Sunday Delights

Well, I missed last week's edition; sorry about that. Here we go for 12/28/08:

1. Christmas (favorite holiday)
2. exposing my boys to the entire Star Wars saga (they got the originals for Christmas, and loved them!)
3. Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring The Rockettes (amazing show - especially the Christmas story)
4. after Christmas sales (2 pairs of pants, baby!)
5. a wonderful weekend away with friends and no kids (thanks guys who went, and thanks grandparents for watching the kids!)

Now, come up with 5 things/events that are blessings/delights in your life. I encourage to write them in the comment section, but as long as you at least think about them, I guess that will be ok, too.

Yay for Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas folks!!! Ours was wonderful and I hope yours was too!

Today, RC and I and some friends are off to The City to see The Rockettes and have some kid free fun!

But first I must tell you my sad sad story. On Tuesday we were about thirty minutes into our trek home from Chicken Town and I realized I had left one of our suitcases. I left the suit case with my phone charger and my MAKEUP!

Heavens.

Because we are going to The City today and Chicken Town is on the way to The City I decided I could wait to get it today rather than turning around and adding and hour to our trip. However, living two and a half days without makeup and one and a half days without my phone has been hard.

No one will look at me and no one will talk to me.

Poor, poor me.

Thank you for your pity.

Bridget

Words just will not come

It's a silly title because now that I'm actually typing, the words will probably come quite abundantly and I'll end up typing way more than you care to read.

Oh well.

Folks, it's Christmastime. I love Christmastime. And you would think that because of all the added activity that comes with Christmastime I would have some lovely and funny little antidotes to share with everyone.

But you'd be wrong.

Very wrong.

I got nothin. All I can think to tell you about is what we are about to do. And really that's not very interesting because we haven't done it yet and therefore there is nothing really to share.

However...I'm going to tell you about it anyway.

Today when RC gets home from work we are loading up and heading out to Grandpa Darryll's farm. This is the one time a year we go to Grandpa Darryll's farm and it is fun. We eat good food, play Dirty Santa, laugh, and just all around enjoy the company.

Then, RC and I will leave Grandpa Darryll's farm a little earlier than the other's to come home and have a kid free dinner with Chris and Heather. They are making us salmon! Yummy!

Tomorrow we will go to church then head to Chicken Town for our Christmas Celebration with my mom's side of the family. I grew up in the same town as all the cousins on my mom's side. They are somewhat like extra siblings to me. It's always fun and always loud.

Then RC will come home Sunday night because he has to work on Monday. The kids and I are staying in Chicken Town so we can go to The City on Monday and have a Christmas get together with Mema and Granddad Jim. Mema had knee surgery last month and then turned 70 this month. Big year for her. And I got a great deal on her Christmas present and can't wait to give it to her.

Then the kids and I are considering staying in The City till my friend, Sara, gets home from work so we can drop by and see her. However, now that I'm thinking about it I'm kinda starting to question my sanity in thinking I could 'shop' while we wait when I have a 3yr old who won't have taken a nap. We'll see.

Then on Tuesday the kiddos and I will head home so that we can spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day right here in our wonderful little home. I am so looking forward to it.

Well, now that you know all of my plans I'm sure you feel so much more complete.

You're welcome.

Bridget

Imported "Sounds"

So, with the help of Blogger's new export/import function, I've been able to import some of my old posts from Sounds From the Batcave. If, for whatever reason, you feel so inclined, I have labeled them "R.C." We now have labels in the side bar, and you will notice that Bridget is WAAAAAAY ahead, so I'll have to tie her up or hide her computer for a few months while I catch up. Sounds From the Batcave is being renovated into a music heavy blog, while I distribute my other thoughts among a few other blogs. Look for a new one soon. Thanks for following my wife's blog, and hopefully you can tolerate my stuff.

Be encouraged.

R.C.

All the Madness

Hello all!

We have been busy!!!

Last week we helped a friend out by staying at her place with her Tuesday thru Friday. We would go over in the morning and hang out till around 3:00. We just took our schoolwork with us, but had to put alot of things on hold due to not being at our house.

Then, Friday night RC and the boys went to see Prince Caspian at our church's building. Our church bought and renovated the downtown Movie Theatre and now once a month we host a family movie night. Admission is free so it's a real treat for everyone.

Then on Saturday we had an adults only Christmas party to go to so the kiddos hung out with Solomon. He's in 8th grade, the middle of five children, and so very sweet. The kids had a great time and so did the parent's. At the party we played two games and the winner of each was given a prize. They paired up the couples for the games and RC and I WON BOTH GAMES!!! I'm not even kidding! It was a really fun night filled with lots of laughter. I am already looking forward to next year's party.

Then Sunday night was our church's Christmas dinner. It was held at the Community Center and was very nice. One thing I love about our church is how we have been able to build relationships with many people outside of Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights so when we do things like a Christmas Dinner it is very comfortable and enjoyable. I do so love our church family.

