This band played at my church last week. I hope you enjoy it...nah, just kidding.

glumbert - Jesus Is My Friend

SPANKING STUFF...

Our small group is still working on learning how to discipline our kids better. These are some thoughts I compiled from the two books I've read on the subject...
I know for many they don't believe in spanking at all...but I believe it can be used effectively and lovingly with good results...I use it sparingly, but when I do it works...

Proverbs 22:15: Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
Proverbs 13:24: He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
Proverbs 13:24 The Message: A refusal to correct, is a refusal to love; so love your children by disciplining them.
Psalm 119:2: Happy are those who keep HIS rules, who try to obey HIM with their whole hearts.

Using the Rod for Direct Disobedience and Defiance:
Taken from, “Don’t Make Me Count to Three” by G. Plowman

1. Discuss what the child has done wrong and why it is your responsibility to spank him/her.
Probing Questions: Was God pleased with what you did/said? What was wrong with what you did? What should you have done? I must spank because I love you too much to allow you to disobey. I will not let sin take root in your heart and grow.
2. Guide the child in thinking through what he/she could have done differently.
3. Use the proper instrument as your spanker—preferable not your hand.
4. Let the child no how many swats he/she is going to receive. This lets your child know that you are not out of control and are not angry and vengeful.
5. Do it promptly after the misbehavior and discussion, but not in front of others.
6. Take time for reconciliation and hugging immediately afterward. Give your complete forgiveness. Jesus did not take time to “cool off.” He does not turn from us when we mess up…he draws us to him to reconcile. We have no right to withhold forgiveness, after all we’ve been forgiven often. Colossians 3:13 Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
7. Require the child to make it right. Have him/her apologize to whomever he/she offended. Give back the toy, share the treat, practice saying things the right way and then MOVE ON! The slate is completely CLEAN!

Obedience should be all the way, right away and
with a happy heart!

Recently, Jeb and I were with Mrs. Betty, a sweet dear lady that goes to the Chinese Christian Church and loves the Lord. We were talking about all of this and Jeb said to her, "My Daddy spanks good." When I spank he ask, "Is it going to be a hard one?" I suppose that means that most of mine are not hard enough. When we first started spanking Jonas used to practice on me (really he did come hit me with the paint stick a few times before he went to Jeb and I told him when it stung!)...I guess he got it right with all that practicing.

Cardboard Testimonies

Friends and Family near and far,

This week we did cardboard testimonies at our church. It was amazing to spend time(2 hours on Sat night and 4 on Sunday morning) with about 20 other people who can testify to God’s faithfulness in their life. Hearing the details of their stories really impacted me...as I am awaiting my next intervention from God. I was encouraged.

I shared how God redeemed our struggle after/during the miscarriage and brought Caleb Seth exactly a YEAR TO THE DAY of my D & C. I hope you can find time to watch the 8 minute video (see link below)...I just cried. It is incredible to see how God can restore EVERY situation. Nothing is impossible with God. God turned the sadness of 3.29.07 (when my second child was removed from me physically, already present with Christ in glory) into joy when my 3rd child was given to me to love here on earth 3.29.08. Many have asked, Well, wasn't that a C-section? Let me clarify: My due date was always 3.29.08 (I pointed that out to the doc and he confirmed it on my charts that that was indeed the dates ...then I have bills from both days- I see it each month)and then I went into labor on 3.29 at 2:13am --I'll never forget it since I was there alone in a hospital bed on IV's/steroids for asthma complications...3.29 was God's timing for SURE! He wanted to be clear with me--I am that hard headed. Every good and perfect gift truly is sent from our Father in Heaven-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

When our church gets the podcast up, you are welcome to download it—check out—foothillscc.org. The date of the service was 10.11.08.

Full-time Mommy Thoughts

Full-time Mommy Thoughts

This has taken me months to type, but I wanted to get it down so I can stay grateful and so I can remember how much I loved these days. Please help me brainstorm with reasons YOU love being home with your kids…I can add them to my list as well!

