Wordless Wednesday

What I've Been Up To

Wow! I had an okay weekend. After cleaning house Friday night so I wouldn't have to do it Saturday, I started having Braxton Hicks. It didn't last very long, thank goodness. Then I started having heartburn that is still going on today. Saturday I tried teaching MG how to read, but she lost interest very quickly. She wanted to play her computer game that I showed her last week. Great mommy! But I figured next time I could use that as a bribery, if she reads the cards I made her for about 30 minutes or so, then she can get on the computer. Why didn't I think of that Saturday? I think it's because I really didn't want to do it myself so why should I make her do it? Sunday was church and then we came home and cooked hot dogs on the grill. Yes, that added to my heartburn. Sunday night we had watermelon and music out in our church parking lot. Even though I do not eat watermelon, it was fun. I love listening to our praise band. They are GREAT!! Yesterday I packed MG's and mine and daddy's bag for the hospital. Now if I can get Bill to put the baby car seat in, I will be good to go. I have a strong feeling this one is going to come early. MG was 3 weeks early, so why shouldn't this one? Even though my doctor said I could go full term, I just know with school starting back soon and me being stressed out, something will happen. I will be ready, though. Today we woke up and got breakfast at Burger King. Then MG and I went to the park in Alabaster, ate breakfast, and played until time for the 10:00 movie. We watched Babe, which she loved. She talked most of the way through it, just asking those little toddler questions. Since we've been home, she's been playing while I tutored 2 boys, 1 hour each. She plays really well when I am tutoring. I am very thankful for that.

Oh yeah, yesterday I got an e-mail from a friend to join Facebook and so I did. I signed up thinking that I was just going to sign in so I can keep up with my friends. Well, I signed up yesterday morning and in between all of my chores I found myself on my computer, all the way up to 10:00 lastnight. It was a busy day on FB because a lot of my friends, old and new, were commenting me left and right. It was sooo much fun. So I guess I will be juggling myself in between my blog, FB, family, and quiet time with the LORD, in no particular order, while I still have the time. I can do it!!

Still Growing in Christ,
Tanya

Website for Madilyn Grace

My almost three year old daughter is fascinated by things that have buttons and make sounds - like computers. Every time mommy gets on her laptop, she gets her little laptop out and sits right beside me. She likes her little computer, but it doesn't seem to be quiet as fun as mine ...she wants the REAL thing. Recently, I was introduced to KneeBouncers, a website that features games for babies and toddlers. These games are designed to be played simply by pressing keys on the keyboard, and watching different things happen. Madilyn Grace likes to pop bubbles on the computer, make music, or make silly noises. There are no rules, and the games are colorful and fun. I allowed my daughter to use my laptop as long as I was sitting right beside her. Plus, it just made her so darn happy. Her favorite game is Bed Bouncing. There are thirteen games in all, with more on the way. I'm so glad that my daughter can have a little fun on the computer now. Check it out and have fun!

Still Growing in Christ,
Tanya

We Just Stay at Home and Lie Around...

Happily enjoying lying around and doing nothing today.

And by nothing I do mean cleaning the house, doing laundry, playing with and feeding my almost 3 year old daughter, and staying cool!

I love being a stay-at-home mommy, at least for a few more weeks until school starts back.

Still Growing in Christ,
Tanya

P.S.- Our preacher's wife, Mrs. DeeDee is celebrating her birthday today and she is offering a give-away on her blog. Please go to her blog and sign up for a free CD or a $10.00 gift card to Starbuck's. She has the directions on her post for today. Good luck!!

We Are So Excited!

Approximately 68 days from now, I will be sending out baby announcements. I will be giving birth to the newest member of our family in September 2009. Since she will be our second baby, I might give birth sooner than the expected date. So, just to be honest, I am a bit excited to welcome another blessing in my life! I can’t wait to hold another treasure from heaven. Pray for me, the baby, and Bill as we wait out these last few weeks.

Still Growing In Christ,
Tanya

Date Night

All day long I had been waiting for our date. Needless to say, it was a long day. Madilyn Grace was not in the best of moods, so I was very tired by the end of the day when it was time for me to start getting ready for out date. MG and I finally got ready and I made it to the baby sitter's house about 10 minutes late. Well, the funniest thing happened to me when I got in the car. I usually leave my radio on one station, 93.7, I'm not much of a flipper. But there was too much talk on the radio and that is not what I wanted to hear at the time. I turned the radio to the country station 104.7 and there was this song coming on and I just knew it was on the radio just for me. I listened to it, the best I could with Madilyn Grace talking to me. I had heard it before but I never really payed that much attention to it until yesterday. I put a video of the song at the bottom of this blog because it fits yesterday so well for me. Listen to it before you leave my blog, maybe you can relate.

