Sorry, one more story, then I'm off

So, every night, or close to it, we have devotions and pray. We read the bible..sometimes mine, sometimes the little one and then we pray on the couch together. So, I've been teaching him the Lord's Prayer and how to pray. One thing that I've been encouraging him is to tell God who He is and not just ask for things..sooo, longer story even longer, I ask Skye if he wants to pray or if he wants me to..as I don't want to force him into doing this. Sometimes he says, "pray whatever you want for me momma" and sometimes he has specifics and tonight he was going to pray..and here it is:

"Um, God, you know the bad guys? Well, please find them and then with your gun just go ahead and kill them, but if they say "no" to you, then just kill them with your gun so they will die."

Hmm..perhaps we've watched the StarWars movie and INdy Jones too close together? Eh-hem.. hence a conversation about peace and God being all knowing came about. We also talked about the resurrection story. So, perhaps tomorrow night we will not have such gory prayers, altho I really didn't freak out in front of Skye, as it's great that he's sharing..just not so warm fuzzy, evening-prayer-type feelings...

Chase Ray Doing Chores

So, I'm wondering here, um..who is suppose to get to this laundry?
Is the detergent in here?
Stopping for a smile!
Maybe the detergent is in here?

closet

Everything in our closet including the shelves, fell out of the wall and onto the floor. Alan asked me if I did it on purpose to get new closets..cuz I've been bugging him for a long time to custom do both closets.
I heard this very loud ripping/tearing/crashing noise and went in to find it..ugh..big mess.
I'm really ,really, grateful (beyond words) that the kids weren't in there playing, as they often do..so I spent a couple hours today researching, as we want to put the best thing possible in there. Seems like a lot of money to spend on shelves..and the deal is that I am good at this kind of stuff..or should I say, I like doing it, but my time right now is taken up with wrestling, wiping, disciplining, reading and playing and so I just wish I could send the kids to a safe place for 3 days..either that or separate myself and be 2 places at once. I know that I could design and do a totally cool system..but time is a factor and ALL our clothes and bins are in a pile in the bed..so no sleepy on that bed until we get some closets in there..eek.
O.k. off to bed. I actually stayed up late tonight..I've been going to bed really early the last 2 weeks..joined the 6am club..can't quite do the 5am..yet..plus Chase has been out of sorts, so we're a bit off schedule..oh well..don't mind cuz he won't be this little forever..oh Chase Ray!

Pics from our trip

I'm back

Hey. I'm back. A couple things stand out in my mind. The large golden gate bridge. The amount of traffic all over that city all the time. The harsh winds most of the time. The harsh downtown environment...lots and lots of transients..the architecture is amazing...the streets are super steep. The bay is not calm like San Diego..Some houses there are just too big..like so many..It was very, very good to see my dear friend Laura (we've been friends now for 28 years! At first I felt a little nervous and then I thought to myself.."if there was something that bothered her about me, she could have ditched me 28 years ago"..perhaps that's why she lives away from me!!) Alcatraz took my breath away..Chase doesn't like hotels..momma likes sleep...I didn't bring enough underwear..Alan and I need to work on communicating better..Redwood trees are really, really tall.

I'll post more later. Had a few 'ah hah" moments in my quiet times (which only happened a few times, but better than not) which I'll share later..I'm literally falling apart at the seams.

