Thankful Thursday

Today is the last night for Vacation Bible School. It has been a fantastic week! One reason I love VBS so much is the great memories of going to VBS when I was a kid. And also, it is a kinder, gentler version of church camp, without the sleeplessness and body odor!

Here are some great things about VBS this year:

~ having Ladybug there too. She's been in the nursery, most of the time. When she's too tired or fussy, then I get her and put her in the ring sling or my new mei tai carrier (Pictures coming soon!).

~ getting to know other adults in our church. It's been great to work with some of these folks!

~ watching the kids have fun, be excited about Jesus and the Bible, and just be their usual silly selves.

~ working side by side with my Hubby. It is so much fun to lead music with my partner and soulmate. We make such a great team!

~ the boost that VBS has given to my own faith. The enthusiasm is contagious, and I love it!

Thanks so much for visiting today! I'll try to catch up with my blog hopping over the weekend. With VBS in the evening, Ladybug's bedtime is wacky. So our schedule is a little off. I can't wait to catch up with everyone!

For more Thankful Thursdays, please visit Iris at Sting My Heart. And for more feel-good Thursdays, please visit Mrs. Fussypants. Have a great day!

Update from the the Trenches of VBS

We are have a FABULOUS week at Vacation Bible School! I'll have pictures to share, once I have the chance to upload. I want to share a quick, heart-warming story with y'all.

Our last group in music each night is the Pre-K and Kindergarten age kiddos. The first night of VBS, most of them were pretty quiet and shy. They just weren't sure what to think of all of it, plus I'm sure a lot of them were tired.

Since we started on Sunday, Tuesday night was day 3 (but we all kept saying that it was Wednesday already!), and the kids are definitely warmed up to us and the whole VBS deal.

Two little girls in this group last night made me smile. As we were singing our songs, they were dancing around and shouting the words at the top of their little voices - "I WILL BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART! I WILL BELIEVE WITH ALL MY SOUL!"

I just imagine how God must be smiling to see these precious children rejoicing in Him and declaring their delight that He loves them.

Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:3

Vacation Bible School - More of Him Monday

Hey y'all!! This is Vacation Bible School week for us, Sunday through Thursday evening. Hubby and I are the music leaders, and Ladybug is in the nursery.

VBS is very important to me (I accepted Christ at VBS when I was 8), and I've always been in involved in one way or another. Except last year when Ladybug was an itty-bitty newborn. This is a very busy week for us. Bedtimes are thrown out the window, and Hubby and I are doing a lot of singing and dancing to entertain the kiddos.

So blogging will be a bit sporadic for me this week. Both writing and blog-hopping. I will try to get a Bloggy Giveaway post up today or tomorrow.

In the meantime, if you have a More of Him Monday post to share, please leave the link in the comments and I'll come visit as soon as I can! Click here for participation guidelines.

I Can't Do It All

Earlier this week, I came to the conclusion that I can't do it all by myself. *GASP* What do you mean? A SAHM, with an almost 14 month old, a small business to run, plus a husband who works full-time and goes to school full-time? What?

I decided to ask my MIL to come over and play with Ladybug so I could get some housework done. Namely, cleaning bathrooms and coloring my hair. Okay, so coloring my hair isn't housework, but it needed done!

My MIL watches my nieces occasionally as my SIL and BIL juggle their full-time work schedules with the girls home for the summer. So my MIL arrived shortly after lunch yesterday, and my SIL arrived within a few minutes with my nieces and a friend.

As they settle in, I finished cleaning the kitchen then darted back to the master bathroom. I figured that I could start the hair coloring process then clean while it did its magic.

It's a good thing that I read blogs, because a science lesson jumped into my head. Last fall, I think it was Shannon (can't find a post) who blogged about passing out while coloring her hair (with ammonia) and cleaning the bathroom (with bleach!). I remember that science lesson from high school, but seriously, who applies classroom knowledge to being a SAHM?

I was NOT cleaning with bleach! Whew!

I got the entire bathroom cleaned, except the floor, while my color worked. Then I jumped in the shower to rinse off (I hate trying to stick my head under the faucet). And I was able to clean the smaller bathroom before my MIL and the entourage left.

But not before I had a chance to sit down for a glass of water and to hear my 7 year old niece (Drama Queen) say, "I'm bored. Can we see what's on TV?" She knows the rule - TV is an earned privilege at our house. So I suggested a card game - War, Old Maid, Go Fish, etc.

That lasted for about 10 minutes. Thankfully, my MIL suggested they go to her house to wait for their dad. Whew!

