Thoroughly Confused...

I am terribly confused about fundamental Christianity. By definition in Wikipedia it doesn't sound something I would disagree with. I believe the Bible is infallible. I believe Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose again on the 3rd day. I believe there is no other way to heaven than through Christ Jesus. I just don't agree with some of the things I saw on Jesus Camp and I don't understand why they involved the children in the way they involved them. That all being said, does anyone have any insight as to what it means to be a fundamental Christian? Is it ok? UGH! Sometimes I think I have no ability to think by myself, I am just fearful of being a Pharisee.

Has Anyone Read

The Scarlet Letter? I have never been "forced" to read it, so I decided I would attempt it now. I think I am understanding about 1/4 of what I am reading. I think that might be enough to get the jist of the story! :) Wow is it hard to read! I am also watching Jesus Camp. What a strange documentary! I had no idea things like this really existed...I'm not sure if I were just oblivious or just not wanting to know it was out there...I think a part of me knew it existed. I really don't know how to feel about this movie. It has good points, no abortion, abstinence, etc. I just don't know how I feel about the way they are providing the information to our children! WOW!

Check this out, COOL!

Check this out! It's pretty nifty! It's from Especially Heather, another blog I love to read!!!

New Babies

Twins at 35 weeks 6 days...one day before they were born.

A new friend of mine had twins about 4 weeks ago. They are gorgeous and make me wish I could remember more of my babies first few weeks. It is so wild how the brain promises to remember things and then suddenly you are two and 1/2 years into it and realize you don't remember much of anything...My Oldest Two are getting so "grown-up". They have opinions...mouths...attitudes...REAL personalities...then there are the youngest two...they too have opinions...mouths...attitudes...REAL personalities...I don't remember when this happened. It is amazing to me how quickly this is all happening...wow. I miss the babies...and yet I am so thrilled with the sweet children I have. They are awesome kids. They love to laugh, love to play, love to use their imaginations, sing, dance, pray, already. It is such a blessing to be their parents. I hope I remember that when I am frustrated with them. I need to make a point to remember.

Hubby Said I Could Put them Back...

Perception of a Five Year Old

Let me set the stage...I am trying to explain to five year old boy that his Nana would have been a part of the desegregation in 1960...

Mom "Your Nana was just like her during this time (speaking of Ruby Bridges, as Nana is about the same age)"
Son: "You mean she used to be black?"

How precious. He so wanted to understand...

Both Older Children were horrified at the way people treated Ruby Bridges and her family. They didn't understand (nor do I) how people could be so cruel. Ended up being a really great conversation...I believe they learned something from the movie. Let's see if they can correlate being kind to perfect strangers and being kind to each other...*sigh*

Check out the Holimont Ski Resort

This ski resort caters to special needs children...that makes me so happy, I have a soft spot for special needs children, they are so amazing to me...I feel so attached...so check this out!

My Friend Flicka

While this sounds like a movie or a book, I claim this one as my friend down the street. She just read my blog and decided I hadn't mentioned her! :) She's hilarious! So I am writing about my friend Flicka. She is a wonderful mother, friend, daughter & wife. She loves to educate people, whether it is in photography, the abc's or whatever else someone wants to learn. Flicka has a heart for God and a love of life, it is a blessing to consider Flicka one of my closest friends...she makes me smile and makes me laugh, she lets me vent and that makes me happy! So here's to Flicka...may she always be my neighbor...even when we live in our commune (200 acres...50 horses...*sigh* doesn't that sound nice?).

Took out pictures

Talked to hubby...he wasn't comfortable with pictures on it...so there you go...might put them up for a little while (one of my fellow bloggers does this) and let my "blogging" friends see them and then take them off...not sure...I love love love having them up there...but I understand his fear and will respect his decision. WOW, that in itself is a remarkable comment for me...

The Story of Ruby Bridges

So I just finished watching "The Story of Ruby Bridges". We let the kids watch it...a part of me is fine with this, the older two asked all the right questions to bring us into a great conversation, the youngest two, just played and played...but then a part of me hurts for letting them see those things. Nothing that happened in the movie was what I would call PG-13...but I'm a little disappointed in myself for allowing them to see it. Ok...self-loathing over...on to next part of this.

