Secret to Happiness

Psalm 144:15b
Yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

Does this mean when we are not happy is it because we have not made God Lord of our life?

Noah's 1st Basketball Game of The Season

Noah had his first basketball game of the season last Saturday. I don't think there is a sport he doesn't like. Anything he chooses to play he is usually good at it. Obviously he is not taking after his mother. Last year we let him play both soccer and basketball in the Fall. This year we made him choose and he chose basketball. His Dad is one of his coaches.

Either Noah or Logan take the ball up the floor. They both are good at dribbling it most of the time.

Here is another shot of Noah shooting the basketball (he's on the right). He made 10 points during the game.

He is serious about his defense. He stole it many times. This allowed him to get it down the floor and be able to shoot it without all the tall guys blocking his shot.

What I was probably most proud of was the fact that as we were leaving he told one of the players on the other team "good game". I always stress just doing your best and good sportsmanship. It's nice when you think something might be sinking in.

Happy 7th to Noah

September 23rd our little boy turned 7 years old. I can't believe how the time flys.

We went swimming at the Jones Center in Springdale

Dad played lifeguard

Noah eating the icing off the cake topper. He didn't eat any of the cake.

Henry got him a star wars movie. This was a big hit. He watched it in the car on the way home.

They actual day of his birthday he chose Pizza for supper. We decided to do take out so he would have more time to play with his new toys.

We got him an erector set because we thought he would enjoy putting it together with Dad. I am not for sure who did the most work. They decided on making the helicopter. It was suppose to be the easiest. haha. It took many hours. They will probably wait a while before making something else.

Dad and Noah working on the helicopter.

Finally the finished product above.

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Responses to the Word

Well next week in Sunday Sunday School we will be talking about Jeremiah. God had instructed him to write down all that He said and tell it to the people. His servant Baruch first read it to the ordinary people in the temple and then he read it before the king. The king took each section after it had been read and burned it because he did not like what was said. Jeremiah 36.
What is our response when we read the word. The parable of the sower gives us four possible responses.
1. Fell along the path - birds ate it. We read the word but don't actually apply it to our lives.
2. Fell on rocky ground - sprang up quickly but then withered away. We read the word and get all excited about applying it to our lives but then when temptations come or obstacles and we quickly forget what he has told us to do.
3. Fell among thorns - it was quickly choked. We have sin in our lives that keeps us from understanding or obeying what God wants us to do.
4. Fell on good soil - produced a crop. We understand the word and apply it to our everyday lives. Letting it change us totally.

In my own life I wonder where am I at. I personally would never burn the Bible. I think that God would definitely have a big punishment for that one. But when I read the word and don't let it change me is this basically what is happening. I know what it says but do I really care. I realize that the four types of grounds others might say mean something totally different but as I was studying this morning this is what they meant to me.
Last week I couldn't think of a cool craft but this week will be so much easier. We will make scrolls. They suggested painting with straws but I don't know if I am that brave.

Looking for True Friendship

As I write this I will need to take several breaks due to the fact that I am doing a Bible study, coloring my hair (couldn't take the grey any longer. I hope it doesn't turn out purple) and eating breakfast. Oh yeah and washing the sheets off my bed. The life of a multi-tasker. Anyway I hope this is coherent by the end.

Over the last several days I have been thinking alot about friendships. What makes a good friend, who I trust as a friend, who I don't, am I a good friend. Well It is time to rinse I will discuss more when I get back.

Well now that I have a crick in my neck and color on my toes (don't ask.) I am back to the subject of friendship.

I went on line this morning and listened to a message by Dr. David Jeremiah. He is a great preacher. Anyway he was talking about Paul and his friendships. Paul really didn't have very many true friends and the ones that he had were usually temporary. I think of people who can say they have one best friends since they were young. How cool would that be, I personally can't say that. It seems that Paul christian life determined who wanted to be his friend and for how long. Really who wants to be friends with a jail bird.

I started thinking about what I look for in a friend. Here are a few of the qualities. Probably the first one to come to mind is trustworthy. You know that person you can tell something to anonymously and you know they would never break your confidence. I'm back, I bet you didn't realize it was time to put the sheets into the dryer. Honest, they never lie about things. Christian, someone to encourage me to grow spiritually. Dependable, you know when they say they will do something they will do it. A little on the heavy side wouldn't hurt anything, really who wants to go shopping with a bean pole. For all of you who think I am talking about you I am really kidding. I would go shopping with you I just don't want to try any clothes on while shopping. haha These are just a few of the things I would look for. Well all those things are good but can you really find all these characteristics in one person.