So I'm reading..get ready

for conviction!!
I started "Shopping For Time" and I just love it. This book is so encouraging. What I need is a good kick sometimes and some gentle nudging. One of the things I tried implementing today was the get up early and prepare for my household. It was very overwhelming to think about, as I still have a little one who wakes in the night sometimes. Well, Alan and I enjoyed last night's quiet a bit too long and went to bed at 11. I then set the alarm for 6 and woke up when it went off. The tricky part was that the baby (who is cutting teeth and they look terribly painful) was up at 12, 1, 2:21 and then just before 6. At the 12, Alan took him and then I did the others and I did let him cry a bit at the 6, just so I could get up. By 4pm this afternoon I hit a wall..I just don't know how to do a day without rest. I don't get much done if I don't stay up late, but I need to find a balance. But what I was going to say was that I got up and came out here to the couch and started to pray for people. It wasn't long before I was woken up by Skye at 6:40..so I'm not sure how long my prayer time lasted. But the rest of the morning went so well. The boys even played together in their room for 40 minutes..DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CAN GET DONE IN 40 MINUTES? So, I did get the bathroom partially cleaned and 2 loads of laundry done. I just felt so blessed by God that I just tried, even tho I was really wasted.
Another thing I read, besides my book, was Psalm 25 and I thought it was so worth typing (actually the 20's are so good, but this one spoke to me):

"To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul
in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame
nor let my enemies triumph over me
No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse

Show me your ways O Lord
teach me your paths
guide me in your truth and teach me
for you are my God, my Saviour
and my hope is in you all day long

Remember O Lord, your great mercy and love
for they are from of old
Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways
according to your love, remember me
for you are good....O Lord~!"


What I love about the first part is that it says that He will not let those who hate us triumph over us and that we WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME if our hope is in Him. For us in the spiritual battle and physical at times..in our complex and ministering to those around us..that's real encouragement.

And then the last part about showing me His ways..I love that cuz it's so like me to try and find the way on my own.

We're off to San Francisco in the morning and we'll be back late Saturday night. I'll take a million pictures I'm sure.

A few years ago in Charlotte, NC

It's hard to imagine this picture without seeing the 'rest' of the bunch...Juli and I have added 2 more to our groups. Skye and Julianna love each other and he was trying to grab her hand for the picture. This is out in front of Juli's church, CrossWay.
I originally went for John's 40th bday (Juli's husband) At the party..Doug Freas, Todd Humphreys and Rob Shedore..playing the "can you name that tune" from the '80's. John's bro James did this game and it was fantastic..some ofus sang along and wanted to get up and dance..

Visiting Molly in South Charlotte, which is where I used to live. This is Molly's middle one, Jeremiah..and this is my old house!! As you can see....I created a lush landscape..we planted most of those trees and had to add about 600 pounds of peet moss and soil, to mix and work with the hard clay. When I came back to see it doing this great..it was a really good thing. Too bad nothing was blooming! All plants you can see were our original plantings..we relaly took time and effort and planning before planting..it was blessed. The only difference is that I had a different color..really bold blue shutters and door..

Great day to journal..only read if you want the real me!

So Jen came over today and swam in the late morning. She had her niece and her eldest son, Dillon. I was really having a hard time with some emotional things in my life. I just have felt like I don't measure up as a friend and sometimes I talk with people and they don't ask me questions back and they just really don't seem to care on the level that I care..then I start thinking.."am I talking about something so weird or off that they can't wait for me to stop talking so they can change topics?" I just try and not play that game in my head and when the conversation starts to do that or someone starts to do that to me, I now just politely excuse myself, instead of giving in to it. AT some level I think it comes from being young and talking a lot and not knowing how to process this very imaginative brain of mine and I just wasn't taught how to process complex emotions. You're sad Lisa? Cry for a moment, wipe your tears and get on with life (that's more from my dad than my mom) You're angry Lisa? Well, don't be angry, cuz it's a sin. So, now that I've had some of these feelings raging inside of me, I used to just take it out on the other person, try and talk my way through it (which made me into a really great friend, I'm sure!) or just be this "insecure" sinful little creature and feel sorry for myself. I didn't tap into journaling, venting to God (let your requests be made know to God and the peace of God which transcends all...) or telling God stuff that made me feel this way or that..so what I ended up with is trying to get my worth and my "good Lisa feelings" from others.
I still really struggle with this, but I have learned that just because I'm feeling a little hormonal, irritated, frustrated..I can say it out loud and it helps me. "I'm tempted to be really angry right now with that comment" or so on... O.k. so I'm leaving out major portions of stuff in this, but hopefully this is encouraging and you get the gist.
I'm better (altho Alan will tell you that sometimes I just shout out stuff and we all stop and look at me while I gather my uncontrolled self and figure it out and come back to the 'table'!) and all this to say that today was a good day. I was feeling really lonely earlier int he week..like I had given to folks and not got a lot back and then realized it was MomSpace (my women's bbstudy) and just knew I couldn't go..like I'd be tempted to look around for someone to confirm/affirm/validate my feelings.. and that's just what they were..feelings.. I really wasn't allowing the holy spirit to help me keep captive on my thoughts, rein in those sinful thoughts..all those verses come to mind..I was just "sewing" to them. So I didn't go and instead Jen came swimming and we just talked heart to heart..not like we uncovered a bunch of heavy and tremendous stuff, but it was so good to not have my guard up and just tell her where I was at and I knew she would listen and tell me where she was at..and not try and pretend or talk like she was somewhere she wasn't with God (I just LOVE that about her) .
Our kids played well together, Alan came home to start his vacation and he was here with Chase and I just got to play with Skye and swim. And the villagers weren't out at the pool today, so we pretty much had it to ourselves.. and we got to eat McDonald's egg mcmuffin sandwiches..oh--and I got to sip on coffee and a little Baileys while I was swimming...WHAT??? That is THE NEW bon-bon ladies and gentlemen...a little egg mcmuffin, a little McDonalds coffee and "cream"!

