our lily pad...

365 photos and other stuff

crazy busy back to school get out of holiday mode week...grandma alice, uncle carlos and cute cousin nyiah came to visit from COLD chi-town. everyone was in and out all week---but games of scrabble were the constant.  i think kai even whooped up on uncle carlos a couple of times.

i started back bible study this week. i had a gal in my class in bsf who used to say she was "gross" without bible study--um, that's me.  and how convicting to start off the new year in James chapter 3 which deals with the tongue--tiny little member of our body but can cause SO much damage.  and yet, can be used for good with a timely word of encouragement.  with the same mouth we "praise" God and yet "curse" others around us who are made in His image--OUCH!  made me so much more aware of my speech this week (especially in light of what the bible says that one day we will be judged for every careless word that comes out of our mouth).  *note* ok, i didn't say i necessarily changed my speech, but i am a work in progress.  in my heart, i want to use my words for kindness but dag gone it i just get caught up in me too much.  or is it really a heart problem since out of the mouth comes the overflow of the heart?  my heart can definitely use a Surgeon. oh, and ch-uuuhh-ch (as the old black deacons would call it) was SO incredibly good tonight too. but i have to marinade in it a little more.

and i think i need a support group for facebook--it has taken over my life.  it's been GREAT to connect with some old friends that i wondered, "whatever happened to..." but when poor kenny said to me, "you're on fb again?????" i felt a twinge of conviction....

pics from my 365 challenge...

{fuzzy wuzzy crocs--as they are known in our house.  i have them too.  they are yummy!}

{playdate twice this week with kenny's partner in crime}

{cousin!!!! i don't know who terrorized her more-bryce or queen.  we'll miss her hanging out with us}

{bathtime is so much more relaxing now}

{she will be eligible for the olympics in 2020}

{we've got one girly girl...}

{and one i'd rather pull my toenails out one by one before i go shopping...}

{and another who says just give me the ball, dude...}

five for five...

five days into the new year and i have taken a pic every day and put on make-up (woo hoo!)

we started back to school today (kind of painful for me, but the kiddies were actually excited-they even got up and did their chores first thing!)  over achiever kenny asked if she was going to get to do the really hard school work today (wh-what????)

and facebook is still rocking...i actually was able to get in touch with my bestest friend from 20 years ago (military brats tend to lose contact with each other moving around so much).  we talked for about two hours and still had so much in common after 20 years!  but i seriously have to put some parameters around the whole facebook thing--i am seriously neglecting my kids (what resolution was that to spend more time with them???).

i have to admit i kind of cheated on the bible verse this week since it has been in my wallet for about two years.  i am using a scripture plan that gives you little cards to place in a plastic wallet and carry it around with you...the only problem is that i have been carrying it around for the past two years and have not moved on to the next card.  

so i decided to go back and look up the original greek for some of the words and do a little word study.  here is what i found:

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

new--"kainos" meaning recently made, fresh, recent, unused, unworn.

creature--"ktisis" meaning the act of founding, establishing, building, etc.

old--"archaios" meaning that has been from the beginning, original, primal, old ancient

passed--"parerchomai" metaphorically meaning to pass away, perish

ok, all that and what did i get out of it....that i am unworn and fresh in Christ (need to keep that in mind especially when i feel haggard and tired and in mean mommy mode).  that my foundation is in Him and He is building me up (especially when i feel like, once again, i have mucked it up).  that all my old habits---those things that i keep bringing up and clinging to when i try to do things my way--all those things and guilts perished on the cross with my Jesus---i just need to continue to work out what He has worked into me.  i love word studies! new verse for week is up in the corner!

my pics from the past couple of days...