Here are a few verses on friendships.
Job 16:20 NIV
My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;
Ecclesiastes 4:10 NIV
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
As Proverbs 13:20 puts it: Whoever walks with the wise will become wise; whoever walks with fools will suffer harm (New Living Translation).

Remember Daniel and his friends in the Bible. They were an encouragement to each other to do what was right. Would I help a friend by jumping in a fiery furnace to do what was right?

As I was thinking about Jesus' friends the first person that came to mind was Peter. I am back again, I had to take a business call. Anyway, I love the part in the Bible after Peter (bad friend) had denied Jesus three times, Jesus had been crucified and he was walking around after his resurrection. Jesus searches Peter out. Me personally if my friend betrays me I want to forget about the whole friendship. Jesus was the perfect friends He searched for Peter and he makes their friendship whole again. As I think about it, Jesus did not need to do this for himself He did this for Peter's sake. I am usually thinking about my feeling not the other persons.

I love the above verse above where it talks about a true friend going into intercessory prayer for another friend. I definitely want to be that kind of friend.

I read another article this morning on friendship. It said the question shouldn't be what makes a good friend but the better question is how can we be a good friend. I think I have come to the conclusion that really you can't depend on people to be perfect. I am a prime example. Maybe your closest friendship should be to Jesus and then work at being a good friend to others not necessarily finding someone to be a good friend to you. Well I have went on long enough. There are so many things I need to accomplish today. Here is to name a few. Spiders traps out at the church, clean my house (company is coming this weekend), pick Noah up from school, basketball practice. OOOOOH the list never ends.

Unbuttoned Pants - Okay or Not Okay

Isn't this a funny picture. If my belly was cuter this could be a picture of Tim and I.

As I was walking tonight,yes I did say walking for those of you that think I just set around all day. I was thinking. My mind never seems to stop. Usually on very random items. Anyway, I was wondering what was the appropriate way to wear your prepregnancy clothes. I am all for just unbuttoning the top button of your pants but if you can't zip them at all is this a little to revealing. The shirt I had on tonight was really long but just think if the shirt is not quite long enough you have just showed the whole world the bottom of your belly. You also have to keep adjusting the zipper so that it doesn't stick you. As I was reading someone else's blog I saw this picture. I noticed her jeans don't look buttoned. But she has one of those cute bellies. You could say the picture of that belly and mind could be considered complete opposites. So the question is are the pants really to small if you are not able to zip them at all or if the zipper is making a indention in the bottom of the belly?

Showing Love - Feeling a Need

This past Sunday in Sunday school we learned about the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. John 6:1-13 These are some of the points that stuck out to me.
1. The people were following Jesus because of his miracles
2. Jesus showed love to the people by giving them what they needed physically.
In our Bible truth Jesus knew why they were following him yet he did not let that determine how he minstered to them. He met their physical need first and then their spiritual need. The previous Sunday night our connection group helped serve at South Church. We fed about 150 people. Which reinforced this story to me. After studying this lesson I looked at my own motives. I am afraid I only want to give people what they deserve not necessarily what they need. I would be the worst person to be on the benevolence committee. People would come and ask for money and I would want to tell them to get a job or put some kind of condition on the help they were to receive. This wasn't Jesus' approach. Hopefully the next time I am able to help someone I will take the best approach of meeting the physical need so that I might have the chance to help them with their spiritual need.

Uh-Oh We Have A Problem!

These are words you never want to hear. Especially as your husband is shaving your youngest child's head. Timmy usually starts the hair cuts and I do the trimming after he has shaved their whole head. Maybe all the money we have saved by doing this ourselves over the past years might not be worth it. Tonight was hair cut night. Timmy started with Andrew first. A few minutes into the haircut is when Timmy says "Uh-oh we have a problem, Bekah could you come in here." This is when you get that queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach. The problem was that the guard broke and fell off. So right on the top in the middle of Andrew's head is a BIG bald spot. We used the shorter guard to try to make it not so obvious but it still looks pretty bad. He doesn't seem to mind having a big bald spot. Timmy decided he would wait till we got a new pair of clippers before he did his own head. Here is a picture.

Poor Andrew, good thing his hair grows really fast.