Now to the date, last night, Bill and I was able to go out on a date. We haven't been out, childless, since May 15, Bill's birthday. It was so nice. We went to Olive Garden to eat and then out to the movies. We saw The Proposal. The movie was pretty good, better than I thought it would be. We say every time we go out that we need to do that at least once a month, but now it's going to be a little harder to find a sitter for 2 kids.

After dropping MG off I suddenly realized how quiet my vehicle was. I'm usually having to answer a lot of questions or just simply have a toddler conversation going down the road. It was quiet, so I actually got to turn my radio up a little louder than normal. I had a few errands to run that required me to get out of the car so I ran them before I had to meet Bill at the restaurant. I realized that I did not have to go to the back seat to get MG out of the car and carry her inside with me. Then I had to go by the bank and I didn't have to ask for a sucker, like I do every other time I go. It was nice being able to go to the bathroom by myself at the restaurant, eat without stopping 20 times to do something, watch a movie without having to leave and go to the bathroom again, being talked into buying some candy during the best part of the movie, you see where I am going with this. But I found myself looking around the restaurant while we were there seeing all of the other kids doing kid things at the table, all of the other mommies taking their little ones to the bathroom, some were leaving the movies to either go to the bathroom with their child or to buy them something at the concession stands. It made me miss Madilyn Grace so much! I couldn't help but to think about the song I had heard as I was leaving the house.

I enjoyed the time alone that I had with my husband, but at the same time I could not get my little girl off of my mind. I am addicted to her and having the summer off doesn't help any. She wears me out to the point of exhaustion when I am with her all day, it could be because I am pregnant, but when she is not with me, she's all I think about. Looking down the road, I know that I am going to miss all of the little and big things that occurs in our day to day lives, so I am just going to sit back and take in every moment I have with my little family. I love them so much!!

To play the video and hear the song, pause the music on the sidebar and then press play button.


Still Growing in Christ,
Tanya

The Rooms are Ready

We finally have both girls' bedrooms all ready to go. I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Here are some pictures of Natalee Brooke's room. Very simple, but I know from experience that I will be redecorating it again soon.

We are using the same bed that we used for Madilyn Grace. She stayed in that bed for almost 2 1/2 years. Hopefully, Natalee Brooke will do the same. The chair is one that we used in Madilyn Grace's nursery. It was not the right color, so I just bought a brown sheet and covered it up. It doesn't look as bad as it sounds. Chair covers were too expensive, so I thought the sheet would work just fine.

The changing table is something that we had with Madilyn Grace. I haven't changed a diaper in a while, I hope I still remember how to do it. I cried when I had to get Madilyn Grace's clothes out of her dressers. Well, I guess the dressers are not hers anymore, but it was very sad for me to empty them out. We knew when we bought her furniture that it would only be hers for a short while, but I did not imagine how sad it would be the day we passed it down to her sibling.

You cannot read the sign above her bed, but it says Sweet Dreams. I hope Natalee Brooke sleeps better than Madilyn Grace did. She was a horrible sleeper. I guess we will find out here pretty soon.

I am ready to meet our little angel. Yes, "Angel", that is what we will call her. Madilyn Grace is our "Little Princess" so I had to come up with something to call Natalee Brooke. My "Little Princess" and my "Angel," that has a nice sound.

Since we had to pass the bed down to the baby, we had to buy Madilyn Grace a new bed. I wanted to get her a bunk bed, so we looked and found a great price on a used one. It was not the color that I wanted it to be, so we painted it white to match the rest of Madilyn Grace's room. Overall, we are pleased with how it turned out. I still have to lay down with Madilyn Grace each night, I guess it's just too big for her. She loves to play on the top bunk, so I let her keep most of her stuffed animals and babies up there. I don't worry about how neat the top bunk stays because no one really looks up there. (Madilyn Grace had to model the bed, she insisted. Click on the pictures to see a closer look.)

On one side of her bed there is a bookshelf. I am very thankful for the bookshelf because the baskets that I originally had her books in were overflowing. I didn't realize how many books she had. I guess the teacher in me wanted her to have a lot. Now if I could just teach her how to read them herself. I think I have read every one to her at least 5 times each, if not more. She does love her books! On the other side is a desk. I put a blanket at the top of it so that you cannot see the top bunk. I'm sure it won't stay there long.
There's not much to her desk right now, but eventually she will put it to good use. The rest of the pictures are just snapshots around her room. What you see is her recliner, TV, and her little table where we eat breakfast and have our tea parties. We had to move the table out from in front of the window because the bed was so big, but we can still see outside.

