturated with His truth so that I can be prepared for whatever life hands me. I have really great days, and I have really bad days. On the really bad days, you will find me quiet and reserved. It's because I'm praying for much of that time. Thank the Lord that He can read our minds and knows what we speak even though we don't actually speak it out loud. Sometimes I smile and sometimes I don't. But I rejoice in the fact that He loves me just as I am, quirkiness and faults included.

I read somewhere the other day that blogs reflect only what the writer wants you to know, but my prayer is that mine is not that way. I am by no means perfect. I have days when I yell too much at my kids. I freak out if they're rooms aren't cleaned (after they've told me they were), or if they keep on asking me same question over and over and over and over. My prayer is that this will be an encouragement to those who need it. I pray over this thing every day, literally EVERY DAY, that today God will bring this across the path of someone who needs it. Tonight I needed to write, so thank you for letting me vent.

Well, the kiddos are off to bed, and they're calling me to come and tuck them in. We were watching Parent Trap (my all time favorite movie), but they all started dozing off. Jonah included, if you can believe that. I guess it's back to the real world tomorrow. Good night, and love to all.

Snow Day!!!

This is what we woke up to this morning! Snow! Just a little, though, which was plenty for someone to cancel school! All they were predicting was ice, but we got both! Actually it was just a little of each, but like I said, that was all we needed! So it's our first official snow day! It did this last year~but it started on a Friday afternoon when the kids were home from school already, and it was in March. And not just any night in March, but THE night of Jonah's and Noah's birthday party. So I really like this timing much better. It works for all of us. This was a shot I got from our front porch. I love our neighborhood, but it's even more beautiful when it's covered in snow.

Remember the game night I mentioned a couple days ago? These next 2 were taken then. Jonah just looked too cute in this picture, so I wanted to share it, but the next one's the funny one.

We were playing a game with dice, and we all decided that we have the best table ever for rolling dice. They roll easily, and we loved the sound. I think it was Drew that said we should try listening to it with our ears to the table. So that's what we were doing. It really did sound cool.

Anyway, we are having the best day so far. I would love to say that we all stayed warm and cozy in bed and slept late. But that would be lying. Our illustrious school system decided not to make the decision on to cancel school, or to not cancel school, until 2 am this morning. However, my sister was up before 5, and she said that as of 5 am this morning, school was still on. So when my alarm clock went off at 6 this morning, I got up and checked online to see what the outcome was. I was beside myself, and wanted so bad to go back to bed, but for some crazy reason, I was wide awake. I wouldn't have minded that had it just been me. But then Graham and Drew heard me and woke up with me. We all came downstairs, but I told them no way was I watching their shows that early in the morning.

That lasted for about 45 minutes, then the neighbor came out. So of course they had to join Kari outside. They had already been out, gotten wet and frozen, then come in and changed, all by 8:00! Such is life with kids. As long as they're having fun, I'm having fun. I'm so happy that they got a snow day~I remember how much I used to love those as a child. I didn't have as much fun, though because I was the only at home then. All the sisters were grown and married. Although when I was a junior in high school, my stepdad would drive me to my friend Shawna's house, and we would sled down her steep driveway. Fun times.

Todd is home today too, at least for a little while, then he's riding with the Sheriff's department tonight. He went and got donuts for us all this morning, at the request of Graham. Who is feeling MUCH better, by the way. Well, speaking of food and being hungry, I'm going to go figure out what we're having for lunch. I'm thinking grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. Y.U.M.M.Y. Love to all and Happy Snow Day!!! And if it's not a snow day for you, then Happy Wednesday!

Thoughts

Graham is going back to school tomorrow, and I will be back at work. I missed it a little, but Graham and I had a really good day together. He's getting older, so he's getting this personality that I love. He has let go some of that "I'm always right" mentality, and is just pleasurable to be around. I'm thrilled at the changes I see in him. He's becoming such a little man.