{our church...where we are fed and loved and love in return}

{we are in full braces season.  she got festive for the holiday season with the red and green bands}

{gotta the love the 'bucks. HUGE part of our weekly routine}

peace...love...and hair grease...

happy new year's day {resolutions}

happy, happy

it's that time of year again

to make promises that may or may not be kept

i usually fall off the band wagon right around, oh, january 3rd

but not this year!

i've challenged myself to stick to it (at least until january 4th)

but first, our new year's eve celebration has come a LONG way since before kids...

no more dressing up, the bed was calling my name (ok, the scrap room)

but the kiddies stayed up (except bryce who succumbed to the sleep fairy)

their 2009 gang signs....

ok, my girl, ali , challenged me to think of a word for 2009.  a word that i will mull over in my mind and marinate in.  the word that came to me was {connect}.  so here are my top ten new years feel guilty when i don't succeed probably won't make it til january 4th resolutions:

1. {connect} with my Lord. memorize 1 scripture verse a week.  i really hate paraphrasing scripture.  that plus the fact that i feel like an under achiever when i heard about a man who actually memorizes whole books of the Bible.  and then there is the conviction of His Word to love Him with all my heart, soul and might; to have His Word on my heart, to teach them diligently to my children and to talk of them (deuteronomy 6:5-7).  i can't give what i don't have...i'll even post the verse i am memorizing in the top corner in case someone want to memorize it with me (hint, hint)

2. {connect} my beliefs with my actions. focus on prayer life.  took a mini bible study on prayer (by kay arthur) last spring.  i know my prayer life is not what it should be.  so my goal is to focus and believe that the prayers of a righteous man can accomplish much (james 5:16)

3. {connect} literally with my camera. become a better photographer--maybe when mommy season is over, i will pursue this as a career. but until then i really want to challenge myself to understand camera mechanics, post photo processes and develop my "style".  

4. {connect} with my kiddos. spend more 1 on 1 time with kiddies.  man, they are developing their own personalities and styles.  i feel like sometimes i don't take the time (nonteaching time) to just get on their level.  bryant has been saying that we only have one shot to get this parenting thing right so i feel just a pull to really know them and understand the little people they are becoming. 

5. {connect} with the one body i have on earth. exercise is a choice and a way of life--it is not an option but a requirement...ok, i don't want to be on the cover of o magazine saying "how'd i let this happen".  i hate working out but i love the results so this year i am embracing working out (hint, hint opa....)

6. {connect} with less is more. i can't believe i am about to type this...so, my friend and slightly lighter sister challenged me by NOT buying any clothes for a year...i know, i know... the horror!  so {gasp} i am challenging myself--after going through my closets and realizing i need not a thing---to not buy clothes in 2009.  i want to treasure what i have and be on my guard against every form of greed and remember that not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions (luke 13:15).  use what i have and enjoy being creative with it.  

7. {connect} with my inner dress-up self. and this is just as silly, but it goes with #10--to wear make-up more.  i always want to (i mean, i have a drawer full of the stuff) but i usually just get rushed in the morning so the make-up thing just does not happen.  but if i am going to follow through on #10, i should at least look a little good. plus on my 30th birthday, i told myself, "self, you need to start wearing make-up more!"

8. {connect} deeper in the Word. begin studying for certificate in christian apologetics from biola (AGAIN)...nuf' said...slow and steady wins the race--good thing there is no time constraints!

9. {connect} with people i care about...i used to give mr. white a card every game he played.  kind of miss that so this year he is getting surprise noted just because he's kind of cute.  and every year i say that i will write one card a month and send it to my friends--nothing like a handwritten note. i am committed to actually following through this year.

10. {connect} with my blessed life. after seeing how quickly and unexpectantly our lives can change forever, i am committed to documenting more of our life--just so my family can know and i can, like mary, treasure all these things and ponder them in my heart (luke 2:19). i am challenging myself to take one picture a day.  nothing too big or small--just reflections of our life.   so along with that comes me giving up the control of the camera and let me be taken in pictures with my fam.  (i hate being in pics).  but i realized that i love taking pictures and rarely am i actually IN them...what a shame, that my fam has no pics of me hugging them...

ok, my secrets are out there now.  all my friends can now hold me accountable. 

my first pic of the picture a day challenge (don't worry i probably won't post these everyday--i can't, i'm on facebook too much...)

{why was there an exercise band tied to a jump rope on top of the step stool tied to the laundry chute--the things i will miss when they are grown and gone.}