Friday's to do list:
~ clean bathrooms (check)
~ color hair (check)
~ entertain a bored 7 year old (check)
~ do normal stuff like entertain, feed, and care for Ladybug

No wonder I was exhausted!

The Meeting

Continuing the story of how Hubby and I met and married....

Part 1, The First "Date"

Part 2, The Courtship

Yes, I invited myself to Hubby's parents' house for Easter. It was a great halfway point between the two of us, and it would be a free place to stay. I didn't think about meeting Hubby for the first time combined with meeting his family. I was too anxious to see this man that I talked to every day.

Remember, I was in full-time ministry at this time of my life. So I wasn't allowed to take off on Easter Sunday. I had to be there. But, my senior pastor said that I could leave the late worship service after the initial announcements, which meant I could get on the road at least an hour sooner than planned. Woohoo!

I had a 6 1/2 hour drive. I knew that Hubby had started the trek the night before, so he had arrived at his folks' at about 3 am.

I remember carefully planning out my wardrobe. I had some great looking tan jeans with a lightweight short-sleeve sweater.

A funny memory from this trip - not only was I driving unknown roads, but the gas prices were sky high (ha! I laugh at this now!). Gas was close to $2.00/gallon! When I stopped to fill up somewhere in Ohio, there was a local reporter taking pictures and interviewing travellers regarding the "high gas prices." Funny, now that gas is hovering close to $4.00/gallon in our area.

Anyway, I arrived in Hubby's hometown around 5 pm. I was hungry, nervous, and sweaty. It finally hit me that I would be meeting Hubby's parents too! Yikes!! What had I gotten myself into?

When I pulled into the very small driveway with my very large pickup (that's another blog post in itself!), I took a moment to breathe deeply before getting out of the truck. I had only ever seen pictures of Hubby - would I recognize him? I was really nervous!

All of sudden, there he was! Walking out of the house in a light blue button up shirt with khaki pants. He looked good! And he looked like his picture too! Whew.

He walked over, gave me a hug, then gave me a nice big kiss on the lips! Wow! (I had sort of expected that, after six weeks of talking on the phone. We both knew that the emotions were getting intense for not ever having met each other!)

After that first kiss on his parents' front lawn, he pulled a single red rose out from behind his back. I had NEVER received a rose from a man before. Seriously. Never.

We talked for a few minutes, then he took me inside to meet his family. Mom, Dad, and one of his older brothers. (Hubby is the youngest of four boys.)

We took my bag upstairs, and there on the bed, was eleven more red roses, spread out in a fan! Wow! A dozen red roses! Wow! I was really blown away.

We sat down to a nice dinner with his family. The nervousness was gone, and I enjoyed myself. Hubby and I stayed up for a while talking after the family had retired for the evening.

We had already had a talk about boundaries. We knew we would wait for s.ex until marriage, but there sure was a lot of kissing going on! (One of the things that the pastor doing our pre-marital counseling remarked on was our excellent communication skills. We had lots of practice in a long distance relationship.)

I was able to stay for two days. I enjoyed the time with Hubby. I already knew him from our conversations, but it was great to spend time together. I had brought my guitar. We sang and shared our favorite worship songs. It was a wonderful, dreamy time together.

We also said "I love you" for the first time during this trip. We had both wanted to say that little phrase for a while, but both of also wanted to wait and be face to face when it was said.

Thankful Thursday

I missed my TT post for last week due to a cold in my right eye. Can you believe that? I couldn't wear my contacts (and I'm blind without them!), it was sensitive to light, and it was all puffy. But it got better with a few days of rest and no contacts. (Rest, what's that? I have a toddler!)

Anyway, last week I had planned to share about my wonderful Hubby. Last Friday, I shared about how we met and our first "date." This Tuesday, I shared about the first part of our courtship. And I hope you'll come back tomorrow to hear how we met face to face for the first time. (No, the timeline is not out of order. I hope you'll read the first two posts to catch up!)

Anyway (for the 2nd time), I am blessed with a wonderful Hubby. He works hard to provide for our little family. He is a spiritual leader for us as well. Plus he is a full-time graduate student. Some days are very long, yet he cheerfully pitches in to help with parenting our beautiful 14 month old Ladybug.

Take yesterday for example. He was up at 5am and out the door to be at work by 5:45. He worked a full day outside in almost 100 degree heat (not counting the heat index!), came home, showered, played with Ladybug, then had to leave by 3:15 for a gig with his rock/blues band. He got home around 9pm. Thankfully, he doesn't have to work today, but he does have studying to do for his classes (all on-line classes).