Speaking of little (or not so!) men, we measured them all this morning. Since June, they've all grown a minimum of one inch, although Graham has grown 2 and 1/2 since August, and finally gained the position of "older brother, bigger brother" for the first time in his life. He's taller than Drew by a quarter of an inch, probably, but enough to boost his ego. We measure all the boys on the side of our tornado closet door, and they LOVE when Daddy pulls out the measuring tape! It doesn't take much to please these sweet boys.

Graham did NOT so he's going back to school tomorrow since he didn't run fever all day. He kept on taking his temp. all afternoon, but I finally told him just to hang it up, he was going back tomorrow. During our day together, we grocery shopped and ate lunch at Zaxby's. This afternoon he wanted me to watch a show with him, and I ended up falling asleep on the couch. It was Witches Of Waverly Place, which in my opinion, is dumb. Anyway, when I woke up, he was watching THE FOOD NETWORK!!!! Big Daddy, you have gotten into this kids' head! That's my favorite channel too, but a 9 year old boy??? Hilarious!

I told him he could go to culinary school after high school to become a chef, maybe even head chef, and he loved that idea. I wouldn't mind it either. He could come home on weekends and cook for me and Todd. Not too shabby of an idea, if you ask me! It'll be his turn to give back to us, by then!

Since this seems to be all about Graham, I will tell you that we did not ignore the rest of our children today. Tonight we played Farkle as a family and Noah beat us all into the ground. He was so happy, the cute little thing! We were going to watch Jon and Kate, but opted for game night instead. We're supposed to do this once a week, but haven't kept up with it. Maybe tonight changed it, and this will be our new ritual every week! Anyway, we dvr'd Jon and Kate, so we'll all watch it tomorrow. Did I mention the boys are all hooked on it now? Well, they are. It's a great show, if you don't watch. My favorite.

Well, I'm off to bed to read a little. It's back to work tomorrow! Love to all and goodnight!

Who Needs A Title?

My poor Graham is sick. We were sitting here last night, watching a movie, and he was eating ice cream, when I looked over at him, and noticed that he did NOT look good. He told me he was hot. Then 2 minutes later, he was freezing. Due to the ice cream, I didn't take his temp. for half an hour. But when I did finally take it, he had over 100 degrees of fever. Poor baby. He has this really bad cough, and today he complained about his throat hurting. So we'll be at the doctor's office bright and early in the a.m.

I stayed home from church to take care of Graham, so Todd could go this morning. I am going tonight...I have to be there @ 4 for choir practice, so this way at least we both get to go once. Drew, Jonah and Noah went home with Mimi and Papa so they could stay with Papa and come back to church tonight. They hate missing, too, and didn't want to come early with me. There's not really anything for them to do if they come with me, so they usually don't.

Anyway, so go figure, I stay home from church and Todd comments on the worship and how incredible it was today. It was all guys....I really wish I'd been there. Hopefully they'll do the same thing tonight, and I'll be there for it!

I got in some cleaning this morning, since Graham wanted to be upstairs, and I even put away all the laundry and cleaned the boys' rooms. Well, not really cleaned but neatened up. I got the sheets back on all the beds and even cleaned some downstairs. I would get up and do some more laundry, but I figure since I'm home tomorrow, I might as well save some for them! I'm gonna go take a nap!

!*!*!*SaTuRdAy!*!*!*!

We are having such a yummy Saturday! We slept late, the boys did their own thing while we slept, we stayed in our jammies a long time, it has been a great day! We are anxiously awaiting for the cable guy to finish so we can watch our new HD!!!! I can't wait!!! Even the boys are excited!! We're gonna find a movie to watch tonight so we can check it out! Woohoo!!!

Other than that, it's been an uneventful day. The little guys went and got haircuts, and we went to the library to pay a fine and check out some more books. Isn't my life exciting??? It is freezing today, so as soon as the cable dude leaves, we're building a fire. My mom is sick so we're not eating with them tonight. :( It's been a while since I've been forced to cook on a Saturday night. Bill has totally spoiled me. I think since it's so cold outside, we're gonna have some comfort food~chicken and dumplins. Yum.

Well, I need to go make sure Jonah and Noah got into the shower~and we're gonna get back in the jammies!!! Love to all, and HaPpY sAtUrDaY!*!*