All "Boy"

The other day the boys caught a spider. After keeping if for a couple of days and it about dieing I decided to let it go. Obviously spiders don't like to eat grasshoppers in captivity. The boys were not too happy about this but I told them it was just about to die so they forgave me. Here is a picture of the spider that came back to visit us a few days later.

Tonight as I was mowing I noticed a frog. I told the boys and that started a whole night of making different houses for the frog and trying to keep the frog from being eaten by the dog. Here are a few pictures.



Later in the evening I went into the garage to find Andrew working on his jeep. It was so cute.



Later in the evening Timmy was checking some fluid level in his car, of course this got all the boys attention.

What will we do if God gives us a girl? Will she be able to survive with all the "boys"

Tough as Nails

Sometimes Andrew amazes me or should I say scares me to death. He wanted to climb the tree in the back yard. Since I am not up to lifting him above my head I told him to wait till his dad got home. Since his brother was already up in the tree he was not going to have any of that. He decided he could do it by himself. He pushed one of our lawn chairs up to the tree. He was then able to reach the lowest branch. With his hands above his head he pulled himself up into the tree. As any good mom woud do I yelled out the back window and told him he better not fall because it would really hurt. A couple of minutes later I looked out the back window and he had climbed up onto the next branch. This limb was to high for my little four year to be on. So again as the good mom that I am I yelled out the window "Get down now, and make sure you sit down as you go down that branch so you don't fall." He did make it down without falling. Later in the evening I hear Andrew yelling in the back yard. I think his brother has done something to him on the trampoline which is nothing unusual so I ignore and go on. He comes in the house telling me he has been stung. He says it hurts but he doesn't have any tears so I am thinking he doesn't know what he is talking about. He then shows me his leg. The wasp almost brought the blood. If that had been me I am sure there would have been tears and lots of wailing and nashing of teeth. I don't like to get hurt. Anyway I think Andrew might be the toughest kid I know.

Lessons in Luke 5 - Immediately

How many times do I sit around wondering if I should do something. You know those time when you think you have heard God's voice but you are not for sure you want to respond or you want to wait a while to see if he ask anyone else to do it first. In Luke 5 I was struck by the idea of how they did not put off what they were called to do. As soon as Peter realized who Jesus was he followed him as soon as the crippled man was healed he got up (He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.) That started me to thinking. How many times is immediately used in the Bible. Here are a few of the times I found.

Mr 5:42 -
Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

Mr 5:29 -
Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

Mr 9:24 -
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Lu 1:64 -
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God.

Lu 5:13 -
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.

Lu 5:25 -
Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.

Lu 8:44 -
She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

Lu 13:13 -
Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

Lu 18:43 -
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Lu 19:5 -
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."

These are just a few instances of when people understood who Jesus really was their response was immediate. Is my lack of response or delay of response because I don't see Jesus for who he really is or I haven't let him touch my life in a way that I truly understand his power and awesomeness (not for sure if that is really a word).

Cool Quote

So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society.

John Quincy Adams

Lessons in Luke 5

I noticed something else kinda cool in my Sunday School lesson. Luke 5:11 They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him. Right after Simon Peter realized who Jesus really was and his own sinfulness he left everything and followed him.
If when I realize who Jesus is will I be ready to leave everything behind to follow him?

Should A Woman Be The Vice President

The other day I was discussing this exact question with some girlfriends of mine. I am very conservative and believe the Bible can be taken literally. So as we were talking I brought up the fact that God does not allow them to be leaders in the church, such as a pastor or have teaching authority over men. I wasn't for sure if those same qualifications would go over to the political arena. Today as I was on the internet looking for commentary on Luke 5 (for Sunday School) I came across an interesting article. I wanted to share it. This is the man that wrote the article.
R. Albert Mohler, Jr. is the ninth president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary—the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world. The “On Faith” panelist is a theologian and ordained minister and has served as pastor and staff minister of several Southern Baptist churches.

Palin Can Serve Family and Country
Sally Quinn wonders how Christian evangelicals -- and Southern Baptists in particular -- can affirm a woman as President or Vice President of the United States and yet believe that women should not serve as pastors of churches. "Is it hypocritical to think that a woman can lead a nation and not a congregation?," Sally and Jon Meacham ask.

No, it is not hypocritical -- it is simply the application of biblical truth to different spheres of life and meaning.

Sally Quinn's two essays on Gov. Sarah Palin raise fascinating issues, and reveal a basic lack of sympathetic understanding when it comes to conservative Christians. In her first post, she wrote:

Southern Baptist leaders like Richard Land and Al Mohler have praised McCain's choice. But these are the same men who support this statement from the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message:

"A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation."