Even in all that my Hubby does for our family, he recognizes that God is our Provider, and that he is just a vessel. There are so many other things that he does for me, like killing spiders and taking out the trash, and I appreciate them all. I know I don't say "thank you" enough.

So, "thanks, sweetheart!" I am so blessed to have you in my life!

Don't forget to visit Iris for more Thankful Thursday posts. And also visit Mrs. Fussypants to see what good things are going on in the lives of others.

Wordless Wednesday - Chub Comparison

March 2008 - Notice the delicious fat rolls
July 2008 - Where's the chub?

Click here or here for more WW.

The Courtship

After sharing about my first "date" with Hubby, I had several requests to share "the rest of the story." I'll do this in installments - here is the next part...,

Our first phone conversation was just after Valentine's Day 2002. By the next week, we were talking on the phone for at least 1 1/2 hours every day, usually more. I think our longest conversation was 5 hours. Yes, FIVE hours!

What did we talk about? Everything and anything. Usually in the beginning of a relationship, you're so busy trying to project an image of who you think the other person wants to see. But we didn't do that. I don't know what made the beginning of this relationship different than any other.

When Hubby first sang to me on the phone, I started falling in love with him. It was soon after that I had a "feeling." Ya know, that "feeling" in my gut that told me that this guy was "the one."

I had spent many, many, many hours praying about my future husband. I was single and hated it. I had just celebrated my 30th birthday and I hated being alone. I wanted a family, and I told God that.

The greatest desire of my heart was to be a wife and a mother. I looked to Psalm 37:4 for comfort: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." I took this to mean that if/when I looked to God as my Provider, Redeemer and Sustainer, that He would plant His desires in my heart.

So I prayed. I asked Him to take away my desire to be a wife and mother if that was not in His plan for me. He never took that desire away, so I understood that to be confirmation that He DID have those things planned in my future.

When I started falling for Hubby, it was more than an emotional/physical feeling. We hadn't even met face to face at this point. But I "knew." I knew he was the one that God had prepared for me.

We were living about 15 hours apart at this point. And we soon started talking about meeting face to face. I knew his parents lived about halfway between us, so I suggested that we meet at his parents and spend a few days together. Yes, I invited myself to his parents' house! And the weekend we picked? Easter 2002.

Simple Faith - More of Him Monday

Welcome to More of Him Monday! This is a weekly carnival in which we can share encouragement with fellow Christian bloggers. Please read here for participation guidelines.

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Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Matthew 14:22-33

If there is one character in the Bible that I identify most with, it's Peter. Peter is bold, talks too much, and sticks his neck out a few too many times. I can relate.

One thing that stands out to me about Peter in this passage from Matthew is that he was willing to take a risk, as long as the Lord was there to lead him. I doubt Peter would have been foolish enough to try to walk on water if he hadn't seen the Lord do it first.

I'm sure that it blew Peter's mind to see Jesus walking on the water. But he was able to take the next step - he thought, "Maybe Jesus wants ME to walk on water too."

That makes me think about my Christian walk. Do I look to see the places where Jesus already is? And when I see Him there, am I willing to follow if He asks me to?

There are lots of places that we overlook in our daily lives that could be considered following the Lord. This past week, I called a friend from church. I just called to check in and see if she was available to have lunch sometime. At the end of the conversation, she told me that just hearing my voice brightened her day. Wow. I didn't think I was doing anything special. To me it was just a simple phone call.

There are so many simple things that we can do to show the Lord that we are willing to follow. I think Peter had a simple faith. He didn't let politics, or fashion, or fear stop Him from following Christ.

I long for that simple faith too. Simple faith that allows me to say, "Lord, if it is really You, command me to follow You." And then be able to step out and follow Him.

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Your turn. Where have you seen More of Him in your life?

Flashback and Feel Good Friday - It's All About Hubby

I missed posting my Thankful Thursday yesterday due to my right eye. The swelling has gone down and I was able to wear my contacts for a little while yesterday. I think it's just a cold in my eye. But I think I should stay off the computer as much as possible today. I'll try to catch up with y'alls blogs over the weekend.

Since I had planned to talk about Hubby for my TT post, today is all about the Hubby!

Flashback Friday at Blogmommas.com is "Your First Date." I want to remember my first "date" with my Hubby. And at Mommy ETC, the Feel Good Friday theme is Song Lyrics, so I'm going to combine the two! Watch how I do this!

