'Tis The Season

'Tis the season to be sickly
Fa la la la la la la la la
Both my girls are feeling icky
Fa la la la la la la la la
Breathing treatments and humidifiers
Fa la la la la la la la la
Zora's lungs feel like they're on fire
Fa la la la la la la la la.

Fever, headaches, chest congestion
Fa la la la la la la la la
Both of them have ear infections
Fa la la la la la la la la
My kitchen counter resembles a pharmacy
Fa la la la la la la la la
Please take your medicine - Open up for me!
Fa la la la la la la la la!

Valentine Party

We were supposed to attend three different Valentine parties this week, but because my kids are sick we were only able to make it to one. On Wednesday we met with one of our homeschool groups and the girls had a blast. Here is the whole group...

They girls enjoyed some of the yummy snacks...


Lily also actually opened up out of her shell and made a new friend this week - another Lily who is just as shy as she is! They had a lot of fun together :-)
Here are the kids at the end of the party rolling up the mat. Hooray for teamwork! We had a lot of fun. The kids in that group play really well together and all of them were not happy when it was time to go! Thanks TIE for a fun time :-)

Extracurricular FUN!!!

We're still clipping right along with our schoolwork, but we've really been enjoying some extracurricular activities as well.

The girls are still both in gymnastics and loving every minute of it. Lily is still in the same class, but Zora got to move up to an older class in the BIG gym.

Handstand

Tippy-toes!

On the balance beam

Forward rolls

And of course I have to include Lily :-) Sorry it's sideways!

Since the girls were born they've both loved music. They love to sing and they love to dance. We always keep plenty of musical instruments around for them to play with. Lily has really been into the "kitar" (guitar) lately. Here she is serenading me with Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

I promised Lily that I will pay for her to have lessons when she is a little older! Until then, she can just pluck along :-)

Zora has been begging me since she was 3 to teach her how to play the piano. I've hesitated for two reasons...

1. I didn't want her to be doing it just because I play. I want her to pursue something she will love, not just something I love.
2. She was too young as far as I was concerned to really learn the theory behind it and to be able to practice enough every day.
   

I've always let her play on my keyboard, but lately she has really been on me about teaching her. Last week I broke down and we bought some beginner books for her and started learning. Today she played her very first song. Here is her debut!

I always prayed when I was pregnant that they would be born with their Dad's sweet, tender, loving heart and my love for music. God answers even the little prayers!

A Matter of Perspective

What do you see in the picture below?

There are actually two answers... a fair maiden or a witch. Maybe you can only see one, or maybe you see both.

It's a matter of perspective.

Life can be the same way. We are all dealt our share of troubles, hardships, and circumstances in life. It's the perspective that we choose that can make the difference. Even the little things in life that are part of our daily routine can affect us either positively or negatively depending on the perspective we take.

Lately I've realized that I need to change my perspective in all areas of life. I often find myself griping and complaining about how things aren't going my way - just being pessimistic - I only see the "witch". I'm not proud of that.

I don't believe that I've always been pessimistic. As a child I always looked for the good, but it seems like now I expect the worst. I'm not sure what reprogrammed my mind over the years - maybe just the realities of life - but I'm praying that God will help me reprogram my mind to what it used to be - a mind of optimism and hope.

The other day I was in one of my "sour" moods and God brought two different scriptures to my mind.

Romans 12:2 "Do 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."

Did you get the last part of that verse?!?! If our mind is not renewed and reprogrammed, then we will not be able to discern God's will for our lives! Ouch.

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

This verse is all about attitude. My attitude is going to be determined by the things I choose to think about. Hmmmm.

Reprogramming the mind and attitude is a hard thing, but I've realized it's all in the perspective I choose in every situation. Here's a few examples of how I'm trying to change my perspective in life...

Old Perspective: It's already time to get out of bed??? (sigh, moan)
New Perspective: Thank you, Lord, for another day of life.

Old : Laundry day...ugh. I've got better things to do.
New: Laundry day... I'm so blessed to have a closet full of clothes and the means to keep them clean.