Oh, and another great thing that happened today..I got "Shopping for Time" and "Disciplines For Life..steps to spiritual strength" one by Mrs. Mahaney and one by Mr. Thank you Lord for the way they write and encourage me.

On the campaign trail

It's getting a little heated over here. I've just finished composing, printing and stapling about 100 little packets for our HOA campaign. Alan was out last night in meetings for it, is out tonight going door to door talking with folks and asking if they have concerns and then Thursday night is the big meeting. Would you pray for protection, that no one would lose their cool enough to call the cops, and that Alan would win, hands down (if God wants us to do this another year) and have eloquence of speech? We have a lot that the other members have done to provoke us towards anger and we desperately do not want to give in.
We chose this little candy to give out to folks on purpose..LifeSaver..that's what we are doing here...trying to overwhelm them with the power of the true LIFE SAVER. Thanks in advance, FOR YOUR PRAYERS.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Going out to lunch with a couple families..chaos!!!

Chase Ray Gets Dedicated on Mother's Day

Here's our pastor on the left; Sorry for the terrible picture quality. It wasn't my photo taking and my camera, I think, is going bad..anyways, you an sort of see. The sweetest thing was that Skye was down in the audience for a previous MOther's Day handing out flowers, event, and then when they started this, he raced across the whole church, ran up the steps and then across the stage to me. That was the best thing about my Mother's Day.


Goofy boys. Eating lunch afterwards.

New Hair Cut and waxed eyes and lips..phew!

Unlike my friend Reba, I did not cut my own hair! Hee! So, here's my new do. It's a lot shorter than I asked the lady for, but you know hairstylists and their scissor hands sometimes. I like it better than my long, which took about an hour to do...I've been blessed with a lot of hair. It's one of my many attributes. Eh-hem. And I'm still hanging on to my color, which I thought would change or go away after pregnancy/delivery! She was totally trying to get me to add highlites--are you kidding me lady? I'm already so high maintenance!!

A good story and so true! Cry, cry!

The true story begins,"We are sitting at lunch when my daughter says, casually, "Do you think I should have a baby?" "It will change your life," I say, keeping my tone neutral. "I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."
But that's not what I meant at all. I want her to know that becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable. I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, what if that had been my child?That every plane crash, every fire will haunt her.

I think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moment's hesitation.

I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine. That a five-year-old boy's desire to go to the men's room, rather than the women's, at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.

My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who changes the baby and who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again, for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice, and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat
of nuclear war to my children's future.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real, it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reach across the table, squeeze her hand, and offer a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal women who stumble into this most wonderful of callings. This blessed gift from God...of being a mother."

