Convinced

I have this thought about God. I am praying for me to be able to stay home which means Brian would have to make more money. Duh. But then I look at our budget that we are suppose to follow and find we are doing lousy! Then I think, how hard would it be to have one salary. I guess it comes down to being faithful in the little things. That has been a heart felt prayer that Brian and I would learn the art of money management. We know what to do so I pray for self-discipline. Also, I have been thinking of volunteering and how that effects things and your walk with God. I mentioned this in an earlier blog so I am going to volunteer. Good for showing Abbie how to serve, good for my heart, and good for God's heart to reach his children. And, I have started my bible studies again. That has brought some fresh air my way. I am doing one called Having a Mary's Heart in a Martha's World. It is was written for me. The busy, type A personality, that is easily distracted from the one good thing. It has been so good to reread that passage in Luke and go deep into it and see what God needs to reteach and I need to "reget."
With all this come faithfulness of following God, loving him, and pleasing him. That is why we were created. For fellowship for God. He doesn't need us, he wants us. He wants me. I have been praying for God to do great things but what I am doing for him? The thought came to me this morning in my study, how can I have the audacity to sit and ask God for stuff and to do great things in my life when I am not doing for him. I am not talking about just any old thing for God to try to get in his good graces to get what I want, but to honestly serve and love the Lord my God. I am asking God to help me step outside of myself, to put on the full armor of God, and to serve him as he has shown me to serve. Will I get to stay home after this season of my life? I don't know and can't answer that. But one thing I do know, I will have a walk that is unbreakable, a marriage that is honorable, a daughter loving her Lord, and a fragrance that is indistinctly God's. Now that is something I can live with.

Surgery

My dad had surgery this morning and it only took an hour. He had a couple of hernias that needed to be taken care of. He is recovering and doing great and should go home tomorrow. Yeah God!

Playdates and Swimmers

Today we had a playdate and Abbie had a blast. Thanks to Beckie for having us over! She swam a lot and crawled all over the back patio playing. She got dirty and tried to eat rocks and grass. I did learn something about swimmers. They are used to hold, shall I say, poop and not pee. I did not know this new moms. I thought that by the magic of diapers, they somehow in the water would suck in the pee (but not pool water?) and keep a pool clean. Not so. Once the kid is out of the pool and on dry land, swimmers still don't hold pee. I have learned that as Abbie has crawled through the house leaving little marks behind her. New moms, don't depend on those swimmers to do all the dirty work, well, actually that is all they do!

Chick-fil-A

Tonight we had family night out at Chick-fil-A. When you buy a combo meal you get a free kid's meal on Tuesdays so I told Brian to do that so that Abbie would have something to eat plus this is her first kid's meal. She got the 4-pack nuggets and fries and she ate all the nuggets and a couple of fries. Now, she is 11 months old and put the chicken away. I was very impressed and wary of what our future holds. When we got ready to leave we pulled her high chair out and found tons of food on the floor. Make that 3 nuggets she ate.

A Beautiful Day

If you live here in Texas you know that summers are about as bearable as a skunk in your house but today was different. This morning it was cool and crisp so Abbie and I went to the park just after 7 (am that is!). We ate lunch outside on the backporch and then went downtown to the square and got ice cream then went across the street and ate on the grass under the trees. We strolled around in and out of the different little shops. By the way, our square is very nice and has come a long way. It was just a wonderful enjoyable day. I thank God that in the heat of the summer, a cool breeze was blowing to provide some relief. Huh, funny how life works that way too.

Selfishness

I think God puts each of us in different seasons to learn different things. Last year was not to gossip and effects of it. This past school year was learning to balance with a baby. And now? Selfishness. This is NOT something I prayed about but God is hammering it out in my life. I didn't realize how selfish I was until I had a kid. I would rather do "me" things instead of "her" things. I keep cooking or doing whatever with Abbie instead of getting up and greeting my husband when he comes home from work. I vacuum like my carpet is a rapidly growing weed that needs to be trimmed so that I can feel like my house is clean. I do little things that end up neglecting others. I watched a video from C3 with Erwin McManus as the speaker. He was speaking to church leaders but God used it to speak to my heart. In a nut shell: choose. Spirtual life comes down to choosing and everything branches off it. To choose or not? To turn to the left like the foolish or the right like the righteous. Everyday I have a choice. To live outside of myself or not. So, with another teaching, I am going to bust this rut! I am going to volunteer at church and begin to be uncomfortably comfortable. Baby steps of course. It is time for me to JUST DO SOMETHING and see what God leads me to do. After all, my purpose is to serve a living God and I can't set an example for Abbie if I am not doing myself. Ouch. That is big. When I stand before God, I want to know that he pleased with me and what I did. That I can say yes, I did something outside of myself. So, with this, my self is dying (a moment by moment battle). And you know what, it's ok. Because I am free to live in the spirit.

McDonald's

Today I met Beckie and her kiddos at McDonald's. Abbie has eaten the food but never been inside. It was a first. We managed to eat since it was so exciting to see everything. She loved watching all the kids play and they have a little area for little kids under 3. She played over there for a while too. When I would pick her up she would squirm and fuss to get back down. We were there for 1 1/2 hours. We got home and took a bath in the sink (ew! I tried to over look the germ infested area!) and then she began to fuss. She was already ready for a nap! She had only been up for 2 1/2 hours! Needless to say, we will go to McDonald's every day!! :)

Little Monkey

I have a little monkey. She loves to climb on everything. I always think of Reese when Abbie is climbing. She uses me to climb up on the chair to play. I just caught her climbing on top of the bucket with dog toys on her way up to the firplace. Yikes! She loves to be busy and check everything out. It is so neat to see what she finds interesting and how it can entertain her for a couple of minutes such as banging on the dryer and hearing the echoing sound. What a fun age!