So, suffice it to say, I was very happy when Monday got here and we had nothing but the usual planned!!! While RC was at band practice the kids and I decorated a gingerbread house. Bear did some of the video recording and it is pretty funny so I'll work on getting it edited and on here. Until then you will have to be satisfied with a little video of the kids after the decorating is done.

This video is courtesy of my parents who decided to get us a Samsung digital camcorder for Christmas AND give it to us early so we could actually use it during the holidays. Thanks mom and dad! We love you!

Bridget

Sunday Delights

I'm still chugging along with these, even if you don't participate. It helps me to remember some blessings that I may otherwise take for granted.

R.C.'s Sunday Delights for 12/14/08

1. Christmas parties without the kids (thanks, Soloman, for watching the crew)
2. winning all the games at said Christmas party (Bridge and I rock!)
3. cold weather in winter (we live in SW OK - it just feels more like Christmas when it's cold)
4. finding a great deal while Christmas shopping (uh, yeah!)
5. celebrating the season with family and friends (by far my favorite holiday)

Your turn! Name 5 things/events/people/whatever that give you Sunday Delights. Didn't your mama ever tell you to count your blessings?

Playing Star Wars

So, I come home yesterday, and Popeye immediately greets me by grabbing my hand and saying, "I need you to come play with me." I tell him to give me a few minutes and that I'd be in there to play with him. After settling in, I finally go into the boys' room where Popeye is eagerly awaiting my arrival. He has some Star Wars Legos, and that is the game we will play. I get to be the clone trooper first (the good guy) while he is the droid (bad guy).

As I sit down (where he has placed me, I might add) he asks, "Dad, do you know how to play Star Wars Legos?" After chuckling, I assure him that I do, and play commences. We take turns blowing each other's heads off and other things, but I am constantly being corrected with how to play. I have to die after one shot. I can make my clone trooper good but not silly (in other words, stop talking for him). I have to scream properly as he falls off the desk. No flips or hiding. After a couple of minutes and several frustrations Popeye finally asks, "Dad, are you sure you know how to play Star Wars?"

(nope, not anymore, buddy)

R.C.

Sunday Delights

Seriously, you can post late on Sunday or early Monday, I just encourage you post some Sunday Delights of your own. Thanks for your support.

R.C.'s Sunday Delights for 12/07/08

1. watching movies with my children
2. making music with Bridge
3. Christmas gatherings with good friends
4. checking e-mail on my new phone
5. being blessed by our parents

"Where's OK?"

Me (at the free showing of Prince Caspian at the Old Altus Plaza Theater to 5-yr old Popeye): "Can you see ok?"

Popeye (after quickly looking around): "Where's ok?"

(Right here next to you, Popeye, right here next to you.)

R.C.

Cirque Du Soleil

One of the many advantages to homeschooling is the ability to take advantage of opportunities that happen to be in the middle of the week.

Like...

Free tickets to the Cirque Du Soleil production of Saltimbanco for a Wednesday night in The City two hours away.

It was so cool!!!

Hubs got eight tickets from work and since he gets up at 4:15 am every morning and has to be to work before 6:00 am he decided it wouldn't be a good idea for him to go. So, I asked my mom, dad, and littlest sister if they had any plans for Wednesday night and they said "We will SO BE THERE!"

Wednesday afternoon, the kids and I left for Chicken Town (my hometown which is only thirty minutes from The City and not really named Chicken Town (wink - Marianne)) to pick up my mother, then drove to The City where we met my sister at a cheer gym (my sister's and I have all cheered for the owner at some point over the last 15 yrs.) so we would only have to pay to park two cars instead of three and then headed downtown to meet up with dad who was already in The City for business.

WOW - that was a crazy long sentence.

We ate at Chilenos - yummy - and then walked to the Ford Center for the show.

It was SO STINKIN AMAZING!!!

Like blow your mind amazing and now hubs is sad he didn't go. So, you should totally do what he did and go visit youtube to get an idea of the wonderment that was Wednesday night for us and then start asking God for free tickets cause them bad boys are espensive. And - yes - I know I didn't spell expensive right. It's because I wanted you to hear it how I was saying it.

Enjoy!

Bridget

Gamut and Grace

Yes, I got out my dictionary and looked up how to spell gamut. And I was right. =)

Last night, after visiting McNana to celebrate her 82nd birthday, I decided to give the big boys a break and let them take their shower first. Usually, the little ones shower first while the big ones pick up the bedrooms. This works nicely for me because I have to help the little ones shower and I don't have to help the big ones clean.

But last night I decided I would help the little ones pick up while the big ones showered and then help the little ones shower.

Nice Mama.

The picking up was going ok, a little..really a lot... of prodding and VERY specific directions as to what to pick up and where to put it and we were making some progress.

Until...

I was straightening the books on the bookshelf and Popeye's bowling pin...