Indeed, I do support that statement, drawn from our denomination's confession of faith. I stand by it without hesitation or mental reservation. It is drawn from the Bible, and explains the Bible's teaching that men and women are equally created in the image of God, but are assigned different but complementary roles in the home. In a separate article of the Baptist Faith & Message, we affirm what the Bible teaches about the different roles for men and women in the church -- and the fact that qualified men are to be called as pastors. The New Testament contains clear prohibitions of women in that role. This conviction was not invented by Southern Baptists. It was, and now remains, the honest conviction held by most Christians around the world, and for good reason.

Our confession of faith does not speak to the appropriateness of women serving in political office. It does speak to the priority of motherhood and responsibilities in the home, but it does not specify any public role that is closed to women. The reason for this is simple -- the New Testament does not speak to this question in any direct sense.

The distinction is perfectly clear. Where the New Testament speaks, we are bound. Where it does not speak, believers are not bound. The structure of our confession of faith simply reflects this principle.

Portraits of Elizabeth I of England and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher hang in my personal library, along with other portraits. I see no biblical injunction against their leadership in these roles.

Is that all there is to this issue? No. Feminists are bewildered and frustrated by the fact that the vast majority of women find their greatest joy and fulfillment in the roles of wife and mother. Most women do not want to be Vice President of the United States, nor to make the sacrifices necessary in order to succeed in the public arena.

This is not a question of intelligence, ability, toughness, or talent. I would love to see Margaret Thatcher at the top of her game take on any public figure. Just ask the leaders of the Labour Party in her day -- or the Argentinian generals who invaded the Falkland Islands during her tenure.

This is a question of calling. I believe that God has placed in the hearts of most women a deep desire for the fulfillment of marriage and the raising of children as life priority. Furthermore, I believe that women are given unique abilities and gifts for these callings -- affirmed by common grace and common sense.

When Gov. Palin was announced as Sen. John McCain's choice as running mate I was elated about her pro-life commitments and political philosophy, and I remain so. I also told The Wall Street Journal that, if I were her pastor, I would be concerned about how she could balance these responsibilities and what this would mean for her family and her roles as wife and mother. The news that broke over the weekend would make me only more concerned. But my concern would be for her and for her family -- not for the nation.

I am doing my best to be honest -- and not hypocritical -- about how I see this new situation. I could not imagine this in my own family, nor, I am confident, could the vast majority of those conservative Christians who are celebrating the nomination of Gov. Palin as Vice President. I have full confidence that my wife Mary can lead and run anything, from General Motors to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Nevertheless, I also know that I, along with our children, would find our worlds turned upside down. Beyond this, I believe that she would be less happy, less fulfilled, and less strategically deployed. She runs a program that influences the lives of hundreds of women and serves on the board of directors of our local crisis pregnancy center, but her most significant impact will be on the lives of two children who cannot imagine life without her -- and without her active engagement and motherly love.

In her second posting, Sally Quinn raises the stakes:

I would like to hear what women think of her priorities. Do they believe that her first priority is as a mother or as a governor? Will her first priority be as a mother or as a Vice President or a President? One in three Vice Presidents become President. John McCain is a 72-year-old cancer survivor. As Vice President, Palin could ascend to the highest office in the land at any moment. Do women believe she should relegate her job to second place or her children to second place? Does she have to make such a choice? Every woman, and particularly every woman who works, including me, understands that the conflicts and the guilt are always there in a way that they are not for men.

Further:

Well, I can understand an evangelical Christian asking that question. But how does a feminist ask that question with a straight face? Isn't this precisely the kind of question feminists have long insisted were completely out of bounds?

It would be hypocritical of me to suggest that I am not troubled by these questions. It would be hypocritical of me to suggest that I would be perfectly happy to have Christian young women believe that being Vice President of the United States is more important than being a wife and mother.

Yet, I am encouraged by Gov. Palin's nomination. I believe that she brings something unique, admirable, and urgently needed to this presidential race. The question of my vote in this election is clear to me. The meaning of all this for the Palin family is less clear. In one sense, I think it might be very helpful for the American people to see a real family struggling with these real issues. I do not fear that this will lead millions of evangelical women to leave the home in order to run for national office.

At the end of her article, Sally Quinn concludes:

Women can be presidents but not pastors? I don't understand. I would like somebody to explain this to me.