Hubby and I met on a Christian singles website around New Years 2002. Our courtship was anything but normal. We e-mailed back and forth until Valentine's Day of that year. I sent him a cute e-card (nothing mushy or sentimental, just a fun e-card) that sparked his interest. He suggested that we talk on the phone sometime.

We both had very busy schedules - I was in full-time church ministry, and he was working full-time plus taking two classes at the local university. (Oh, and we lived 15 hours apart.) So we coordinated our schedules for a Wednesday evening phone call.

The appointed hour came, and my palms were sweaty! The phone rang, the caller ID gave a South Carolina area code! It was HIM! It wasn't an awkward phone call, or maybe it wasn't as awkward as it could have been. We talked for 2 1/2 hours!

One of the questions that he asked during that first phone call sticks in my mind. He asked, "What are you looking for in a man?" I already knew the answer to this, as I had had many conversations with God about my future husband. First of all, he must love God more than he loves me. I don't want to be first in his life. And he needs to be funny, intelligent, and hopefully musically talented. (I could hear Hubby checking the list mentally.)

We didn't talk again on the phone until Saturday evening, as I had a youth lock-in on Friday. Hubby knew this and left a message on my machine while I was at the church with crazy teenagers. I returned his called after I caught up on my sleep! That was not a long conversation, maybe only 1 1/2 hours.

But we talked again the next day. Sundays were always very exhausting for me. Two worship services, plus Sunday school, and just being around 300+ people wore me out. I had lunch, laid on the couch to chill, and the phone rang! Woohoo!

I remember where I was sitting. I had moved from the living room into my sitting room during the phone conversation. We talked about each other's profile on the singles website. This was one of the pics, and I had labeled it "On a Fall Day."

Well, Hubby said that when he saw that caption, it made him think of lyrics from a song by Seal.

With you on a clear day yeah

If tried I don't think I could end it better this way

All I have is a photograph

And if loneliness can hurt as much as being cold

Come over here woman and touch me you look so electric

'Cause all I ask is a second chance

Stroll on lady

Stroll on

Wild laces with diamonds in your hair

When you smile you make my world resolve and you take over

Wild laces with diamonds in your hair

When you smile you make my world resolve and you take over my pain

Oh love

So Hubby started singing those lyrics to me on the phone. My heart melted! I said, "Wow, good looking, smart, AND he can sing!" That was the moment that I first started falling in love with Hubby.

I still request that Hubby sing that song to me every once in a while. And my heart still goes pitter patter when I hear it.

The Eyes Have It, or Not

I'm not posting my usual Thankful Thursday. Not that I'm not thankful. But my right eye is giving me fits. I woke up this morning with it almost swollen shut. It's better, but I need to stay off the computer today. So I won't be doing my bloggy rounds either. Say a little prayer for my eye - thanks!

Wordless Wednesday - Just Chillin'

Click here or here for more Wordless Wednesdays.

Anyone Up For a Challenge?

My new bloggy friend Jenny at Runningamuck was issued a challenge to herself and her readers - to step outside the box and take a risk! Risk what, you ask? Risk trying a new lipstick color!

Ya know how we get stuck in a rut with our hair, make-up, or even our clothes? It's so easy to do. Well, it's time to push ourselves a little past our comfort zone and try a new lipstick shade (or 7)!

You can read Jenny's full challenge post here. She even has a cute button that you can put on your blog!



My regular readers know that I do not promote my Mary Kay business here on the blog, mainly because I don't want to be pushy. So this is me not being pushy.

I am offering any of my readers (female, preferably) their choice of seven (7) samples of Mary Kay lipstick. One for each day of the week. (You don't have to choose seven, just "up to" seven.) Click here to look at the shades. Then leave me a message here with the shades that you would like to try. Please make sure I have your e-mail address so that I can contact you to get your snail mail address.

Once you get your samples in the mail, then try a new shade each day. And take a picture with your new color! And if you dare (gasp!), post your pictures on your blog! (if you have one) This is open to bloggers and non-bloggers. If you don't have a blog, you can e-mail your pictures to me and I'll post them for you.

Won't you join me in this fun challenge? And to make it even more enticing, I'll give away one FREE Mary Kay lipstick to someone who leaves a comment on this post with their color choices.

(Did I mention that the samples are FREE? All it will "cost" you is sharing your e-mail and snail mail addresses with me. And I promise to not sign you up for anything or send you spam, okay?)

The Not-So-Cold Shoulder

I am the kind of person who buys appliances and expects them to work properly for twenty years or so. Is that wrong?

