Tonight...

Ethan (while Em was in the shower): "Mommy, me take baaaaaaaaaath."
Me: "No buddy, you just took a bath a couple of hours ago."
Ethan: "Mommy, my feet dirty."
Me: "Your feet are clean buddy, you just took a bath."
Ethan: "Uh-uh, my feet not clean, my feet dirty. Reawy dirty, reawy."

I'm in the scrapbook room/ office/ "Angie's Garage" as Nick likes to call it because I stash anything and everything in here that I don't feel like putting away, and I may have done the same thing in the garage once... just once. Really though, in my own defense, it's hot out there. And the floor, although painted and speckled a nice garage floor appropriate color, is dusty. I don't always want to go get shoes and put them on to walk over to the cabinets and put such said item in it's place. This has only happened once. Reawy.

Ok... back to tonight, sitting at the computer in what I'll call the middle room... Emily is reading to Ethan and I can hear them. She's reading about Elma sn Ethan points to the book and says "Look Em, that Zoe, Elmo's friend!" Emily keeps reading as if she didn't hear him and interruptions don't bother her a bit... "EM! Looooooook, that Zooooooooeeeeee, Elmo's FRIEND." Emily kindly responds "Ahem... Ethan, I'm reading to you and you're interrupting me. It's rude to interrupt. If you want me to keep reading you need to stop talking. Do you want me to keep reading?"
I don't know where she ever would have heard that.

Ok... I had just hit published this post and put Ethan to bed. He came out of his room a couple seconds later. "Mommy, me go potty." He does the potty thing and I take him back in his room to put his diaper (he still wears one just at night), and pants back on and instead of lying on his back, he lies on his tummy, closes his eyes and says "Me wuv you." I giggled and told him that I needed to put his diaper and pants on. He says "Oh crap." and rolls over. Um, I just had a talk with my almost three year old about using the word crap. Maybe I need to have a talk with myself, I know it came out of my mouth at least once this morning as I realized that I'd forgotten about five things as we were walking out the door. I'll be watching that.

Happy Thursday!
A

This Little Piggy

Tonight on the way home from dropping my dad off after dinner (at about 7:40), Ethan was whining saying that his toes and legs hurt. This is something that he's started saying whenever he gets really tired and I think that he may have that antsy feeling that you can get in your feet and legs when you're ready for bed (I know it happens to me). He'd been saying "My toe hurt" for about 15 minutes and we kept saying "We know you're tired buddy, just close your eyes." All of the sudden he held his foot in the air and pointed to one of his toes saying "This toe take a break. This toe (pointing to another) hurt now." One good round of laughter is enough to make the toes stop hurting just long enough to fall fast asleep!

Happy Tuesday!
A

Curve balls

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball that changes your plans, your outlook, and hopefully your attitude.

Friday, July 18, we were thrown a curve ball when Nick was part of cut-backs at work and we were forced to look at other employment opportunities. We were shocked and a little bit scared at first because we had never been in this position before and it wasn't something that we had anticipated.

Nick has been home for nine weeks now, and we have learned so many things from this experience...
We have learned that there are things in life that you will be afraid to do because of circumstances (like a slowing economy), but God has bigger plans and isn't afraid to speed up the process!
We have learned that trusting in God's promise brings an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort.
We have learned that an emergency fund that covers 3-6 months or more of living expenses may seem like a lot of savings, but we are so thankful that we have that and weren't stressing about finances on top of finding a job. Having the savings in place enabled Nick to accept the position that is right for him/us and we didn't just settle for a paycheck.
We have learned to take a look at what we spend and plan to be a little more aware of the things that we buy. A friend and I were talking about how easy it is to walk into Target for tortillas and walk out with $200 worth of stuff.
We have learned that we are all affected by things that "won't happen to us." It's so easy to think that something won't happen because of position, education, qualifications, etc., but when it comes down to it, nobody is immune.
We have learned how scary a position like this can be and we have a new respect for the trials that others are going through. Even the "little" things can seem so huge when you're in the middle of them and that anything can be somebodies "mountain".

