2 year Check UP

Ran and I took the girls for their 2 year check up(yes, we are off about 6 mos) today. Emma was so pittiful, she cried and cried everytime anyone even acted like they were going to touch her. She would say, "Mommy, you do it!" It was so hard for me not to jerk her up and run out of there. It was definitely one of those hard mommy momments. Times when you have to do what you know is best for them, even though it is hurting you as much emotionally as it is hurting them physically. (And God says..."I know exactly how you feel") Abigail was her typical self these days...the big girl, fearless(or at least acting like it) Watching her sit there like a big girl brought tears to my eyes. I cannot believe that she is this big. It seems like yesterday I was having to protect her and handle her with such care b/c she was so small. My how times have changed. They both received an outstanding review. Dr. Hamilton said they were right on track for their age...a little skinny(SURPRISE) but nothing to be concerned about.--Emma was a whopping 26 1/2 pounds and Abigail was 25 1/2, I know it feels like a bigger difference than that. They both did exceptionally well with the shot. I explained to them before hand what was going to happen, and how it would feel like the ants that bite them at Mimi's house. It must have helped b/c neither of them really cried. They even hugged Ms. Casey before we left. They both got suckers for being brave, and Abigail got a slushie for not crying at all. I hope that will encourage Emma to do better next time. I am just so thankful that they have been healthy and are growing and developing on schedule. I really don't think we THINK about what a gift that really is, we just expect it. Days like today make me want to grab hold of them and never let go, and it REALLY makes me not want to go to work tomorrow--but I b/c I do, I praise God that I am only 3 miles down the road.

Still counting down the days to our beach trip, we ALL desperately need some time off!

Thank you Lord for my family! Help me to be a positive example for them. Touch each mother reading this and bless her and her children. Give them peace when everything feels chaotic, give them strength when they feel like they can't do anymore, and rest when they grow weary.

Grow Where You Are Planted

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[b]faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:1-8


I was just sitting here with Ran watching the Olympics when these thoughts started racing through my mind. I mentioned them to him, but he was too engrossed by the television to have an indepth conversation, so I decided to blog my thoughts. Have you ever thought about the impact your are having on those around you. I mean, do you consider yourself a full time missionary? Because we all are. We are all called according to HIS purpose and where you are RIGHT now is exactly where you are meant to be in this moment, and the people that you know, work with, see throughout the day are YOUR mission field. They aren't just random people that somehow found their way into your day. I work with a guy who is moving in a few months to serve as a full time missionary. He is so excited; and I am so amazed at his resolve and dedication to the Lord. He speaks frequently of how he longs to be there and how he is simply "going through the motions" until he leaves. In the past, these words have troubled me, but tonight it has just fell on me like a ton of bricks...you bloom where you are planted. God didn't say, just hang out and do the best you can with what you have until you feel as though you have reached the place you are needed most....NO! He said we all have different gifts that should be used to glorify him, DAILY. Your job title is irrelavant. Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, teacher, babysitter, lawyer, doctor, missionary, mailman, gas station attendant, we are ALL called to minister to each other. We should be walking in the Spirit every moment of every day; looking through the eyes of Christ at each other. Longing for just a moment to glorify God and provide grace, mercy, peace, love, hope, charity to any and all who might need it. We, the Body of Christ, must work together for his kingdom to move forward; everyone doing "their part". For you are called for your purpose. I cannot complete it for you; there are people that you can reach that I cannot. Oh, how I pray that God will find me doing "my part" in the here and now. Never do I want him to find me sitting on the sidelines of life b/c I am longing to be elsewhere. Everyday during our moment of silence, I pray, "Lord, make me an instrument that you can use." Tomorrow, I think I will change it to. "Lord, use this instrument that you have created to glorify you today."

Back to School

As most of you have probably already figured out, we are back in school mode full swing. Things have been rather crazy this past week with me back in school and teaching 4 preps...yes let us say that once again FOUR different classes, the girls have been battling cold/allergy stuff and Ran's job kept him away from home every day and night. We are just glad to still be standing at this point. Hopefully, things will be calming down now and we can get back into a routine and some type of normalcy. Here are just a few quick bits about our comings and mostly goings.

*Ran and I went to a Jeremy Camp concert in Huntsville...Totally Awesome...Rick Burgess spoke. He has such a powerful message, definitely someone you should work into your schedule if he is ever near you.
*Girls went back to see Dr. Aric--Abigail was such a big girl, again, no big deal. But Emma was DRAMA QUEEN! She totally lost control of herself, you would think that he was killing her. Thank you Lord that we only have to go 1 time each month
*I got a perm---which I think makes me look like Madonna did in her Like a Virgin video---it is awful. Don't really know what happened b/c the last time this girl gave me one, it looked like naturally curly hair. Don't know what I am going to do to get it fixed????Suggestions?
*School started back and I still don't have a room =(! BUT I am not complaining....I am still much happier than before and so thankful to be 3 mins from the girls.
*Still struggling to have a complete diagnosis of my medical problems. If any of you have plans of seeing a GI specialist in H'ville please let me know so I can make sure you don't end up with the same one I did--I will spare you the details. Praying for a good dr. and the answer to my symptoms
*Abigail got a new ballerina costume--which she cries to wear and cries when I make her take it off. The other day she wanted to pee thru it instead of taking it off. When I made her take it off anyway, she laid down in the kitchen floor and peed in the floor--yes, she got a spanking for that--She is such a priss pot. She dances around and says--I princess mommy! And yes, I did buy Emma one too, but she only wore it for 1 min before it was hurting her and we had to take it off--she would rather be naked than play dress up. Really don't know how she will handle Halloween, maybe I should let her go as a nudist????

Keep checking back with me, I will try to get some of my other posts finished and posted this week. Then, maybe I will be able to get back on track.