Father's Day

We are celebrating our first Father's Day and it has turned out to be nice. Brian's parent, my parents, Abbie, and I bought Brian an X-Box 360 for Father's Day. He is in love! I don't think he expected it. We went out last night as a family to Mi Cocina in Las Colinas. We sat outside and it was just a wonderful pleasant evening and we had a great time out. Today we went out with my parents to Pei Wei, one of Brian's favorites as well as my dads.
This year for our father's I made a book for them written by Abbie. I took them to Kinko's and had them print them out and bind them. They are very cute. On top of it, pictures of Abbie and Starbucks gift cards. You can't go wrong there.
Hope all you other dads are having a fab day! Enjoy.

Losing Track

Being home I am certainly losing track of time. I can't believe I have been out for 3 weeks and I wonder: What I have done? It seems like laundry is never caught up, house gets messy and needs straightening, errands to run, baby to look after and play with. I am seeing another side to stay at home moms and kudos to you especially since most of you have more than 1 kiddo. I love every minute of being home and doing these things. I will greatly miss playing with her during the day and running errands and having anything I want for lunch. I still have projects to work on around the house and lots more time with Abbie. On the agenda this week: begin planning her 1st birthday party.

Tender Moment

Today I sat down on the kitchen floor with Abbie and we ate animal crackers together. It was a thought of, Wow, I always have wanted to do this. Not necessarily with the dogs too, drooling on me as well. But it was a moment of bonding and just plain coolness that I was grateful that my little one knows how to eat solid food. I think I ate more than her though.

Flooring

We are FINALLY getting new floors. I am so excited. As much fun as my white linoleum with country blue and mauve hearts is, it is time to say good-bye! I have noticed it is so ugly that no one sells it. Must have been on close out when they bought it.
We are getting tile for sure. Maybe laminate floors. I think that will be way too expensive. But my husband is always telling me, When you sell you usually get 80% back. My repsonse, what if we don't? This a huge investment because I know it won't be cheap. We have waited over a year to do this though. When are they coming? I don't know. Hopefully the beginning of July!

Conference

This Saturday I am speaking at a conference and I am beginning to get a bit nervous about it. I will be speaking to girls going into and who are in college and how to fit God in college life. I am discussing schedules, friends, dating, tithing, goal setting, expectations, and such. I think it will be fun but again, nervous about it.
A friend I work with is an ordained minister and her husband and her travel and speak. She is putting the conference together and I casually mentioned being a break-out seminar speaker. And here I am now! I think it will be fun. I do miss speaking and teaching and interacting that way. This may just be what I need to refuel the passion and calling God had spoken over me so long ago. I look forward to what God is going to do. So if you get a chance, pray for God to work in the lives of these young youth and college girls. That they will be open to hear truth, that truth is spoken, that the devil will not have a foothold, and that this generation of believers will rise up and be strong leaders for generations to come. May God do amazing things in the heart of His children!

Play Date

Today is Abbie's first official play date. I have a friend coming with her three daughters (and another girl on the way!) Her girls are 2,1, and 8 months! Should be intersting. In fact, the two oldest are about to have birthdays! I am going to cook lunch for everyone. Hope I have enough food. I think Abbie will enjoy playing with other kids. She loves to look at kids. Hope she enjoys them being in her house playing with her toys! I have a few toys I am going to put away. I have done a lot of reading out of my Parents magazine about playdates. Let's see if any of their advice works. For those who live around here (Robin), I am ready to get together with you and your kiddos. I am also ready for Becky to get back (who is traveling Italy for 10 days) to play.

Questions

Ok Moms. I need some help. I have questions that need to be answered. Here we go.
1) When do you take away the pacifier?
2) What time should they REALLY go to bed? When they are tired? Make them even if they aren't ready?
3) When do you get them to 1 nap a day?
4) When do you drop the bottle?

How did you do these things? I want to make sure she's not 3 with a pacifier in her mouth and waving her bottle in her hand still on formula :)

Little Coughs

Abbie woke up a bit congested this morning and it has continued through the day. We gave her some Pediacare and that is breaking it up but her poor cough sounds so gross and painful. Needless to say, we did not go to church because she is not herself and parents and workers would give us the dirty eye after we dropped her off. Going to sleep though worries me because I am afraid something will happen to her during the night. Is this normal as a mom to think that way and be afraid? I prayed for God to attend to my little girl and to keep her in his care and for me to have peace about it. After all, what can I do? Is there a time as a mom (and dad) that you don't worry about something. Whether it be near or in the future? Oy! Speaking of coughs, I hear her now. Poor baby. I hope we both get some sleep tonight.

Swimming

Today I took Abbie swimming for the first time and I really think she liked it. She enjoyed sitting in her froggy and kicking her feet. We played in the baby pool and the big pool a bit. She tried drinking the water and was successful until she choked on it. She's ok. Enjoy the pictures of her first swim day.