Guess What?

Chicken butt. Yes, chicken BUTT. And who says that? Who teaches this catchy phrase to innocent 3 year olds??

The culprit:



The smell of fresh blueberry muffins baking in the oven fills the house as I grab V and kiss her face all over and she giggles. Such a beautiful picture right? That's when we hear it. "Guess what?" says Goofy. "What?" asks Mickey. "Chicken butt!" shouts Goofy as he laughs.

I think my jaw actually dropped a little, then I had to put my DVR to good use to rewind it and confirm what I thought I heard. And I heard correct. Really? Playhouse Disney?? Whose target audience is children ages 2-5 years old. Thanks guys. Much appreciated.

Accomplishments, Skills, Talents??

So Frankie and I joined a small group through our church. Last Wednesday was our first week, and we seriously met some awesome couples. We had a yummy chicken tortilla soup dinner, with some crazy good mango salsa (yes, I had to mention the food cause it was THAT good) and just spent the 2 hours getting to know one another. Each couple had to share either how they met, how he proposed, or a funny story about the honeymoon. So that was interesting.

Now, tonight, we have to come prepared to tell about 2 accomplishments, skills/ talents, or something interesting about ourselves. Then 1 fictional yet believable one. And the rest of the group has to distinguish the 2 truths from the fiction. Should be fun right? Ya, I thought so too.... until I started making my mental list to choose which ones I would talk about...

SKILLS:
- I can change diapers like nobody's business.
- I can braid hair on a head that never stops moving... not once.
- I can navigate through pitch black darkness at 2AM and not run into a single thing.
- I can time the insertion of squash into a tiny mouth at the exact interval needed to avoid any spraying, smearing, or launching off the spoon.

Wait, I think to myself, are these the skills they are referring to??
Ok, let's try accomplishments instead...

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- I successfully pushed out two human beings from my own body without any vomiting or defecating.
- I have spent an entire day in my PJ's with plans to clean at least one room and not actually completed a thing. I know, amazing right?

Ok, so I don't think this is working...

So if any of you know of some magical skill or accomplishment I possess that I have not yet realized, do bring it to my attention... quickly.

Passionately Committed

In my last post I mentioned changes happening. Of course there are the changes regarding our family and how fast the girls are growing. But I was also referring to changes happening in me- in my life as a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend.

As many of you know I go to BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). It is a bible study designed to grow deeper in knowledge and understanding of God and the Bible. It involves a daily lesson plan and reading. About 3 weeks ago, somewhere around studying John chapter 10, where Jesus refers to Himself as the good Shepherd, it slugged me. I realized what kind of shepherd Jesus is. I've read this chapter more than once, yet it never hit me like it did now. Do any of us really get how He takes care of us? I mean REALLY get it? Why did God use the metaphor of sheep and a shepherd to describe His relationship to us? Because it's the only relationship there is to begin to scratch the surface of what all it entails....

1.) The sheep KNOW their shepherd's voice.
Yes, this is real. Sheep would recognize their own shepherd's voice, and respond to it. And no one else's. John 10:8 says, "All others who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them." TRUE sheep, meaning a child of God, someone who is saved. And the only way for us to tell the difference between the counterfeit shepherd (false pastors, corrupt leaders, etc.) and the true shepherd is to KNOW the truth (the Word) so that we may recognize it when we see it. This is helpful in a time such as this, our country in the shape it is in.
2.) The shepherd leads them, goes ahead of them, and cares for His sheep.
This gives us security. He never pushes us, He LEADS. And CARES for us. Do you know what shepherds had to do for their sheep on a daily basis? They knew each sheep, one by one. As Christ knows us by name. 1 Corinthians 8:3 "But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for." Firstly, they had to constantly free them of flies and parasites. They would circle the pen throughout the day, inspecting each one, cleaning them, checking for any injuries that needed attention, etc. They had to make sure they were well fed. And free of stress. I know right, a sheep? Stressed? If a sheep was distressed in any way, it would not lay down and sleep, and it's health would decline from there. And then obviously, have to check and make sure all were in attendance. If a sheep had wandered, not able to find its way home, (and also leading other sheep astray) do you know what that shepherd would have to do? He would go and search out that one sheep. When he found it, he would have to gently break it's leg, so that he could throw it upon his shoulders and carry it home. Hmm... interesting. You know you've seen that picture before, Jesus carrying a sheep over his shoulders... you think, ah, how sweet, little Fluffy likes being held and cuddled. No, Fluffy was being taught a lesson, if you will, so that he could be brought back home again.