...fell on my head.

I'm not kidding. Hit me right on the left side of my forehead. There's a knot and everything.

Instantly I was mad.

And as I continued to pick up I just got madder.

First, all mothers know how kids pick up. It is why we mothers have to occasionally pick up their rooms ourselves. They rarely put things where the are supposed to go. This started to really tick me off as I found stuff under the bed, the trashcan overflowing, and clothes not put away.

Then I heard all the ruckus coming from the bathroom and realized the big ones had been in there much longer than they are supposed to be and I got madder.

So, I opened the bathroom door, yelled: get out, NOW!, and headed to the kitchen to wash some dishes.

Passing through the living room and seeing the toys everywhere I fumed about how tired I was of always having things to pick up around the house. Things that weren't even mine!

In the kitchen I noticed hubs sitting in the batcave playing with his new phone and I had to shut the door so I didn't have to witness his obvious betrayal of not helping me.

Then I started washing the dishes and the Holy Spirit started whispering into my heart.

"You know that bowling pin shouldn't have been on top of those shelves. Would you rather it have fallen on one of the kids?"

"No, Of course not. If it had to hit someone on the head I'm glad it was me."

"You know that being in the shower too long isn't something that warrants you yelling like that. They were laughing and having fun. Would you rather them hate each other and wear scowls all day?"

"No, of course not. It is a blessing how much they love each other."

"You know that the only other option to a messy house filled with children is a clean one without them. I know you don't want to make that trade."

"NEVER."

"And you know that you should have been washing dishes and picking up the house earlier, but you chose to play on your new phone instead. Your husband did his work when he was supposed too and now is getting the chance to rest and enjoy his new phone. I know you don't want to be the nagging wife that only takes and never gives."

"NEVER."

By the time I finished washing the dishes I was at peace once again. And so very appreciative of my family and of my God.

Last night my emotions ran the gamut and God's grace met me where I was.

Bridget

Trim the House

About two weeks ago I mentioned to my MIL how I thought it would look good to put trim around the opening between my living and dining rooms.

She agreed.

And this past Friday she (and my FIL) came home with trim for just that.

Can I get a WAHOO?!?

I was so excited that I painted it immediately and then kept bugging my FIL to put it up for me.

So, at 9:30 Friday night, my FIL, hubs, and hubs brother-in-law put up my beautiful new trim. And it was everything I thought it would be.

Before. The little bit that is painted white was done in preparation for the trim. It had been blue like the rest of the walls. I just can't seem to remember to take a 'before' picture until I have already started to process. But you get the idea.

TA-DA!!!

Isn't it beautiful?

I sure think so. And the pictures really can't do it justice. The difference it makes is so huge that when our good friends came over for dinner Sunday night it only took them standing there for 5 minutes looking directly at it and then me finally pointing it out for them to notice.

I'm half kidding.

Seriously, I have found myself sitting in my office chair and looking at it for long periods of time since Friday. I just love it!

Thanks Ronny(FIL) and Susan(MIL)!!! You're the BEST!

Bridget

p.s. If you happen to click on the pics and notice some smudges on the trim, that is the caulk that has since been painted over. No more smudges.

I Need Africa

No, I have never been to Africa.

No, I don't know anyone personally that has ever told me of their travels to Africa.

But, I still need Africa.




Don't we all?

Bridget

Sunday Delights

R.C.'s Sunday Delights:

1. Thanksgiving dinners (at least 2 of them)
2. a day off with the wife from kids (thanks Grandma and Granddad)
3. cooler weather
4. a day off from work during the week
5. preaching

Feel The Love

It's Thanksgiving!!!

Well...not actually today...but this week!

We have three Thanksgiving dinners planned. But hubs and I will only be at two of them.=) That means that on Saturday, the rents-in-law are totally taking the kids and leaving me and hubs home alone most of the day! Yippee!!!!

However, before Saturday gets here we will be participating in dinner's with my mom's side and my dad's side. The dinner with my mom's side is on Wednesday. RC has to work on Wednesday. So we won't be able to get there until 6:00 pm or later.

Except...

My Aunt Abby (mom's biggest sister) called this past weekend and offered to meet us half way today so the the kids and I can be there all day tomorrow.

I'm totally feeling the love.

And I am totally aware that I have left out some details about why it is necessary for her to meet us half way, like the fact that we are spending the night in my hometown Wednesday, driving to my parent's hometown on Thursday and then driving back home. This is alot of driving since there is at least two hours between each stop and there is absolutely no need for us to do all this driving with two cars. Hence, RC driving us half way today, and then coming home to work, and driving all the way tomorrow evening.

I know, it still doesn't really make sense.

But, still, they are willing to make the extra effort to work with us so that we can be there earlier and get to spend more time with them.

I am totally feeling the love.

And did I mention that my sister is home from graduate school? I am stoked!!!