In 2005, we replaced our fridge with one given to us by friends who were moving and didn't need it. A relatively new appliance, although I cannot remember exactly how old it was. In August of 2005, that fridge decided to die. Two days after a hot water pipe burst in the bathroom and we woke up to 2 inches of water in every room except the kitchen. (I guess the carpet pad kept if from going that far.)

So, we were out of our house for several days for the carpet to be pulled, the HUGE dehumidifiers and blowers to be brought in. During all of that, the new-to-us fridge died. Can we say stress?

Through a good friend we got a BRAND NEW Kenmore refrigerator. I expect no more fridge problems until I'm well into my 50s.

Over the weekend, Hubby noticed that the milk wasn't quite as cold as usual. So we investigate. The freezer is still cold, although the ice cream isn't the solid BRICK that it was two days before.

Sunday morning after church, we call a 24 hour appliance repair service. Several hours later, there is still no return phone call to us, so we call a 2nd appliance repair service. We made an appointment for them to come to the house first thing Monday morning.

In the meantime, we got some ice, filled the cooler with our perishables, and prayed the freezer wouldn't go out too.

Monday morning finds me in the kitchen baking muffins to use up some of the milk, eggs, and apples. The freezer is still holding its own, but the fridge is feeling less like a fridge should.

The appointed hour for the repairman to arrive was between 9:00 and 10:00 (at least it wasn't 8am-noon!), and I received about three phone calls between 9:20 and 9:45 to confirm the time and clarify directions. We're not hard to find, but there is a newer subdivision nearby that has a similar name.

The repairmen (yes, two of them!) arrive around 9:50. The older of the two diagnoses the problem as a burnt out fan. Cost=$166, plus labor, for a grand total of $271. Well, that's better than having to buy a brand new fridge. Most likely the problem was caused by a power surge or lightening strike.

Within 30 minutes, the new fan was installed, we were $271 poorer, and I was minus a few muffins. But, my fridge was working! And the servicemen were wonderfully polite and courteous. Of course, they left a fridge magnet with their company name and phone number, and a reminder that the new part had a five year warranty.

As nice as the repairmen were, I hope I don't have to call them for a LONG time!

Hurry Scurry - More of Him Monday

Welcome to More of Him Monday! This is a weekly carnival in which we can share encouragement with fellow Christian bloggers. Please read here for participation guidelines.


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Life has been speeding by these days. Days melt into weeks, weeks into months. The summer is half over. I had planned to do so many things with Ladybug, and with Hubby, but it seems like we're running out of summer!

I don't like it when time rushes by without taking the time to reflect and savor. I want to relish the days, stop and smell the roses, enjoy every moment with my family. But the world sweeps in and pushes us forward.

Must do. Must go. Hurry now. Don't stop. Don't wait. Hurry, hurry.

I know that God calls us to wait on Him. To meditate on His Word. Waiting and meditating not only take time, but they take unhurried time. I have not been good at taking unhurried time for anything lately, let alone waiting on the Lord.

As I was driving around town on Friday, I was talking with the Lord about this. I know that He wants my unhurried, undivided attention. And I have not given that to Him. He deserves my best! One hundred per cent!

From experience, I know that when I do give God the unhurried time that He deserves, the rest of my life slows down. I don't want Ladybug's toddler days to melt one into another. I want to enjoy them and enjoy her. I want to take time to care for the people around me. I want to show the love of Christ to the strangers that I meet. I don't want to be in so much of a hurry, stuck in my own world, to notice the hurting souls around me.

I also know that waiting on the Lord is refreshing to the soul. Refreshment, like ice cold lemonade on a hot summer day. Like dipping your toes into the kiddie pool. Like sitting down to family suppers. I like that kind of refreshment!

Lord, slow me down. Help me to find the unhurried, undistracted time to give to You and You alone. Order my days. Bring refreshment to my soul so I can cherish all that You have given me.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind. (Isaiah 40:31, The Message)

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Your Turn. Where have you seen More of Him in your life?

Flashback Friday - Sixth Grade

Flashback Friday is a new weekly carnival hosted by BlogMommas.com.

I don't whether I have blocked out or repressed memories of my childhood, but coming up with a specific memory from 6th grade was hard!

I grew up in the sticks, so our elementary school was K-6, and the high school was 7-12. So as a sixth grader, I was a BMOC (Big Man On Campus). Yeah, I thought I was "the stuff."

Sixth grade was the year that I was allowed to get my ears pierced. My older sister had her's first pierced at age 12, so that was when I got mine done. I was pretty proud to show off my new bling. (Although we didn't call it bling back then. This was in the early 80s, after all!)