Anyways, what I am getting at is I received such deep insight into what it means... "the Good Shepherd." And after thinking over the last couple of weeks about what has brought on this understanding, I remembered something. For a couple months I have been praying occasionally for something: for God to grow my faith. I think it is a scary prayer to pray. I have to admit I didn't want to at first. Because usually when you think of your faith growing it involves a challenge. Or some kind of trial. And though trials are what grow our faith, that doesn't always have to be the case. I simply prayed for God to change me. Change the ugly things about me. And to fuel my desire to know Him more, to WANT to get into the Word. Not doing it just because I'm in a bible study and need to get my lesson done. And that all starts with a passionate commitment. A passionate commitment to Him. So really, I basically prayed for me to love Him more. To want to get to know Him better and His will for my life. And as silly as it is for me to be surprised, I am. I'm surprised at how much He is on my mind. I'm surprised at how much I want to do for Him, and how much I want Him to be glorified in it. Even as I'm typing this, it sounds strange that this is me saying this. Not that it should, I have always loved the Lord, but, it's different now. Deeper, stronger, and I feel like I'm at the beginning. I don't know what kind of work He is going to do in me, but I'm ready for it, whatever it is. Because now I'm passionately committed.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." JOHN 10:11-18

Turning a New Leaf (blog-wise that is)

So here it is: I am turning a new leaf in my blog life. I want to keep it updated... I want new pictures posted often. I want to keep record of all the hilarious things Victoria says... and the adventures my curious little Sophie gets into.
There are changes happening in our family, in our lives, and I want to have something to look back on and see it all described in my own words, as I am experiencing it.

So stay tuned... much more to come!!

Fun in Fall

We have had such a fun last month or so!

We went to the Pumpkin Patch just a few days before Halloween, and V had fun running through all the pumpkins, and throwing the hay everywhere. And of course, Mom and Dad had fun chasing her around!

On Halloween night Daddy was working, and Grammy was visiting. So we got Peanut all dressed up into her angel costume, and we visited him at the station... then came back home and had Halloween dessert... pie!

Then of course, on November 9th, Victoria Kay turned 2 years old! I cannot believe my baby girl is two!! What happened?? We had a party here at home with her friends, then went down south and had a party with family and more friends. I think we are partied out! Thank you to everyone who joined us, we had fun!! V has so many new books and toys, and cute things to wear.

So now we are reving up for Thanksgiving and Christmas, which will be here before we know it... followed by V's new baby sister!!

Pink Pink PInk!

On October 29th, Frankie and I went out to lunch before going to a 4D ultrasound, just for fun. While at lunch we talked about how maybe it would be fun to find out the sex and experience it that way... since we waited with Victoria. So at about 3:00pm, Frankie and I looked in surprise at the ultrasound screen that showed us we were having another little girl. I couldn't believe it. Our little Peanut is going to have a sister. After the shock wore off, I was simply ecstatic. I am going to be the mother of two little girls! And V will have a sissey! I always wanted a sister, and I am so happy Victoria will be able to have that. And they will be close in age. I cannot wait to hold my new daughter, and for V to hold her for the first time. Frankie can't believe he is going to be so outnumbered! :) We are overjoyed and January can't come soon enough!!

Update... Finally!

I am SO overdue for a post! Now there is so much to catch up on...

We were so blessed to spend a week this summer with the Marinelli's during their visit to California. Victoria had a wonderful time playing with all the kids. She was back to napping twice a day just from all the playing!

Then in August Frankie went with the guys to Bonneville and the Peanut and I hung back in so cal to spend time with family and friends. Labor Day weekend we had my brother Justin and his wife Nicole, and also my cousin Mikey and his g/f Tayler visiting for a weekend at the lake. Other than my brief trip to St. Agnes for the wonderful joys of pregnancy, we had a great time together. We cannot believe how fast the summer flew by!

Now here it is October, getting ready for the holidays, and Victoria's 2nd birthday!! What happened to the last 2 years?? Our baby girl is growing up way too fast. And before we know it we'll have a new baby added to the family.

The pregnancy is going well. I am starting to get uncomfortable now. There is no more nausea, but there is still the occasional day of exhaustion. My ultra sound showed some fluid in my kidneys and that is creating some extra pain in the back area. I also have an umbilical hernia that hurts sometimes, and we'll most likely get that repaired after the baby is born. The doctors don't think it will be a problem throughout the pregnancy (other than the continued pain as I get bigger and bigger).

I am SO looking forward to the holidays, this is my favorite time of year...a nd of course, I cannot wait to meet our new little miracle. I thank God every day for my children, my family. I love them more than anything, and am enjoying each and every day, as fast as the time seems to be going!

I will post some prego pics as soon as I get my computer fixed... I am back to my PC now because something went wrong with my Mac, but I so want it back... I have officially made the conversion from PC to Mac! :)

Look for another post soon, I promise to do better with my blogging!!
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