Bridget

Not Me Monday

www.mycharmingkids.net

1. I did not put my Christmas tree and decorations up on Friday because I just couldn't wait any longer.

2. I did not try to rearrange practically every room in my best friend's house while I was visiting.

3. I did not fall in love all over again with her children and now miss everyone and really wish we lived closer.

4. I did not rearrange my curtains and home decor... again.

Bridget

Sunday Delights for 11/23/08

R.C.'s Sunday Delights:

1. Sooners 65, Red Raiders 21
2. Saturday morning chat with my 3 year old daughter at 9:30 - in bed
3. the open possibilities of new frontiers
4. my wife's femininity - (she doesn't have the desire to be "one of the boys" and belch or pass gas purposefully with others around) - thank you Bridget, for being a lady
5. discovering our Sprint contracts were up in June instead of December like we thought

Now, it's your turn. If you read last week's Sunday Delights, you'll notice the stark lack of comments - even from my wife. Surely, some of you have something that delights you. Don't you?

Hi, Honey...I'm home!

So, it's literally been a week. So very sorry.

On Tuesday Bear, Princess, and I left our wonderful little town and drove five hours to Waco, TX. We stayed with my best friend Marianne and her kids till Thursday. Marianne's husband is currently at the Dallas Police Academy and is only able to come home on the weekends. They are having to wait on the sale of their house before Marianne and the kids can join him in Dallas.

Please pray for the sale of their house. It has been on the market for three months now with no bites. Any of you with kids can understand how hard it is to be a single parent. Marianne and Matt have three kids and to make it even harder, their middle child is special needs.

It was a great visit. And we even got to go to Hobby Lobby and Target. I haven't been to Target in over a year now. Man, I miss that store. Just going and walking around it without buying anything makes me happy.

R.C., Bobo, and Popeye stayed here. The boys went to work with R.C. and their Granddad. They got to talk on air and got some Candy Cane Cash tickets at the eye doctor's. Then, the next morning that is all they were talking about. (Candy Cane Cash Tickets are given out by local businesses when you purchase something and then on December 14th there is a drawing for different cash prizes with the biggest one being $10,000.00) After about an hour of Candy Cane Cash talk I finally stepped in and made it clear that if they did win it would all go into their college fund anyway. Then, I remembered that kids can't win it anyway, you must be 18 or older and I really busted their bubble.

I know, mean mama.

I just couldn't take anymore. The chances of winning are ridiculous, anyway.

However, I will so be there... just in case.=)

It's good to be home.

Bridget

Sunday Delights

Every Sunday, I shall try to contribute to this family blog with my Sunday Delights. I encourage you to find 5 things that delight you and post them every Sunday, as well. Please comment or link back to here with your own post. Thanks, and be encouraged.

R.C.'s Sunday Delights for 11/16/08

1. Hearing my sons destroy the evil Sith with their lightsabers and knowledge of the Force (very biblical, in fact)
2. Being with church throughout the week
3. Sleeping in
4. Stealing a glance with my wife after the kids do or say something funny
5. Being allowed to post to this blog!

Before and After

Here are the before and after pics from when I redecorated Princess' room. I am rather embarrassed to post the before pics. I honestly don't know what I was thinking. One half of the room was teal for Princess and the other half was orange for Popeye. I didn't think to take before pics until I had already taken everything off the walls and moved all the furniture into the middle of the room.

This is what you see right as you walk into her room. These red lockers where in RC's room when he was younger. A good friend of mine made the bear in the middle with scraps from Princess' nursery fabric. The walls are a very soft yellow.

RC bought this loveseat at a garage sale before I even knew him. My MIL and I recovered it when we sewed all of Princess' nursery stuff.

Princess' bowling pin and elephants.

These pictures are posted here. I love them!

We registered for this canopy for Princess' baby shower. I was so happy that someone bought it for us. She loves her princess bed. I love these curtains. There are actually four different fabrics in them. My MIL sewed them and then I added the buttons.

We needed four curtains for Princess' nursery. This room only needs two so we were able to use the other two for closet doors.

I was so happy to use Princess' nursery stuff. When I picked it out I made sure to get something that didn't feel like a baby, though it did have to be pink. After three boys I wanted me some pink!

We have beautiful hardwood floors throughout our house so we bought Princess a new white hairy rug for her room. I didn't think to take a picture of it. Sorry.

Princess takes everyone by the hand and shows them her room when they get here. I'm glad she loves it and I pray that through it she feels my love for her.

Bridget

Hickory Dickory Dock

SEVEN mice ran up the clock.

Yes, folks, that is how many mice we have caught since coming home Sunday to find mice running around our kitchen.

I have the heeby geebies just typing this.

And, NO, we DO NOT catch and release. The kids have been very enthralled with the 'cute' little mice and check the traps for us regularly.

UHGGG

Please, Lord, let this be all of them.

Bridget

Oh, and check out RC's blog.

