First Swim Outing of the Summer

It was cold...very cold! As a lifeguard, I would have made the kids get out of the water every 15 minutes to warm up. As a mommy, I'm a sucker. They were having so much fun, especially Anna. Whitley mostly stayed on the step (because it was cold). Anna wanted to be out in the water with Mommy and Daddy. We did make her get out, dry off a bit, and warm up in a towel and the sun for a while, but before we knew it, she was jumping off the side of the pool to me. Whitley did "swim" a bit with us, but still had sense enough to know it was COLD. The temperatures this week are suppose to be in the 90s, so maybe our next outing will be more pleasant. In a few weeks, we'll be swimming in bath water. More video then...

Playing ball with Mamaw

I love watching my Mamaw playing with my girls.

Have I mentioned that Anna is a handful?

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here is a novelette. First, pay close attention to Anna's clothes.

Do you see it? The shorts are on backwards. The shirt is inside out and backwards, and the shoes (which are not in the picture) are on the wrong feet. BUT, she did it herself!

Next, I really should have taken an "after" picture. It's not gone, but did fade a good bit after a bath. Anna found a Sharpie in my parents' room.


'Nough said.

Just a cute picture!

All hitting, pinching, biting and screaming aside, they really do LOVE each other!

Journaling

I've just been reading some of the entries in my journal. It's been 3 years since I started writing in this particular book. Back then, we were still living in Joy, TX. Whitley was 9 months old and Anna was just a glimmer in my eye as I looked to the future. Isn't it wonderful to look back and see what God has done? If you're like me, the day-to-day living easily becomes all consuming and the pressure of NOW seems to be the most important thing in the world. How GREAT is our God that He will press the "pause button" on our lives (if we'll let Him) and grant us a glimpse of the bigger picture to refocus our perception, refresh and encourage us, and, of course, challenge us. (That seems like a lot of commas. Will one of you English teacher types assure me I still know grammar?) That's what reading these entries is like for me. Those profound spiritual truths He revealed to me, what have I done with them? The prayers I prayed, how has He answered them? If I'm still waiting, am I still praying? The joys He showed me in my day-to-day life, am I still enjoying them? The hurts I experienced, have I forgiven "the guilty" or are they still "guilty"? I don't know if anyone ever actually reads my ramblings, but I'm going to act like someone does and share some of my favorite entries over the last 3 years. Perhaps God will use them to encourage you as He has me. If so, let me know.

Thursday, October 5, 2006

I just had to laugh! I'm reading through Psalms and am on #68. David is writing of God's justice and power. Verse 7 says, "O God, when You went forth before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness (Selah)" (The scene is set...Here comes God!) The next verse is where I laughed. "The earth quaked; the heavens dropped rain at the presence of God..." God is so awesome, the ground's knees were knocking and the skies peed in their pants!
How is it that we, myself included, just go "ho-hum" through our Christian lives? Where is that kind of awe?

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Whitley is starting to dance! She bounces, turns, does squats and raises her arms. I think she's becoming my therapy. Her innocence and love of this life she's discovering remind me to stop. Yes, dishes and laundry need to be done...they always do. BUT, we have a world to discover too!
Last night Whitley heard the music coming from one of her toys and just started dancing. I'm so thankful God spurred me to join her instead of unloading the dishwasher. I put in a Patty Lovelace CD and WE DANCED. I clogged. I held her and clogged (cardio & fun). We spun around and around. I put her down and we bounced. It was so fun!
Father, thank You for my daughter. Help me to treasure this time with her. Pour our Your love on her. I love You.

September 17, 2008

Proverbs 31:10-31

Father, as I'm suppose to be the heart of the home, help me. Give me strength and energy for a calling that leaves me tired at the mere thought of what's involved. I wish I understood the pressure that Doyl feels in being the protector, provider, and head because so often it seems like the husband has it easy. Make me less focused on me and more on his needs. When I feel overwhelmed, teach me to come to You and not add to his burden. Give him strength and wisdom for the calling and tasks You've given him. Teach me to help him as You intended.

March 24, 2009 (10:06 pm)

I just put Anna back in the bed. She's 21 months now...almost ready for some serious potty training. Keeping a diaper or pull-up on her is difficult, especially a wet or dirty one.
I went in to check on the girls before getting ready for bed (wow...it's early for me). Whitley was sound asleep and still covered up. Anna was asleep, but uncovered and bare-bottomed! Her wet diaper was on the floor next to her bed and her pants were in her hands. Getting her dressed without waking her up proved beyond me, but hopefully I'll find her the way I left her before I turn my light out.

Just pictures

Anna Goes Potty!

The only reason you are not looking at something very yucky right now is because my sense of decency just slightly out weighs my "mommy pride". Over the last week, Anna has been going to the potty (mostly by her own initiative) and has had pee-pee success 4 times. Well, just a little while ago, she topped that. Doyl and I were talking in the living room when Anna ran in, handed me a wet pull-up, and took off to the bathroom. Since she had just given me a wet pull-up, I assumed she was in there playing. We got to stopping point in the conversation before I went to check on her. There she was on the potty with poo-poo already in it! We have been dancing and shouting and calling...just having a BIG celebration! I seriously almost took a picture of it. Aren't you glad my mother raised me better than that?! The only part I've played in her potty training is let her sit on the potty whenever she wants, buying some pull-ups and "how to" book. The experts are right. When a child is ready, they are easy to train.