Why I love staying home (almost) full-time with my children:

1. Being home in the morning and snuggling in the bed until we are ready to start our day.
2. Reading books in their own beds/rooms before nap. They get to sleep in their own rooms for naps! No other kids are yelling! No playpens! No floors!
3. When they are sick, it is my sole purpose to make them better and attend to their needs. I just get up and take them to the doc…no sub plans, no stress…well not much anyway.
4. We have time to visit the public library together and pick out fun new books to read together.
5. We have time for swim lessons
6. gymnastics time…last fall.
7. Bible Studies (well, not now, but in the past)
8. We eat all THREE meals today
9. We can play outside all day if that is what we want to do!
10. I have some (very little) but some time walk, read, pray, be a friend, be a mom, be a better wife, be a granddaughter, help out at church, etc…without feeling like I haven’t been with my kids.
11. When you were little, you said one day, “I’m happy!” out of the blue.
12. We “snuggle bug” when you wake up from nap.
13. We can go see Mamanette during the day.
14. I feel better about “sharing” you with grandparents!
15. I get to teach you and watch you learn new things…everyday
16. We can go to the park with friends and play often…
17. You get to choose what you want to eat for meals…we have healthy food here that you like.
18. I give you your medicines…without worrying that someone else will mess it up…
19. I get to come up with creative new ways to have fun.
20. I know where you are all the time.
21. You don’t get bitten or beat up by other kids (well, not as much)
22. I’m with you in case of an emergency.
23. I get to rock yall at naptime if I can…
24. We’re home and generally feel good when Daddy gets home.
25. I have time to plan/prepare decent, healthy meals.
26. I have some (a few times a year) to play tennis and be with friends—things that make me, me!
27. I get to introduce new things and see how you do! I know when you accomplish a new skill.
28. If we want to be in the sandbox for hours—we can.
29. You are not sick NEARLY as much.
30. You get to play in the dirt more. More mud in our life.
31. You get disciplined they way I see fit—God put me in authority and so I get to take care of problems immediately and not hear about it from another caregiver.
32. Saturdays are fun days—not days to just work--laundry, sweep, mom, shop for groceries is done all week—not just on the weekends.
33. I am less stressed, which generally means better for my hubby---you know!
34. We get to stay at our beautiful home that God gave us and enjoy it to the fullest.
35. I try to make home a better place to be by organizing and managing it well.
36. We can play computer games and look up answers to things we wonder about!
37. I can take pictures of the kids all day!
38. I can cook supper during naps …he can enjoy licking spoons during the day if I’m baking.
39. When they get tired, they can rest without other kids around.
40. We can practice your Bible verse at lunch, and talk about your church lesson all through the day.
41. When it is cold and rainy we don’t have to go anywhere.
42. We can decide to dance while unloading the dishwasher.
43. We always dance to the Diego theme song and often “I Play Chicken with the Train”…so funny.
44. I can wrestle at least once a day…Jeb likes to be Cymba and I am Scar and we fight for Nala—a hoot. Glad you can’t see it.
45. We can act out the movie “Cars” …he is one race car and I am ALL the other characters.
46. Making Caleb giggle together with Jeb.
47. Going to all of Jeb’s spellbinding performances at pre-school.
48. Playing with our animals during the day.
50. I have time to do devotions –Jeb says…mama why do you always have to read Bible stories—what an opportunity.
51. Reading endless books whenever the mood strikes us.
52. My precious one on one time with Caleb while Jeb is at pre-school.
53. Not showering until 3 or so, or not at all, if that is what happens during the day…oh well.
54. Not worrying about what I am going to wear every morning.
55. I spend mornings enjoying the kids when they feel their best. I used to pick Jeb up at day care and he was SPENT. It made me so sad.

I will keep adding to this list! I never take for granted the privilege of coming home in 2005. All thanks to my hubby who works his tail off so that I can be here. Thanks to God who gives us just enough each month to make it. I am forever thankful.

Bailey Comes Home

After Caleb was born I suppose that I simply felt overwhelmed and made a very, poor decision. I decided to give away my chocolate lab that was my baby before I had babies. She is sweet as can be, but also very destructive. She chews up anything left outdoors including anything shipped here or left here by other people. The last straw was when she chewed up someone else’s brand new digital camera. I was out there filling in holes, picking up trash all over the yard, and throwing away plants that she had killed and basically I decided that I had had enough. Needless to say, I still grieved the loss of her being with me on my walks, but I thought she could have a good home with another family. Boy, was I wrong.