Old: I just got all the toys picked up and now the house is a mess again!
New: I'm blessed to have two precious children.

Old: Time to clean? I wish I could hire a maid to vacuum, dust, mop, clean the toilets...
New: I'm blessed to even have a house full of things to clean and take care of. I could have been born in an impoverished country or could be facing some tragedy like those in Haiti.

Old: It's already time for me to fix dinner? What in the world am I going to fix?
New: I'm blessed to have food on my table each and every day.

Old: It sure would be nice to move to a nicer neighborhood and get a bigger house.
New: I'm blessed to have a roof over my head with more than I need inside to provide for all our needs.

Old: I'm sick of paying bills.
New: I'm blessed to have conveniences like garbage service, running water, electricity, vehicles, cable TV, phones, internet, a home...

Old: I wish I could just get some more sleep. I'm tired of being so busy.
New: I'm blessed to be healthy and able to enjoy so many opportunities in life.

And here's one that has been around a lot this winter! :-)
Old: NOT MORE SNOW!!! ICK! I HATE BEING COLD!
New: I'm blessed to have shelter, food & heat. And it's actually kind of nice to have the pace of life slow down. Everything is canceled, so there's nowhere to be, no appointments to keep, etc. Just time to enjoy the family!

If I had to pick one word to describe my goal for my new perspective on life it would be BLESSED. If I'm focused on my blessings then I will be less apt to complain about the other things. And honestly, usually when I'm complaining, it is over something minor - things that don't really matter in the grand scheme of things. So, with God's help I'm going to practice an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE.

So today I choose to see the fair maiden... what will you choose?

Trying to catch up!

Most of our Christmas break was spent like this...
...looking out the window at all of the snow. We did take several trips out into the snow to play, but the temperatures were so incredibly cold (in the single digits & teens) that we mostly just stayed inside. The girls built a Lego castle with an animal train and tunnel...

They also worked on some new puzzles they got for Christmas...We were also able to enjoy some time with friends. We made a trip to the Fielden's house and enjoyed 4 wheeler rides in the snow. Here are the girls making snowballs.Addison and Lily loved tubing in the snow!

After the dads took turns pulling the girls in the tube and were worn out, the girls decided it was their turn to pull the dads. Zora and Lily tried to pull Joel, but they had a little trouble :-)
Here's a glimpse into our tubing behind the 4 wheeler!!! I must say that we had a blast!

We also had fun spending some time at the Bowden house with the Bowden and Lowrance families. The adults had a great time playing games and laughing while the girls had a pajama party!

The girls also have really been into photography lately, so Joel and I pulled out our old camera and let them go crazy with it! The world through a child's eye is very interesting! After I download some of their pictures I will post them :-)We were so happy at the end of last week when all of the snow in our yard finally melted and the temperatures were warm enough to actually enjoy all of the fun things they got for Christmas. This week we spent the mornings doing school work, and then after lunch it was out to the backyard for lots of fun until the sun went down. The girls have finished decorating the inside of their playhouse and setting up their homestead. And the trampoline was a constant source of fun with our beautiful weather this week!

The puppies have also enjoyed the beautiful weather this week, and they are finally getting big enough to stay outside the majority of the time. They are usually outside from dawn 'til dusk, and when they come in at night they totally crash. They are both such good little puppies and I'm happy to say that they potty training is going really well! They are fun to watch as they play together, and what's even funnier is their jealousy for attention. They both love to be loved on and they cannot stand it if one is getting more love than the other. Here is a short little video of Zora loving on Shelly and Rosey is NOT happy about it. Shelly begins speaking her mind a little too! (Sorry it's so dark!!!)

We are also getting back into the groove of our schoolwork. Lily continues to love to learn and is so very easy to teach. Zora's favorite subjects are still science and history. She loves to do the science experiments and write the results in her journal. We are working on observing and drawing conclusions in the different areas of science. I want her to learn analytical skills and think critically and creatively, but I'll admit that it's a hard skill to teach... I think it must be an acquired skill that comes with experience and maturity. We've been studying weather, seasons, the water cycle, wind, etc. Here is one of our experiments on wind. The girls had to make a "sail" for a car and see how well it worked. They learned after multiple attempts that the size and shape of the sail in comparison to the vehicle DOES make a difference!