Well, I have given this my best shot within the limits of this article. The Bible states that women are not to hold the office of teaching authority in the church, and sets forth a portrait of different but complementary roles for men and women in the home and in the church.

Can we see implications of these principles to the larger culture? Yes, but not in the same sense as is ordered by Scripture in the arenas of the home and the church. We do not find this question directly addressed in the Bible. This is why biblical complementarians can affirm that a woman can be President but not a pastor. This is not about equal employment opportunities, but about the command of God to his church.

"is it hypocritical to think that a woman can lead a nation and not a congregation?" No

So as for what I think. I am not sure. There is a lot of things that are not sprecifically mentioned in the Bible but they are implied. Was she the best pick? I am not sure. I do like her stance on some of the moral issues. I guess when it comes to the end of the day I will be voting for the candidate with the best moral standard. And I know that is not Obama.

Does God Hear Us?

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all of their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:17-18

I have been praying fervently for a dear friend over the last few days. I keep asking myself how can they continue to go on. How much can one family take? Are my prayers of any use? I found the above verse on another person blog. I believe the whole Bible so He does hear us and is close to us. I have to admit since I have extra time on my hands I have been reading some other people blogs. The above mentioned blog has had me glued. This particular family went through a very dramatic event of knowing they were going to lose their child to illness very soon after she was born. Here is something she posted a few weeks later.
"God Himself chose this to happen. Trust me, that is not the easiest sentence I have ever written, because I am human, and I am a grieving mother. I know that none of this is a surprise to Him. That doesn't mean we don't feel every bit of the loss, or that we just go about our lives because it's all okay now. It just means that we are steady in the belief that God knows what we don't, and none of this changes Who He is. None of it."
Do I have this type of faith? Would I be able to be so steadfast in who God is if I was faced with life threatening illness for myself of any of my family members. Even though God is not answering my prayers in the timing I would like I know that he is close to those who are hurting because he says he is and we can trust what he says.

If You Can Puke We Won't Make You Eat It

It all started when Noah got off the bus. He runs into the house and said a kid on the bus puked on his backpack. I tried but decided that would have to be saved for Dad to clean up. I was very "Betty Crocker" today and decided to make a roast for supper. We had roast, peas, bread and baked potatoes. My kids don't like peas. I am trying to make them broaden their taste. No such luck. Andrew wanted butter on his bread so Timmy told him to eat a bite of peas first. He did take a bite but then he started gagging. I thought he was just faking, I was wrong. Everything started coming up. That kind of started a chain reaction. So I jump up from the table with my mouth covered running through the back door. Noah follows me out. After Andrew is done we all set back down at the table to enjoy this home cooked meal. The conversation went down hill from there. Andrew wanted to talk about how if I had been throwing up with him it would have went everywhere and Noah was aggravated that his brother didn't have to eat any more peas and he still did. I think that his exact words were "You aren't having to eat them just because you made yourself throw up." Oh the fun we have at the supper table. Needless to say if you can make yourself throw up we won't make you eat the vegetable.

God Has It Under Control

Well after posting about my childcare issue God has taken care of the situation. I have had two very generous people to take on the role of Andrew's new babysitters. He is excited about both people. I was dreading having to call Mrs. Brenna last night to let her know. She was completely understanding. She said she had been thinking about talking to me about the situation. Andrew just didn't seem to be happy at her house especially when it came to quiet time. Just when we think there is not a good solution to our problems God takes care of them. Isn't he good.

Teaching 4's & 5's

Well yesterday was our first Sunday teaching the 4s & 5s. The kids were really good. One little boy kept on telling me he was having a good time. I think he was trying to encourage me in his own little way. It was very sweet. We had eight and I know of two or three regulars that were not there so it looks like we are in for a big group this year.
I was starting on my lesson for next week and came across something really interesting. Luke 5 is the story of Jesus and Simon Peter in the fishing boats. Peter had been fishing all nights with his buddies and they had not caught anything. Jesus uses his boat for a while to teach the people and then he tells Simon to go back out and fish some more. They catch so many fish they have to call some more friends out there to help them get all the fish in. Here is where I think the interesting part comes in. "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus knees and said " Go away from me, Lord: I am a sinful man"". This is a quote from my Sunday School book "As was always true when Peter really saw Jesus, he truly saw himself also, becoming aware of his own sinfulness." I was thinking, if I think I am okay, that I am not that bad is this because I truly don't see who Jesus is. I think most of the time I am comparing myself to the world instead of to our true standard, the perfect son of God, Jesus Christ himself. I am really not very good at all.