First photos of my new niece Felicity Ann!!

Miracles

Tonight in our community group/growth group/cell group/care group...whatever you call it in your neck of the woods, we were talking about miracles. What is a miracle? What do you think of as a miracle? Here were some of the responses:

everyday random acts of organization..like when your day goes great and you weren't thinking or knowing it could
divine intervention
radical acts of kindness on behalf of God..birth of a baby, job promo
creation
situational acts..like when you're stranded and some random person walks or drives up and fixes your problem

Think about it!

Miracles

More cinco pics

"momma!! please come" Oh my! What was I doing that I didn't notice one wander into the bathroom. Skye was using the bathroom and the greatest compliment is if you are in there with him..
The next one is tired momma after the party.
The third one is the kids jumping off the ledge while we were waiting for our table to be called at Casa De Picos. It was so much fun. We had six families meet for dinner.
Here's Aubrey jumping off the ledge! Isn't that so cute!? She is the eldest daughter of one of my growth group lady's.

It was a crazy night. Chase is so good in situations like that. So calm. Piercy was BOUNDING off the walls!

Clarification

Just thought that I should clarify after that last post. I am really, really wrestling with what a good parent is. Spanking, discipline, corrective punishment, consequences. What I am learning most is that I can't listen to others much. I really, really want to just listen to my dear friends and what they say. I really, really just want to do what my parents did (well, sometimes not, but you get what I'm getting at). I really, really want to read a good book and mark it all up and type up all those good things they say and then FOLLOW IT TO THE 'T'.
But that's not how God created it. It's good that I listen to others and heed their advice...but I MUST be careful. I'm not going into the whole thing on "if it's good for you, then that's good, but I'm not going to judge you, you just do whatever makes you feel good"...but rather processing that really, I must read and hear from God. I must be careful who I listen to.
I have really had to come to terms with the fact that discipline is NOT all punishment. Discipline is a HUGE word that encompasses one simple thought: how do I convey the heart of God through training my kid; how do I tell and show my kid God's love for him in such a way that he will want it more than he wants sin.
Oh, pray that I'll keep wrestling with this and actually go to God for answers.

Anti Spanking Law, pls. pray

Here is a bill that is near and dear to my heart as we believe in spanking our children. All I can think of is that this is getting too close for comfort for those who actually want to discipline their children according to scripture. Even at church yesterday,they were suggesting that it's not wrong to NOT spank, saying that it isn't the only form of discipline. I need a good reminder sometimes on creative parenting, that is, parenting without punishment being the first thing that I do, but I just think that omitting those pieces of scripture that specifically say, "spare the rod and spoil the child" and others, is wrong. I also feel like this bill passed would give the government and media and the outside world cause to be in charge of my child's discipline. I'm driven to anger. I want justice now. I need a heart of love and peace... and even tho this is legislature, the verse still applies, "it's your kindness that leads us to repentance oh Lord."

I'll let you know what they decided, but it's still not too late to pray. I think at times I'm very overwhelmed with how much the "outside" world (the world outside of my safe zone, my home, church etc..) imposes on our family. O.k. enough of my thoughts, must go to prayer. Thanks.


4/29/2008 2:48:43 PM
Home School Legal Defense Association
California: Anti-spanking Bill to be Heard in Committee
======================================================================
From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
======================================================================


California: Anti-spanking Bill to be Heard in Committee

JOINT LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - April 29, 2008
From: Roy Hanson's Child and Family Protection Association and HSLDA

***** ***** ***** *****
Bill: AB 2943 - Spanking Prohibition
Author: Assembly Member Sally Lieber

Position: Strongly Opposed

Status: To be heard in Assembly Appropriations Committee April 30,
2008.
***** ***** ***** *****

AB 2943 is identical to the final version of Lieber's AB 755, which
was defeated in January. AB 2943 would have had the practical effect
of making criminals out of loving parents who spank with an implement
(i.e. inanimate object, such as a small paddle or ruler) in
California. The result could be jail time for parents and temporary
or permanent loss of their children.