One Thing I Was Made For

note: I know that is not proper English, but that is how the questioned was asked: What's one thing God has made you for?

My wife.

My destiny is accomplished in serving her destiny and the destinies of my children.

25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body. 31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. - Ephesians 5:25-33 (NLT)

The cleansing of the woman comes from the death of the man. That sentence is in my notes from the men's retreat. What really does that mean? Well, the husband is to love his wife like Christ loves the church. Christ loved the church so much, he gave his life for it. I am to die for my wife as well. Daily. Put aside my own feelings and comfort and serve my wife's purpose and destiny. Christ was (and is) so deeply in love with the church (his people - not any building) that it cost him his life - a great expense. Another note from my um, notes: deeply in love at my expense. My wife needs to know that I love her and that I would do anything for her. I'd fight for her and die for her. I've got to live for her. I think of the Bryan Adams song, "(Every Thing I Do) I Do It For You".

Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church. This is an all out, unselfish, fully committed, undying, unconditional love. He loved the church so much he died for her. He sacrificed for her. So, how do I sacrifice for my wife? The best way to do this is to ask her. "Babe (or Honey, Sweetheart, Pookie, Wife, Woman, Love of my life, Dear, Baby, Sweet potato pie, or any other affectionate name you have for your wife), how can I serve you? How can I help you to be the woman/mother/wife you want to be - that God has designed you to be?" This may take actually talking to your wife. Once she recovers from falling over, you may have to spend some time in prayer with her. Look out, because all this could lead to her fulfilling the scriptures that are written before the above passage:

21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. - Ephesians 5:21-24 (NLT)

It starts with the husband. The church didn't submit to Christ first. Christ loved the church and gave himself for her first, then the church's response to that is to submit to him. It's a whole lot easier for a wife to submit to a husband she knows loves her more than anything and seeks to serve her above himself. Now, our fleshly side says that it would be easier to love a wife that's more willing to submit to her husband, but that's not how it works. We love Christ because because he first loved us. The church isn't easy to love, either, you know. She can be short-memoried, ungrateful, selfish, nagging, whining, disloyal, and down right rejecting at times, but Christ loves her. We must take our cue from him.

Listen, you start talking and praying with your wife, doing the dishes without being asked, giving her time alone away from the kids, taking out the trash without being asked, picking up your dirty clothes, and other non-selfish things, then you will find a woman more than willing to submit to you. Reminds me of an episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" when Ray was vacuuming some drapes and Debra walks up behind him and says, "You have never been more attractive to me."

In attempting to do this, I have discovered just how selfish I have been around the house. I have found that I pout a lot if I don't really get what I want. I dare say that you will, too. But, pouting is not the way of a son of God. A son of God is loving, generous, and unselfish. Pouting does not fit that description.

Wow. Well. What was going to be a simple little post has turned into a 30 minute lecture on husbands and wives. I started this thing back on Oct. 31st. Oh, well. Bridget, I love you, and God has made me for you. Husbands, you were made for your wife. Let her know that. Be encouraged.

Soli Deo Gloria

Bridget's Blessings

This should really be titled Beth's Blessings because this is not an original idea. But now that I think about it, none of Bridget's Blessings are original. I have learned them all through other people.

Here's what we'll do: we will all understand that these are blessings that I have received and am now sharing with others. Like the last line in Desert Song says "The seed I receive I will sow".

Life Lesson #3

Forsake Ambition For Affection

I have been doing the Bible study titled Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore (yes, I do alot of her studies) and that is where God first introduced me to this idea. Beth's encouragement for us was to learn from the man that really believed - KNEW - that Jesus loved him and in the confidence of that knowledge chose to forsake ambition for the higher calling of love. Her focus is mostly on forsaking doing great things for God in favor of being loved by God and loving God back.

Beth never said or even implied that we shouldn't strive for anything. That we shouldn't set goals or learn or try. She did pose this question though: "If I am never used by God in a way that I deem significant, can I still believe that I am loved like the apple of His eye?" Interesting.

This is not a post to encourage or enable people to sit on their butts and do nothing. God has a purpose for us and we need to be about doing it. What this post is about is coming out from under all the self-imposed or world-imposed or, heaven forbid, church-imposed things we feel we need to achieve and finding the freedom in realizing it is not about us or what we do. It is about Jesus and what He did. And to really, truly fall in love with our God, the Creator of the Universe, that first loved us and sent His son to die our death. And out of that love to love others, even in the small ways that seem insignificant. And, I am suspecting, to find at the end of our lives that we did exactly what we were purposed to do.

The apostle John, when in his old age and unable to do much, would repeatedly remind his disciples to 'love one another'. After hearing this time and time again, the disciples asked John why he kept telling them this. His response is liberating:

"Because Christ commands it, and if it alone is done it is enough."