A few weeks after I showed of my new earrings, my home room teacher, Mrs. S., showed me that she got her ears pierced too, because I had inspired her, or something like that. At the time, I thought it was pretty lame that my teacher wanted to be like me. (What a great kid I was!)

When I was in college taking my education courses to become a teacher, I realized that Mrs. S. was just trying to engage me and help me know that I fit in. Sixth grade is an awkward time in a kid's life! Mrs. S. was really a great teacher.

Random Recipes Today

Stop by Random Thoughts today for Random Recipes! Here's my Crockpot Chicken n Dumplings recipe!

Thankful Thursday

I know I talk about my Ladybug a lot, not only for Thankful Thursday, but in general. But she is the joy of my life and I know how blessed I am to be her momma!

Ladybug is just over 13 months old. She has learned three new signs this week: JESUS (we were singing/signing "Jesus Loves Me"), KITTY, and SLEEP. I am trying to learn more signs as we go along so I can stay ahead of her - that's going to be hard! (Oh, and she just signed BALL for the first time while I'm typing this post!)

She has also started walking!!!! She started taking 2-3 unassisted steps the day before Father's Day. Then on July 4th, she started walking for real! She would walk across the room to Hubby, then turn and come back to me, all without falling!

Along with the newfound skill of walking, the toddler temperament has appeared. Ladybug is definitely expressing her wants and needs. I spend LOTS of time in prayer each day! This is testing me!

But of course, she also has such a sweet personality that shines through. She will hide behind something then duck her head out and wave. She is (learning to be) gentle with Ruthie, our Siamese, and will even lay her head down on the kitty to show affection.

Even though she hasn't started talking "for real," she babbles constantly. She will babble in complete sentences. It is so darn cute!! Like she's having a real conversation!

Our Ladybug amazes me day in and day out, and I'm so thankful that she is healthy, happy, active, growing and learning!

For more Thankful Thursday posts, please visit Iris at Sting My Heart.

And for more feel-good-keeping-it-positive posts, please visit Mrs. Fussypants.

Baby Signing - How To

Yesterday, I wrote a post about why a parent should consider teaching their baby/toddler sign language. Today, I'd like to talk about the "how to's."

First of all, if you do not know any sign language at all, you need to learn a few signs! You are the teacher for your little one. Here is a great starter list. (There is also a great downloadable file linked on that same page.)

You want to focus on signs that mean something to your child, things that are important or special. MILK, MORE, EAT, MOMMY, DADDY, etc.

Next, start using the sign every time you say the word (I'll capitalize the signed word for clarification). "Baby, do you want some MILK?" "Do you want MORE bananas?"

You can begin signing with your baby/toddler as soon as you know the signs. We began signing with Ladybug at birth, realizing that she may not re-create a sign for 6-9 months. Every baby is different, and just like with every other milestone, your baby will catch on at different rate than other babies. Ladybug first signed MORE at 4.5 months - we were thrilled! She didn't re-create another sign for 2 more months, but we were consistent and kept signing with her.

Consistency is key in teaching your baby sign. If they do not sign back to you within a week, or even a month, don't get discouraged. And keep in mind that babies don't have the fine motor development that you do, so baby's signs may be approximations, or close similarities, to the real sign. Just keep showing baby the correct sign and give lots of praise and affirmation for their attempts.

Decide what your goals are with using sign language. Is it lay the foundation of teaching a second language? Do you want your baby to know a few basic signs so that can communicate their needs before verbal speech develops?

We want to teach Ladybug American Sign Language as a second language, so Hubby and I are continually learning new signs to teach her. You can use a variety of sources. We are primarily self-taught, using on-line resources and books. I also belong to a Yahoo! discussion group, and I continually get new ideas for signing with Ladybug.

Teaching your baby sign language is a rewarding endeavor. Ladybug is now 13 months old, and she is learning new signs all the time. It's fun to watch her learn, and I love being able to communicate with my daughter.

Here are a few pictures of Ladybug signing: the first one is ALL DONE and the second is her approximation of MORE.

Happy Signing!

Baby Signing - Why?

I have mentioned in previous posts that Ladybug is learning sign language. While I am not an expert on the subject, I wanted to share the "Why" behind teaching baby sign language.

Even before I became a mom, I knew that I wanted to teach my babies sign language. I had the privilege of being around the children of friends who learned signs to communicate before they learned to speak. These children were precocious, expressive, and (to me) had less temper tantrums.