Before AB 2943 (Lieber - D) can become law, it will have to get
majority votes by the:
(1) Assembly Appropriations Committee
(2) Assembly Floor Vote (entire Assembly)
(3) Senate Policy Committee(s)
(4) Senate Appropriations Committee
(5) Senate Floor Vote (entire Senate)
(6) Governor signs the bill

Happy Birthday Indy Skye

This is a teeny video of after Skye blew out the candles...sorry so short.

Snakes Alive, Skye's Five!

Hi to all! Skye has turned 5! Here are some brief photos of the day. He decorated his cake with a "bug pit" and snakes. My cousin and aunti came and helped me decorate and one of my bbsitters Courtney came to help with the flow too. We had an INdiana Jones party, minus all the gory details of INdiana Jones. We just decorated jungle/adventure style, golden balloons and even a huge blowup crocidile. There were snakes and gummy snakes and candy frog legs and cockroaches and black crepe paper decorations with earth tone plates and stuff. We ended up having 22 kids in all! Plus about 18 adults or so. Phew. Skye received so many wonderful presents. We had a crate/explosives pinata filled with candy, snakes and such and balloons. Cousin Krissy and Aunti Ann made it! Once the kids cracked it open, there was so much candy going everywhere Skye said last night, "momma, I liked the part where it was raining candy from the Skye on my head!"




Daddy is sleeping and I'm just sitting. I have this bandaid on my head because now I think I can walk so I lunge into things and sort of don't make it.

The next pic was after the party, that night. We ordered Little Ceasars Pizza for all and it was really fun hanging out around the table. My cousin Rachel brought her 4 kids and so we all played and had chaos until about 9.

The last picture is Skye asleep in the massage chair and he's wearing the little tshirts I made for all the kids and his thumb is suspended out of his mouth. He climbed up in that chair and fell right asleep within 10 minutes. He had the best party of his life.

Ideas

O.k. one more quick blog and then I'm off to bed.

Question? What to do for 'brother's' 1st bday party..what to do... For Skye's we went to Balboa park, grilled fajitas, did a big shindig. But they are literally a month apart. Hmm. Sat. morning I'm having a 40 person party for Skye's 5th bday. "Snakes Alive, Indy Skye is turning 5". I can't invite all the same folks, right? And it will be a little different cuz Skye has a million more friends than Chase..

Please give advice. Party themes..suggestions? Random thoughts? thanks.

Random Thursday (that's not even a catchy title..eh-hem)

This is a little better shot than the video. Notice the gun taped to the side and the wallet wedged.








Chase sleeping..Had to get a shot of those little feet..oh my.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat...or palm casing

Oh man..I feel like I can't keep up with this little one and the creativity. He went downstairs to find that our palm tree had dropped this treasure. He then got tape, a big wrapping paper tube, his gun, his wallet with "lotta monies momma" and of course the bathing suit is on. The original outfit has been shed hours ago in hopes that he will get to go swimming or clean the patio. How can time stand still and someone do my housework for me so I can just watch and be with him...

Sex Joke...note: THIS IS A SEX JOKE..

Three women: one engaged, one married, and one a mistress, are chatting about their relationships and decided to amaze their men. That night all three will wear black leather bras, stiletto heels and a mask over their eyes.

After a few days they meet up for lunch.

The engaged woman: The other night when my boyfriend came over he found me with a black leather bodice, tall stilettos and a mask. He saw me and said, "You are the woman of my life. I love you." Then we made love all night long.

The mistress: Me too! The other night I met my lover at his office and I was wearing the leather bodice, heels, mask over my eyes and a raincoat. When I opened the raincoat he didn't say a word, but we had wild sex all night.

The married woman: I sent the kids to stay at my mother's house for the night. When my husband came home, I was wearing the leather bodice, black stockings, stilettos, and a mask over my eyes.

As soon as he came in the door and saw me he said,

"What's for dinner, Batman?"