I cannot believe this is how our country views life. I know we are supposed to be so "equal". I know we are trying, at least some of us are...I know this. I also know people are being treated with major predjudice every way you turn. It doesn't matter if it's the whites against the blacks or the blacks against the whites, or the hispanic against the asians...there are so many races in this country...we are supposed to be a place of freedom...a place to come and be welcomed..."PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS" (spelling error on purpose). We are supposed to be filled with Christians. We are supposed to love our neighbor as ourselves...the Bible teaches forgivness...not 7 times but 70 times 7...that's a lot of times...are we truly that nation? I seriously don't believe we are. I see it everywhere...not so much as people being evil or downright mean, I mean, I see things like that...they just aren't completely what I am talking about...I get so stressed out about kids who are obviously not getting bathed correctly, not getting read to, not getting the encouragement they need at home. I know this is not exclusive to race...it happens across the board...it just all boils down to what we are supposed to be and what we really are.

Now, how do we fix this? If everyone would just be RESPONSIBLE for their own little part of the world, it would be a dramatic difference. It's not that difficult and yet it hasn't happened...why? I think it sounds so easy. I think it sounds like a true Christian attitude. I don't understand why it can't happen. So my prayer tonight is that we evaluate how we are behaving...not just with our own children and husbands (but please include them...) and ask ourselves...are we loving our neighbors as ourselves? Are we really loving them?

Ashley's Journal...PRAY HARD

There is a little girl in Omaha, Nebraska. She has been there in the hospital for 18 weeks. She is struggling...she's not really even a "little girl" she is a baby. Please, please, please add her to your prayer list. She needs all the prayers she can get, she is having a lung biopsy tomorrow at 1:30pm...please pray her issues are gone when they check her out. Pray God puts His protective hedge around her. Pray He work the miracles only He can. Thank you...

BOOKS FOR THE YEAR

So I have been reading a lot of posts of people who are trying to read more this year. I have had a true love of books my entire life (at least as long as I can remember). My mom once told me an uncle of mine didn't believe I could read (I think I was too young to really be considered a reader) and so she saw the word "screwdriver" on a piece of paper...she asked me to read it in front of my uncle...I of course, obliged saying "screwed river". I didn't say I was intelligent, just that I could read. I also was told of the time my mom and dad argued with me for a LONG time about the name of the bird that repeats things...I said my teacher told me it was a MUNKINGBIRD. My parents, obviously, argued with me it was a MOCKINGBIRD. *SIGH* I was of course RIGHT, I knew everything, and there is no arguing with a teacher, let alone a child of 6 or whatever. Anyway, that all being said, I decided I enjoyed reading, I love books, the knowledge I get from books, the majority of what I gain intelligently is from books...thus the new books I have read are starting to grow in number and style. I just finished reading "The Read~Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease...and now, I finished "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. I am also reading "The Tale of Despareaux" by Kate DiCamillo. All three of these books are MUST reads! I am about to start "Sheperding Your Child's Heart" and "How to Get Your Child to Love Reading" by Esme something or other...she also wrote "Teaching Esme". I just love books...I also bought "The Case for Christ for Kids" I can't wait to do this one with the kids! I am loving this...I go to Goodwill JUST looking for books...YUM! Do I sound a little obsessive? Yes, probably! :)

A Week From Today

So Jesse (hubby) has gall bladder surgery this coming Tuesday. He is REALLY nervous as he has never been put under before. I don't blame him for being freaked out, I read the information today...yes, during class, I should have been paying attention but my professor is very interested in telling stories about herself...sigh...anyway, it sounds a little scary...not a lot, ok a little lot...but I am praying about it and my mother in law is coming up and my cousin in law too...my husband is an only child. Anyway...it is supposed to take 3 hours and it is supposed to be easy to get over, but Jesse is one that believes he is going to work two hours after he has something done...ugh! :) Pray for us, please!

BETH MOORE BLOGSITE

I was just at BooMama (love her site so much)...and she had a post about Beth Moore and her blogsite. It is so great, Beth and her daughter Amanda both blog on this site...it is so great! Thanks BooMama! :) I sure enjoy this blogging thing!! I've met so many great people, I am so blessed!!!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

How awesome is Tony Dungie? Wow! he is truly amazing! He gave God the GLORY even when the media wanted to make this all about race, he brought it back to GOD! GO TONY! Colts played well!!!! My friend Jamie sent me this link, about the coaches tonight, check it out, it's really neat!