We were given a huge lesson in perspective through this. On July 19, my friend Kirsten lost her dad Scott. He was an incredible man and he lived a life that was sold out for Christ. Their family has been a part of my life since I can remember, as they have been going to the same church as us for over 20 years and I can't remember a time that they weren't around. Scott and his wife Betty have been friends with my mom and Pat for years and have had an enormous impact on their lives, which has also impacted me. At the same time, sweet Zach was in ICU fighting for his life after a major heart surgery. Amy called me to tell me of Scott's passing and told me that Zach was also not doing well and I got off the phone and just cried and cried. I was filled with sadness for the loss of a great man, sadness and fear for Ray, Amy, Bella and Zach, and I was filled with gratitude because even though Nick had lost his job, it was something that we could handle. A job was so small in comparison to what our sweet friends were going through and very quickly an uncomfortable situation became a blessing.

About a month ago, I attended a conference through my church and Lysa TerKeurst was the speaker. She told a story of a seed that was the perfect analogy to what we have gone through, and I felt that God was speaking directly to me through Lysa.
She told the story of a seed that lives in it's little seed packet, happy with it's surroundings. One day the farmer reaches in and picks out one seed... that one little seed that was content where he was and didn't really want to change his circumstances. The seed didn't ask for this change, and wasn't entirely comfortable with what was happening. Then the seed was planted... plunged into the dirt, surrounded by darkness, and it just seemed to be at a complete low. Looking to the farmer, asking "why me?" and questioning the farmer's plans. Over the course of time, the seed was watered and fed and given the opportunity to grow, but still was questioning the farmer's plan. One day, the seed looked around and realized that it was coming into the light and that it had turned into a flower that had that most brilliant bloom. The flower then realized that even though it wasn't clear during the process, the farmer's plan was perfect for that one little seed. That seed was never meant to live forever in it's little packet, it was meant for so much more. The same goes for us... sometimes God takes us from a situation that we are all too comfortable in and we go through some yucky things, but His plan is perfect for us. In order to become what He has planned for us, we have to go through change and trial and we have to be given the opportunity to grow. I was greatly touched by this story and I have been reminding myself of this over and over as I look back and see Gods moving in this situation long before Nick lost his job.

I am happy to say that Nick was offered a fantastic position at a great company and he has accepted! This position will provide great growth opportunities for Nick and it will be a challenge for him as well, which is great and is something that he is super excited about!

Thank you to our family and friends that have been through this with us, and that have been so supportive through prayer and conversation. We have had many family meetings and are so thankful and appreciative for the great advice that we have received, for both business and personal considerations! We love you guys!

Please pray for us as Nick begins his new job and faces some of the expected challenges. Please pray for Ethan, as I'm sure he will go through Daddy withdrawals.

If you've stuck with me this long, thanks... you deserve a prize! Have a fantastic day, I'm off to paint Emily's room!

Happy Monday!
A

Restaurant Lingo

We had a super yummy dinner at Texas Roadhouse tonight. I ordered my sweet potato "loaded"... no, the calories in the peanuts and butter covered rolls are not enough for my liking. I need the butter, brown sugar and marshmallows to drown out any vegetable flavor that may be hiding in the sweet potato.
They bring our food... I dig in to my potato before anything else and take a big ol' bite.

It's not a sweet potato.

I show the kind little waitress my potato. "That is not a sweet potato. They just pimped out a regular potato instead of a sweet potato."

"Pimp out" your regular baked potatoes with butter, sour cream, chives, cheese, chili, brocolli, anything your little heart desires, but please, don't try brown sugar and marshmallows.

Take my word for it.
Please.

Happy Thursday!
A

7 years

My prayers today are with those affected by 9/11.
To those who lost their lives or were injured, to those who lost a loved one, and to those who selflessly gave of themselves to the suffering, we will never forget you.
To those who are serving to protect the priceless freedom that we are so blessed to have, and to their families, we can never thank you enough. You are true heroes.

Welcome Fall!

Right.

The forecast for this morning went exactly like this "We're a bit cooler at the beginning of the week with a high of 98."

I don't even have to light my pumpkin candle... it melts all on it's own!

Enjoy the Fall that I hear is going on all over the rest of the country, I'm still working on my tan here!

Happy Wednesday!
A

Happy Friday

The other day when Ethan and I went to pick Em up from school, we saw a lady walking a duck... on a leash. Ethan was a little surprised and looked up at me, pointing to the duck. "That duck walking her? Hmm." Then went about his business drinking juice and playing with the Thomas he had brought along.

I get a daily devotional from Proverbs 31 Ministries. There are days that I feel that the devotions are written specifically for me, especially today, as this verse was at the head of the page...
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)

Have a wonderful weekend!
Happy Friday!
A