Bridget

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 22:36-39

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 1 John 3:11

Not Me Monday

It's late, but it's still officially Monday. To better understand what's going on visit http://www.mycharmingkids.net

1. I did not sit in front of my computer for three hours this morning looking at ThePioneerWoman.com.

2. I did not 'borrow' my in-laws dining table for an outdoor dinner with friends while they were out of town.

3. I also did not 'borrow' my in-laws fall decorations, candlesticks, and sconces for the outdoor dinner.

4. And I most certainly did not find four mice in my house yesterday. YUCK. I think we're gonna have to take Nana up on her cat.

Bridget

A Little Pick Me Up

I'm gonna be honest.

I'm a little down today.

This was my third presidential election to vote in and the first one where the party I voted for didn't win. (I know that gives away who I voted for. I don't care.)

So, I decided to do what I am sure most people do when they are a little down...

I am painting my daughter's bedroom.

That's what you would do, right?

Anywho...

When we first moved into our house Popeye and Princess shared a room and Bobo and Bear shared a room. Around our October birthdays we decided it was time to move Popeye in with the boys and have things split by gender. This means that Princess gets her own room and the three boys get to share a room. No one seems to mind and everything fits.

Now I have to redecorate Princess's room because that's what you do when things change. Just in case you didn't know.

I took before pics and I'll take after pics and post them later in the week.

I'm almost done with the first coat of color after already painting two coats of primer. I'm hoping that one coat of color will be enough, but it's not looking promising. Got to get back.

Bridget

Our Election Day

These are pics of how the kids and I spent our afternoon. We didn't get History & Geography done today because I couldn't make them come in from outside. They were playing so well and they reminded me of when I would play outside at my Mema and Granddad's house. My grandparent's had a huge tree in their back yard that had branches that draped toward the ground (what kind of a tree was that, Mema?) and I would pretend that under the branches was my own little world.

Good memories.

And for some crazy reason I was totally set on taking a ridiculous picture of myself with the 'I VOTED' sticker. So there you go.

Bridget

VOTE!

Get out and VOTE!

TODAY!

and check this out (preferably before you go vote)

Bridget

Halloween

Bobo was the Red Power Ranger, Bear was Iron Man, Popeye was the White Power Ranger, and Princess was SuperGirl.

We first went to see Winnie, a.k.a Altus Nana, and then we went to the Fall Festival at Southside Baptist Church with four other families. The church had lots of games and was very generous with the candy. It was alot of fun for the kids and Bobo won the costume contest for the 3rd and 4th grade division. (He was the only 3rd or 4th grader there)

Then we went to the house of one of the families and the kids played while the adults visited. It really made the evening fun to get to enjoy it with such good friends.

Unfortunately, the batteries went dead in my camera so I didn't get any good shots at the Festival. Here are the kids in the front yard before we left.

Bridget

I Like My Sleep

When I was a kid I would ask my mom if I could go take a nap.

When I was in highschool I always tried to get 8hrs of sleep and was sure that if I didn't I would be just completely exhausted the next day.

Also in highschool, on our youth spring break trip to the beach, I was given the "SLOTH" award because of my pension to not only sleep late in the morning, but to take a nap in the afternoon, and go to bed early at night.

So really, it should come as no surprise that the Saturday night each year we get to fall back and gain a whole hour for sleep just thrills me.

THRILLS ME.

I am starting to think that I can honestly say this is my favorite night of the whole year.

And because it is my favorite night of the whole year it would only stand to reason that the fateful night every year when we spring forward has to be my least favorite night of the whole year. I mean, seriously, what are they thinking taking away a whole hour of our sleep?

I know there has been some talk of just doing away completely with the time change. While this would remedy my least favorite night problem, I actually like the marked difference in day light that the time change creates. It just wouldn't feel right to eat Thanksgiving dinner while the sun was still up. Or Christmas dinner.

And it is rather fun to see who makes it to church early or late depending on the change each year. It has occasionally been us.

All this to say, I am so looking forward to my extra hour of sleep this weekend. Hope you are too!

Bridget

PS. my friend April helped me figure out how to do stirke through typing. Unfortunately, this blogger in draft thing either doesn't have or has hidden spell check and I can't figure out how to add a video. Sorry for misspelled words and not that I was going to post a video on this one, but you know, for future reference any help would be appreciated.

I'm in a bloggy mood

My husband wrote a poem.

I sure do love him.

Bridget

Are we seeing this in our day?

“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.”

Alexander Tyler 1787

This is long but VERY informative. It shows the probable future consequences that could come from this election.

Bridget

NKOTB

This post is dedicated to Molly Beth.

Last weekend my SIL went to the New Kids On The Block concert in Dallas. From what I've heard, she loved it and is already asking for tickets to the next one. Molly was, no IS, a HUGE NKOTB fan. Bed spread, posters, t-shirts. I've actually seem some of it when I helped clean out her old closet.

And she is a MEGAHUGE Joey (Joe?) fan.

She has seen him on Broadway and has the picture with him to prove it.