What a great day

So today, a friend of mine asked the age old question, work outside the home mommy or work at home mommy. UGH! that is such a frustrating question to me. I would so love to make some money, add to the family budget and bring down the debt (don't say anything, I know I am the spender of the family). However, there is nothing that I can do at home...so why not go out of the home to work, you say? Here's the thing, I feel like God has called me to be at home, too many things have fallen into place for me to feel like I should work anywhere else. Think about it...I would be paying 800 at least in daycare, there are three that would be in daycare, I would have to have everyone up at the crack of dawn...all four of them, it's hard enough with just one, I would have to have make-up on and hair fixed, etc. UGH! I think women that work outside the home, are amazing. Seriously. I am learning to appreciate both sides of this story...especially when there is no other option. Don't get me wrong, when the kids are all in school, I will HOPEFULLY, PRAYERFULLY, be a teacher. If not a teacher, then an employee of some sort. I just don't want to be in debt for the rest of our lives...that all being said...I feel blessed to be home...VERY blessed. In Alabama, I worked at least 3 days a week, sometimes 5...

I think I've been talking about this subject a lot lately. I wonder if I am being taught something...I know, I am always being taught something...but this time, I think I can figure it out...I believe God is giving me the opportunity to adjust the way I act at home, to clean more, organize more, enjoy my kids more, not look like a dilapidated female everytime I wake up...I think today was enlightening for some of these things. I have managed to wash, dry, fold & PUT AWAY at least two loads of laundry, played play-dough with the kids, let them play outside in the snow, taken a few pictures of them (if I could figure out how to put them on here, I would), and just generally enjoy my children and my life. I've talked with my husband a couple of times, he has been so sweet...we are getting him home this weekend, SO EXCITED! :) So all in all, I am a spoiled brat that needs to remember what a gift God has given her. SERIOUSLY!

Oh, that was the end until I remembered I got my Peter Reynolds books today! He signed them individually to each child, oh my goodness, I love them love them love them! He is amazing!!!!!!!

The Snow Day in TN

So we had a snow day in TN now. Ha! What a complete joke...not the kind of joke I like, considering I'm from Iowa and LOVE a good snowstorm! I love to get out in the snow and play with it, I want my kids to be able to make a snowman that doesn't consist of dirt and grass...*sigh*. That being said, the kids didn't even get to make a snowman, but they did have a good day, daddy got to play at home for a little while, built a fire, the kids loved it...I love having him home.

I am not very eloquent tonight. I had a great night, went to a "Frozen Feeders" meeting tonight and came home with 7 gallons of various soups for our family! I am so excited to see what the kids think! :) I think they are going to love the soups I picked.

Ok...sleepy...not making any sense...nothing exciting to report even though have a million thoughts in my head...important thoughts...they are just too hard to get out of my head.

You Think You Know Me

Compliments of Jamie

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Wendy's counter girl (I even dressed up as Wendy on multiple occasions)
2. Waitress
3. Restaurant Manager
4. Administrative Assistant at a Civil Engineering & Land Surveying Co.

Movies I would watch over and over:
5. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
6. Serendipity
7. Crash
8. Just about any teeny bopper movie or chick flick

Four places you have lived:
9. St. Louis, Mo
10. Idaho Falls, ID
11. Newport News, VA
12. Cedar Rapids, IA

Four places you have been on vacation:
13. Orlando, FL/Bahamas
14. Destin, FL
15. Duck, NC
16. Going to San Fransisco on March 2nd!!!

Four of my favorite foods are:
17. Rice Krispie Treats (you can make them in the microwave with no fat!
18. Filet Mignon
19. Smoked Salmon with Dill Cream Cheese from Houston's
20. Anything from a new restaurant that isn't a chain!!! LOVE HOUSTON, TX

Four places I would rather be right now:
21. Greece
22. At the beach with the kids (they haven't been since T was 3 and P was 9mths)
23. Anywhere I've never been before with kids
24. Another anywhere I've never been before without kids

Four friends I think will respond:
25. Maris
26. Crystal (tag girl!)
27. Amanda
28. YOU!
copy and paste on your own blog. delete my answers and insert your own. have fun!

Check this out...WOW

As I listen to youngest girl crying like crazy (she is just not interested in bed tonight)...I read this blog at Rocks in my Dryer...POWERFUL and wonderful! Thanks Shannon!

Happy Thoughts to Sleep On...

Tonight was an amazing night. I got to go out with three friends (one new one and 2 "old" ones)...we went to Carraba's and wow, it was fun! It has been a LONG LONG LONG time since I've been able to do something like this...thanks ladies! I enjoyed the laughter and the conversation, and I needed it more than I even knew.