My mom sent me the local humane society’s website b/c she thought that I might like to find a dog there for the boys that was smaller and easier. I had been doing much praying about finding a dog for our family to love and enjoy. Just like my pastor’s been preaching—God did intervene—just not in thee way that I thought he would.

I got on the humane society's website and saw my OWN DOG! After many calls and many more tears...She is home, and is glad to be here. I saw her picture on there and my heart literally BROKE. The prisoners (who work there) and the workers at the humane society were calling her Sandy, and they could not put her to sleep since they had become so attached to her.

She still does all her tricks and is hyper as ever...I don't know why I did what I did. I THOUGHT she was going to a nice family with 2 boys and one on the way BUT as it turns out she was meant to live here with us. I hope God will forgive me--she already has. The people that I gave her to did not keep her but a few weeks at best, and then LIED (said she was a stray and that she bit their son which is a TOTAL LIE--she was also burned so I guess they were too embarrassed to call me or something???) and returned her to the pound --NOT ME--even though I begged them to if it did not work out to call me. Such a travesty...I feel terribly guilty and am so sad about the situation

On a funny note:
She has now cost us close to 1k. 200 to get her, 75 to re-adopt her, 2 sets of work gloves, 2 pairs of boots, 2 Little people Nativity scenes that my sister just kept re-shipping (bless her heart),2 sets of New Balance shoes, jumper cables, a 400 digital camera, and numerous toys/plants/bowls that she has destroyed...but the love a dog is surely PRICELESS. I learned a very tough lesson about humankind today.

I hate myself for ever letting her go. It is so nice to have her greeting us once again at the top of the driveway each time we pull in! She still remembered where all her cow bones were hidden. Then next morning after she returned there was one in the middle of the yard (VERY NASTY AND STINKY) but I just smiled knowing that that will always be just part of our normal décor here. For better or for worse—we are together….

Come see us soon and plan to get dirty and slobbered on like always--

Mobile Man & Show-off Jeb

It's official...now every marble,every rock, every dust speckle, every crumb of food, and every toy that Jeb litters around the house is hazardous to Caleb's health. He is not "crawling" but he can roll to anywhere he wants to be...it is SCARY. I have dreaded this--ha...he tore down Jeb's tower today...the first of many. Jeb was not a happy camper about his kicking legs.

Caleb is not sure if he likes peas or if he doesn't. My homeade baby food is working out great--the peas, squash and green beans are a bit grainy, but he is eating them well despite that fact.

Caleb is good at primping...it is pitiful...the primp heard round the world! It i really manipulative! I have put a picture of his poor, poor, crying self on here...I'd do anything to stop that!

When Jeb was little I was totally devoted to having sparkling floors. I am not sure how this child is going to stay healthy, when the floors are yucky and there is enough food for a small country under Jeb's seat some days.

Jeb had Grandparent's Day at his school. He was SUPPOSED to be singing...but like he always does, he was putting on a stellar sideshow. He tugs his pants, pulls up his shirt, and my personal favorite--playing peek-a-boo with his audience. He also put up his hand to stop the show and several occasions...not sure what that was about? He also talks to himself up there...I guess that is a nervous tick.

Zippety Doo-Dah!

Jonas recently added a zip-line to our fun and FREE stuff to do around here. Jeb says, "Mama, I want to go zip." The picture here was taken during one of his first "zips". He loves it now and has mastered putting his feet up, twisting around, and not hitting the tree at the end with any part of his body--which is good! The kids really enjoyed it after small group the other night. One child even did it with a broken arm--amazing! Speaking of small group--we are so blessed to have an awesome group of 6 other couples that are so fun and so sweet to be around. It is just the right people and just the right number of people. God is so good. We are going to be dive into God's Word and see what he has to say about disciplining our children.
Also, you see a picture of the BIG BAG that Libby and Mom gave me for my B-day. So cool--big enough for even children to fit in! I love it! It is the ultimate pool bag.