I, however, was not as cool as Molly. My mother limited my exposure to the pop radio station and so I was never quite as in the loop as my friends. Also, most of my NKOTB memories are from 5th grade and I was pretty sure I would some day do gymnastics or cheerleading on some sort of professional level so that took up alot of my time. =)

But when it came up in discussion, I had a crush on Jon. I know, I know. I think I felt sorry for him being in the shadow of Jordan. (I seriously couldn't remember Jordan's name for a few minutes. I was starting to type "his brother" when it came to me)

I ran across this recap of the Houston concert and laughed out loud.

Molly, if you want to give us a recap of your concert experience we would love to hear it, you journalism major you.

Love you, sister.

Bridget

And just FYI, Molly and I will both be turning 30 in 2009!

And this is so unrelated, but how do you put a line through a word? I've seen people do it on other blogs and haven't figured it out. I would have totally loved to mark through was and type is but I had to be all not cool and put a comma with no IS instead. Help a girl, please.

Birthday Party

For Popeye and Princess's birthday party we went bowling! This first pic is of the whole group minus adults. The bowling pins in the middle of the table are something this bowling alley gives the birthday 'child' so their friends can sign it and they can always remember their birthday. Princess has been sleeping with hers. TamTam and Nana got to come to the party! A pic with Nana.

Princess bowling. Did you think she would use anything other than a pink ball?!?

For some reason I really like this picture of my boys.

Our sweet friend "V". Lovely as always and a kindred spirit for Princess because she has four older brothers. =)

Popeye and Daddy.

Mom and Dad with the birthday kids. Popeye got some big Hulk hands that make crashing noises when you hit things with them. Could any present be more perfect? Princess and her new necklace. Beautiful. They guys checking something out. I think it's a power ranger. TamTam reading Popeye his card.

Not sure why I put this one in there. A better picture of the chaos that was opening presents?

I love this scarf so much that I have decided it is not going to be a 'dress up' scarf but a real life, wear all the time, look so cute everywhere scarf.

Princess Belle doll. Also sleeping with her.

So very excited. Our friend "N". A great talker and so cute!

Waiting his turn. Guarding his ball.

Great shot of Bear. Bobo was too busy being a 'big' kid so I didn't get a good pic of him alone.

It was a great party. I broke my own rule of no parties on Sunday's because I value my nap more than a party, but my mom and nana were able to come and we kept it pretty short and sweet so we all got to go home and take a nap after. A great day!

Bridget

Baby Boy's 5th Birthday!

Today is Popeye's 5th birthday. That's right, folks. Two birthdays in a row. Popeye got a baby sister for his second birthday.

Daddy brought donuts this morning and Popeye and Daddy are out renting a movie for us to watch tonight. I am pretty sure they are getting the Hulk.=)

Baby boy, you are so precious. Your sweet spirit, generous heart, and wonderful giggle bless me so.

I love you bunches and I'm so glad God gave me you!

You're my favorite Popeye!

Mom

Baby Girl's 3rd Birthday!

Three years ago today at 7:06am God gave me a beautiful baby girl. Her name means "Who is like God?" and I believe that God was shouting "There is none like Me!" when He made her.

You rock my world, Baby Girl!

I LOVE YOU!

Mommy

p.s. the flower in the picture is the rose that her Daddy bought her for her birthday. =)

Criticism

This post is not about my criticism of something or someone else. It is actually about someone criticizing me and how I am dealing with it.

Not well.

For starters, criticism is hard to deal with anyway you get it. The criticism I was given was by someone that I know wants the best for me and for our church family. It was not harsh or hateful. It was however given at a completely inappropriate time. And it caught me off guard.

And what was the most difficult part to deal with was that the two things I was being criticized for, I had felt lead by the Holy Spirit to do. But what this did was cause me to even more quickly and fervently run to my Father and ask Him to help me lay it at His feet. This was very hard and took some time. I didn't want to let go of it. And for a little while I wasn't supposed to.

I had a lesson to learn. I'm actually still learning it because this just happened yesterday and so I am still currently dealing with it, but I am beginning to see some light and to see some things clearly.

But the light and the clarity didn't come without a battle.

Our Enemy does not fight fair. Hear me clearly: He WILL kick you while you are down. He is an opportunist and uses every opportunity he gets. That is why God tells us to be AWARE.

My first reaction to receiving the criticism was to completely withdraw. I'll just not do anything because I obviously can't do it right. All this reaction does is try to self preserve and it in no way glorifies God. I knew it was not an option.

My next reaction was to just slink back a little. Fine. I'll just shut up and sit still. This however is just a lesser version of the first reaction. And as I continued to pray this through I realized that it too was not an option.

My decision in the midst of criticism is to keep going. I am going to learn from my mistakes. I am going to keep what God has told me to keep and I am going to let go of what God has told me to let go of. And I am going to KEEP GOING.