Right now in history we are studying the early civilization of the Americas, and Zora is absolutely fascinated by the early cultures. It's really fun to teach to her because she is so enthralled by what she is learning.

Although the break for Christmas was nice, we are happy to be back into our regular routine. We have completed 2 weeks of our co-op and the kids are really enjoying the classes. This session they are taking two classes: Russian Culture/Literature and Inventions. Zora really had a lot of fun today in the inventions class. Their assignment was to create something out of straws and masking tape. She and her partner, Beth, created a triangular building complete with a ladder...Well, that's what's been going on at our house lately! Check back soon for more updates!

Year 2010

Every new year I think we all hope that the coming year will be as good as or better than the last. However, we also know that every new year will also hold heartaches and disappointments. This year already hasn't started as I had planned, but I know that God is in control and that He works all things out for those who love Him and trust in Him.

My Granny found out just as the New Year started that she has a spot on her kidney and another on her spine. It's scary to hear the word CANCER, and she is my only remaining grandparent. I've lost 2 grandparents in the last 2 years, so I want to hold on to her as long as I can. She just had surgery this past week and is doing fairly well. She is now facing radiation, so if you pray we would appreciate your prayers for her!

Something else I had "planned" for this year was to be debt free. We have paid all our debts except one small credit card and our mortgage, and that was our goal for this year. However, I found out that once you pay off your vehicles, it takes more money to keep them functioning than it does to get a newer car. BUMMER. My van is officially DONE. It was 10 years old and has been a great car for our family these past few years. However, we simply cannot afford to keep fixing it, so we spent the weekend car shopping - UGH! Not my idea of fun, but we finally found something we like. It is much smaller than the van we're used to, so it may take us a while to adjust to a smaller space, but we like it nonetheless :-) Joel's truck is also getting old (8 years) and is starting to act up, so we're probably going to be purchasing another vehicle soon. So I guess instead of being debt free, we'll just have to be a little more frugal on our "fun stuff" for the coming year.

So, already the new year has taught me that things don't always go as planned, but despite our circumstances, we can keep smiling and keep moving forward. I got 2 e-mails this week that state perfectly what my goals for this year will be... Read on, and keep these things in mind this year. Happy New Year to all!

LOOK FOR THE GOOD

I really believe that if we are to experience a better life, it will be all in how we choose to view life. No matter what twists and turns life takes, you can find the good if you look for it. If we have the right attitude, we can see the sun shining even when it’s cloudy. We can stay full of joy and keep getting better, even when things don’t go our way.

If you will trust God each day and try to live according to His plan for your life, you will be happier, healthier, and you’ll rise higher than you ever imagined possible. Make a decision that you are going to live every day with enthusiasm. Get up each morning and think about all the things for which you can be grateful. The Bible says, “To set your mind and keep it set on the higher things.”

I believe the higher things are the positive things, so first thing every day, set your mind for success and victory. Set in your mind that you are going to enjoy this day. The Bible says you have not seen, heard, or imagined the great things God has in store for you. Keep stretching to the next level, improving your life and reaching for your highest potential.

(by Toby Youngblood, Pastor of Faith Church in Glenpool)


Here's another e-mail I received from my cousin's wife in Texas...

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 and include the Bible.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for at least 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily, and while you walk, smile.



Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts about things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do it. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Sometimes it's best to "agree to disagree".

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with the elderly and with children.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. Don't worry about what other people think of you. Live to please God, not man.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick - your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Be happy!

And finally...
40. Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God!

Where's The Line To See Jesus?

I just heard this song today. It brought tears to my eyes and sent chills all over me. It has a tremendous message! I wish I would have heard it before Christmas, but it's something to think about the whole year through...

Where's The Line To See Jesus - performed by Becky Kelley