Monster Trucks Tons of Fun

Last night the boys went to see the Monster Trucks in Springdale. When they got home at 10:30 Andrew was so excited he couldn't get ready for bed. He wanted to tell me all about it. I think one of the best parts that he liked was when one of the trucks lost a wheel. I didn't know losing a wheel could be so exciting. They all agreed that they wish they had had earplugs. Here are some of the pictures that Timmy took.

I would have never let them set on the top of those cars with all the broken glass.






Timmy stopped on his way home from work and got me chinese food and a movie for my night at home by myself. Isn't he sweet. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky.

Childcare, What do you do.

Andrew and I are struggling on how to handle going to the babysitter. Do you bribe them everyday not to throw a fit, do you let them take a toy, do you just leave them a couple of hours so they won't have to take a nap while there? Since school has started back Andrew has started going to a new babysitter. At first he was scared because he didn't know anyone but then he said he liked it. That was the first week it has gone down hill from there. The second week I had to leave him screaming one day and just crying another. That makes a mom feel really bad. Everyday he asks me if he is going to have to take a nap there. He still takes naps when he is here at home with me but for some reason he really does not want to have to at the babysitter's house. This week he only had to stay one day all day the rest of the days were only half days so we didn't have to deal with the napping issue. Today when I picked him up after staying all day he had not taken a nap. That makes everyone miserable in the evening. The babysitter mentioned that maybe he shouldn't bring his own toys because they never seem to be able to keep up with them by the end of the day. I thought the toys were helping him feel a little more secure so that the crying would not be so bad. Andrew says they only have girl toys at the babysitters house. What I would give to have parents that live close or a relative that would want to keep my child during the week while I worked. I need God to provide the perfect babysitter.

God Provides for Monster Trucks

Well anyone that knows me knows that I don't really like to spend money on something that is not absolutely needed. Just look at my closet, most of my clothes are years and I do mean years old. Timmy actually encourages me to buy new clothes sometimes. Anyway last week Timmy told me that the monster trucks were going to be in Springdale. To me that is no big deal at all but to my boys that is almost the best thing that could happen. Right up there with Christmas day. The tickets are 18 dollars for adults and 5 for children. Just for the tickets it would be about 50 dollars for our family to go. That does not include the concession stand, and you know you have to visit there at least once during the event. Well this is where the story gets neat. One of my clients is working on getting their inventory correct. They needed me to work extra. God provided the money for the tickets and the concession stand. Isn't he neat. I have decided not to go with them because I don't want to set out in the heat but I know they will love it. They have been counting the days down all week. It comes up many times through out the day. Even if I hadn't worked extra they would have still went but it just makes me feel good that God knew I would be concerned about the cost. It was kinda like he was telling me "relax, I've got things under control" Isn't God cool like that.

Proper Bathroom Etiquete

So what is the proper actions when your loved one is puking???? The other morning I was sick and my loving husband stayed in the bathroom brushing his teeth while I hugged the toilet. This just doesn't seem right. I would assume that one would give the sick person some privacy and then when everything is over with offer to get them a cold washrag. And the washrag definitely needs to be cold, luke warm or even hot is definitely not what you want to put on your face after an event like this. So what is your opinion? Do you stay, do you excuse yourself, do you offer any help. Really what is the proper way to handle this situation? Obviously Timmy and I have different opinions on this.

Praising God for the small things

Sometimes I think I forget to praise God in the small things. Well here goes. I had a pretty good day yesterday. The previous night when I would wake up I didn't feel sick and when I got up yesterday morning I was feeling good still. I really think it helps to be able to not feel bad while you are sleeping, if that makes any sense. I felt good most of the day until about 4:00 that evening. God gave me a little relief. Thanks!!!! Maybe I will make it with a little bit of sanity left by March.

Square Dancing

When Karen asked us if Noah could be on their square dance team Timmy and I both thought he wouldn't want to. We were wrong. He has had a great time going to practice and performing at the clothesline festival. They were also in a parade that morning. Jessa Keller was his partner. Here are some pictures of the big event.

God is Listening

I thought this was cool. The other day I had been asking God to provide a way for me to ask my neighbours to connection group. Well guess who came to their mailbox while I just happen to be mowing the front yard, my neighbour. Being a yard nazi (as Timmy calls me) paid off. Who knows if they will come but I think it is cool how God provided the opportunity to ask.