God has confirmed that I indeed was following His leading in my decisions. Maybe they were meant to bring light to some other things our group needs to deal with. No way to know except to let this all play out.

I still have the knot in my stomach and I am still having to fight to not constantly think about it. But my decision is made.

I WILL KEEP GOING.

You should too.

Bridget

Hello, Sunshine!

Praise the Lord! The sun is shining and the skies are clear today!

Three days of gray skies and rain did not for a happy Bridget make. It's obviously a very good thing that God does not have me living up north.

Does no sun affect anyone else this way?

I really want to know.

I have some serious outside time scheduled for today. As soon as baby girl wakes up we are heading out. Just to our front yard, but still, OUT! Bikes, scooters, sand boxes, basketballs.

Yippee!!

Thank you, Lord, for your sunshine today!

Bridget

Forget it, old people, no more TV for you in 2009.

value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/sHvYdduH4i5nXRdHvmWJVA">

A Family Poem

I have a little, 3 bedroom house

With a dog, a girl, 3 boys and a spouse.

We keep the dog outside

Where she likes to bark at all she can find.

But the dog is lame when it comes to sound

When compared with others that are around.

The girl likes to scream and giggle;

Oh, the sight when she starts to wriggle!

Music can really make her go,

And when she dances, she puts on a show!

The boys are older and far more advanced,

But still get grins when they start to dance.

And, oh, the symphony of noise

That comes from a girl and 3 boys!

It's quite a sound you can't ignore,

Even when you close the door.

But when it comes time for bed,

And I get to kiss each little head,

The joy of my family

Resounds throughout eternity!

At last, a word about my spouse:

She is the sweetest sound in all the house!

Throwing My Hat Into the Political Ring

I'm not as passionate about politics as some. I do strongly feel that we need to exercise our right to vote, but I usually delete political emails and bypass rants and raves.

However, due to our economic crisis I have been reading alot more articles and listening to alot more opinions and facts. This video tells alot but very quickly. You can do a google search and find all the info contained in it or just pause the video at the things you want to check out more.

I don't hate Obama. I don't think he is the antichrist. I do think that he was part of this economic problem and now he is blaming everyone else. That bugs me. But he's not the only one. And I don't think that John McCain is perfect. I just agree with him on more of the issues.

I must note that I did the Obama / McCain questionnaire here and agreed with McCain on 11 of the thirteen questions. Unfortunately, I agreed with Obama on the two economy questions. I obviously have alot to learn. side note: I took the questionnaire before reading about the reasons for our current economic problems. I'm still not sure that would have changed my answers, though, because you don't know who said what while you are answering. You just chose the statement you most agree with.

Any of you Obama supporters please don't hate me. I just don't want our nation to make this mistake again so we need to look into how it happened in the first place and deal with it.

Burning Down The House - What Caused Our Economic Crisis ?
Uploaded by Ibn-Khaldun

Our Weekend

We just got home from church and RC is on his way to McDonald's to get us some lunch. I thought that I would give you a little update about our weekend while I waited.

Thursday evening after work RC left with a friend to drive to Lake Thunderbird for our church's Men's Retreat. He was very excited and I was very excited for him.

The Men's Retreat went great from what I've been told. I help with the children's ministry on Sunday mornings so I don't hear the sermon till later and so I don't yet know what was said this morning. But God did give RC and Toby a song while at the retreat that they sang for us this morning during offering. It's great and I think we are going to add it to the worship set next week. Very cool.

The kids and I had a good weekend. The wife of RC's (and my) friend that rode with him to the retreat came over Friday night and we ate dinner together and stayed up talking till 1:30am. It was so much fun. Then the men got home Saturday afternoon.

I just thought of a lesson I'm learning and so I will post about that soon. I realize I haven't finished my five lessons. Sorry.

I'm gonna eat some lunch and then take a really great (and needed) nap!

Bridget

A Couple More

I forgot some. Enjoy. The whole gang.

Bridget

Pumpkin Patch Pictures!

I set the pictures on the smallest setting because I am posting quite a few. Just click on one to see it bigger. We had a great timeThis was after about 10 pictures. He was ready to be done. Popeye looks so old in this picture. Hard to believe he is almost 5.The shadows are pretty harsh in this one but his smile is great.

Bobo and Emma. Friends forever.

The humour of a ten yr. old.

I was trying to get a picture of his natural smile as opposed to his picture smile so I was making him do silly things like put antlers on his head. Silly picture but great smile.

The Bobo and Emma Express.

I didn't take the time to hide the sprinkler before taking the pictures and now I'm really regretting it.

I love this little outfit. The sweater is so cute and the little black ballet flats. I could eat her up.

This picture was completely by chance because the little stinker kept refusing to look at the camera.

Silly face. I love her little nose.

I love the colors in this picture. The blue sky, green tree, and orange car. Very cool.

The Babione boys.

My friend, Jenni, has some more pics of our day posted at her photography blog.

Bridget