Babies show an understanding of spoken language long before they are able to speak themselves. Signing allows the child to communicate basic needs and wants before they learn spoken words. This lessens the frustration that babies/toddlers feel when their needs and wants are not being understood.

All babies learn to use gestures - waving, pointing, etc. Teaching a baby signs that are part of an already established language makes sense to me. We use American Sign Language. I started learning a few signs when I was in college for use with our worship team. Through the years, I have learned more ASL signs to use with worship songs. I have also picked up a few books along the way - two ASL dictionaries, and a baby signing book.

Here are few of the on-line resources that I have used:

http://www.signingbaby.com/main/
http://www.weehands.com/
http://www.mybabycantalk.com/index.aspx

I also love Signing Times, a video series for children that has aired on PBS and is also available on DVD. Ladybug and I watch some of the Signing Time video clips on YouTube. I'd like to share one of favorites.



Tomorrow, I will talk about the "How To's" of teaching your baby or toddler to sign.

Remembering - More of Him Monday

Welcome to More of Him Monday! This is a weekly carnival in which we can share encouragement with fellow Christian bloggers. Please read here for participation guidelines.


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These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, 2 and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. (Deuteronomy 6:1-2)



On Saturday, July 5, 2008, my paternal grandfather went to be with the Lord. He was 97 years old. He was my last grandparent.

My memories of my grandfather are of a man who loved the Lord, taught Sunday school, sang in the church choir, and led an active life in his retirement. I know that he was not a perfect man, as I've heard "the stories." But I do know that, especially in his later years, he honored the Lord.

I know that all of us make mistakes (dare I say that we sin?). But I think the sum of a person's life should be remembered in how they served the Lord. Was it with selfish motivations, or with a heart that truly sought the Lord? What kind of legacy did the person leave for their family?

No, Grandpa wasn't perfect. Neither am I. But as the saying goes, he has "gone on to the Great Reward." I pray that his reward is great, that he now has peace in his spirit and body, and that he is in the presence of the One who died to make him whole.

I know that especially these last few years have been difficult for him. His overall health has been declining. My grandmother passed away in 2001. And their oldest son (my uncle) passed away in 2005. But he has two sons, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, one of whom preceded him in death (our Susie). A wonderful legacy.

Grandpa was tired, he was missing his wife, he wanted to go home. On Saturday, he looked at the nurse and said, "I'm tired. I think I'll go home now." And he passed away in his sleep.


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Your turn. Where have you seen More of Him in your life?

Fight the Frump - Energy Boosters

Any other tired mommies out there? I found some more energy boosters this week!

Don't forget to visit Mrs. Fussypants for more great FTF posts.

14 QUICK ENERGY BOOSTERS - Written by Gretchen Rubin

It’s hard to feel happy when your energy level is low. The simplest tasks feel overwhelming, people seem demanding, and even activities that you’d ordinarily enjoy seem like too much trouble. On the other hand, when you have plenty of energy, life seems more fun — you’re also more likely to feel good about yourself. Not only that, being viewed as an “energizer” makes you far more likely to win a positive work evaluation.

When you’re feeling low-energy, plunking down in front of the TV or digging into a tub of ice cream can seem like an appealing fix. However, research shows (and you know it’s true) that these aren’t good routes to feeling better. Try some of the fast-fix choices below. If you can’t tackle a big task, do something small. Even a little step in the right direction will give you a lift.

1. Get enough sleep. If you never wake up before the alarm blasts, you need to go to bed earlier. People become accustomed to the feeling of being sleep deprived, but they don’t really adapt to it. Make getting enough sleep a top priority.

2. Go for a brisk walk. One study found that even a 10-minute walk was enough to supply a feeling of energy and decreased tension.

3. Listen to your favorite upbeat song. Hearing stimulating music gives an instant lift. Along the same lines…

4. Sing out loud. It’s hard to feel grouchy when you’re singing — and the goofier the song, the better.

5. Take a short nap, if you’re the napping type. Many people find them very energizing. My father has been known to take three naps in one day.

6. Act energetic. Research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up. Acting energetic will make you feel more energetic.

7. Along the same lines, spend time with energetic people. People catch the moods of other people, and energy (or lack of energy) is highly contagious.

8. Talk to friends. I’ve noticed that if I’m feeling low, and I run into a friend on the street, I walk away feeling much more energetic. Reach out if you need a boost.

9. Cross a nagging chore off your to-do list to get a big rush of energy. Unfinished tasks drag us down, so force yourself to tackle one thing that’s nagging you to get a huge rush of energy.

10. Make your bed. It doesn’t take much time or thought, and it provides a feeling of serenity and control when you come home at night.

11. Make something right. Apologize, confess, repair, replace, or return something you borrowed.
12. Go outside into the sunlight. Light deprivation is one reason why people feel tired. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood.

13. Clean up. I’m not sure why tidying makes such a huge difference, but when I feel like I can’t face the day, I just tidy up my desk, and I perk right up.

14. Drink some coffee! Coffee gets a bad rap, but the fact is, it really does boost alertness, energy, and ability to focus. (Plus, it’s a great source of antioxidants and it contains a high
level of soluble dietary fiber.)

Gretchen Rubin blogs about happiness, among other topics, for Real Simple’s Simply Stated.
http://simplystated.realsimple.com/life/gretchen.html

Thankful Thursday

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us....” 27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

What an amazing thought - to know that we (little us!) are made in the image of God! Have you paused recently to think about what that means?

I sit in amazement day after day at the daily achievements of our 13 month old Ladybug. She is amazing! (I know, all parents say that.) To watch her develop physically, emotionally, mentally is truly amazing.

Her imagination is just starting to develop, and I love observing her while she plays by herself. She has a Fisher Price Little People set and loves to move the people and animals around. She chatters to herself all the while.

I've taken time to show her what imaginative play looks like, and while I cannot say what is going on in the scene, she is truly amazing to watch! She pushes buttons to make the sounds. She moves the people from one place to another.

And to know that she, my wonderful, beautiful daughter, is made in the image of God is astounding! As much as she looks like her Momma and Daddy, she resembles her Heavenly Father more. What a blessing!

For more thankful hearts, please visit Iris at Sting My Heart. (I'm not sure if Mrs. Fussypants has internet where she is, so she may or may not be hosting her Happy Thursday carnival today. But I put the link in, just in case!)

WFMW - Microwave Cupcake

I was scratchin' my head today for a post topic, then I saw that Shannon has a theme for today's WFMW carnival. Five ingredients or less. I can do that!

This recipe is from one of my favorite websites, Hungry Girl. HG takes regular recipes and switches out ingredients so that they not only healthier, but have less calories, less fat, less sugar, etc, etc.

I like this recipe because it's one serving, it's quick, and it can calm a sweet tooth easily.

Peaches 'n Cream Microwave Cupcake

PER SERVING (entire recipe): 120 calories, 2g fat, 190mg sodium, 25g carbs, 1g fiber, 10g sugars, 1g protein -- POINTS® value 2*

Ingredients:

2 1/2 tbsp. Pillsbury Moist Supreme Reduced Sugar Cake Mix, Classic Yellow

4 tsp. Gerber Peaches (or another brand of pureed peaches, found in the baby food aisle)

2 tbsp. Fat Free Reddi-wip

Directions: In a small microwave-safe dish (like a ramekin or custard dish), combine cake mix and peaches. Gently stir un til completely blended. (Don't worry if it seems like a small amount. Your cake will puff up -- we promise!) Microwave for 1 minute, and then let sit in the microwave to set for a full 5 minutes. Once cool enough to handle, run a knife along the sides of the dish to release the cake and pop it onto a plate (or you could just leave it in the dish to be consumed!). Then top your cupcake off with the Reddi-wip, and enjoy! MAKES 1 SERVING

Thirteen Months

We celebrated Ladybug's 13 month "birthday" yesterday. No big celebration, but I wanted to record a few of things that she's doing right now.

~ She is doing the "drunken toddler" walk. She'll toddle about 5-6 steps in a drunken looking way before toppling over.

~ She has 5 teeth now. The last two came in within two days of each other.

~ She shows affection to Mommy, Daddy, her stuffed animals, and a few select people.

~ She signed "Jesus" the other day while we were singing "Jesus Loves Me." That made my mommy heart melt!

~ She likes to drink water out of a cup (with assistance), but of course she still loves her mommy's milk.

~ We went out to eat with Ladybug's godparents on Sunday, and she charmed the pants off all the waiters. Plus she was flirting with her godfather in the cutest way by turning her head sideways and grinning at him.

~ She loves to play in the water. Whether it's bathtime, the big pool, or our little wading pool.

~ She still is waking up most days before 6 am. So she and I will get up and start our day and let Daddy sleep in, unless he has to go to work early that day. He's been staying up late to get his studying done.

~ She is starting to display a sense of humor. She knows when things are funny and will look to us for appropriate laughter. But she also knows when she's doing wrong and looks at us with an impish grin.