Well, thanks to everyone who said they would help out either by watching Madilyn Grace while we finished the rooms or coming by the house to help hang pictures. We managed and I think we are done, for now anyway. I hope you enjoyed the little tour of our little girls' rooms.

Still Growing in Christ,

Tanya

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

Sometimes when I'm just getting started with my day, I like to read inspirational articles from AllWorship.com. This website is where I get most of my poems that I post on my blog. Well, today I happened to have come up on this little poem that I know I have seen before and you probably have too, but the older Madilyn Grace gets, the more I realize it is true.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, 'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

Little eyes see a lot. Each of us--parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher or friend--influence the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today?

Sometimes I really feel guilty if I am not watching how I act in front of my daughter. I might have influenced her the other way around. :(

Still Growing in Christ,
Tanya

Words Are Life or Death

I was shopping in Wal-Mart today when I heard someone around me talking on the phone about someone else in a very negative way. My heart broke for that other person because they were not even around to defend themselves. I immediately thought about my 5th graders that I teach. Sometimes, well most of the time, they talk negative about each other. Usually it's when the other people are not around to hear what they have to say.

The words we speak out into the world are important because satan can hear what we say. We need to stop speaking negative about ourselves and others. Satan hears the pessimistic words that we speak and can use that against us. For example, if we say how ugly we are satan hears it, and he can use that to start putting more negative thoughts into our minds. I believe the more optimistic we are with our words the more positive things will start happening in our lives. (Proverbs 18:21) Death and life are in the power of the tounge: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Still Growing in Christ,
Tanya

Feeling Tired All of the Time

I have been feeling so tired lately. I know it's because I'm pregnant, but I hate feeling this way. I still have things to do, but no energy to do them. Thankfully I have a husband who understands and every time I say that I am really tired, he just says, "You are 7 months pregnant." I know he's right and I appreciate him saying that, I just feel like I should be doing something instead of sitting around reading, watching TV, or sleeping.

Lord please help me to get my energy back so that I can spend time with my family. I miss the energy that I had when I would go non stop all of the time. I don't want my family to think that I am a lazy person, so please send some energy my way. Thanks for all you've done, all you are doing and for what is to come. Amen!!

Still Growing in Christ,
Tanya

Who Do You Depend On?

As Christians we need to lean and depend on Jesus. He is the only one who we can depend on. We have His direct line, and that line is never busy. Whatever trial or tribulation we may go through, He is always right in the mist of it. He said that He will never leave or forsake us. Whatever situation you may be facing do not worry, just put it in God's hands. He takes care of the birds in the air;therefore, He is going to see you through your problem. You are more important to Him than birds. MATTHEW 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Still Growing in Christ,
Tanya

Good Morning!

When I say good morning I mean to say:

G-od
O-ffers us His
O-utstanding
D-evotion to

M-ake us
O-bedient &
R-eady for a
N-ew day with Him.
I-nspire others please, and
N-ever forget
G-od loves you!


Have a Blessed Day!

--Author Unknown

We Had a Wonderful 4th of July!

Yesterday was the 4th of July. What a beautiful day to celebrate!

Before I get into what we did, I want to take a moment to tell you what the 4th of July means to me. This day marks the day that our founding fathers stood up for us to give us the freedom of which we still enjoy today!!!! Without all the people that have and continue to defend this freedom we would not be able to enjoy this day!!!! Also this day means that I am Free!!!!!!!

My dad and step mom invited us to be with them this 4th of

July at Wind Creek, so we couldn't turn them down. They had a camper if we got too hot and wanted some air-conditioning and a big lake if we wanted to go swimming. We could not have asked for better weather. It was hot, but we were at Wind Creek so we could dip into the water whenever the heat got too unbearable.

We ate, swam, talked, ate some more, swam some more, well you get the picture. It was fun! At the end of the day we got ready and went down to the amphitheater down past Children's Harbor to listen to music and get ready for the magnificent firework show that started at 9:00. All I can say was wow! It was the best firework display I have seen in years. Madilyn Grace really enjoyed them. We've always taken her to see fireworks on the 4th, but this year I think she enjoyed them most of all.

I can hardly get through the 4th of July with a dry eye. I am so proud to be an American and I love this land more than ever! Let it forever be a beacon of hope for the entire world. With all of our problems, there is still no where in the world that I would rather be! God Bless America!

Still Growing in Christ,
Tanya

A Morning of Silence

I am sitting at our church answering the phone for our secretary, who is out on vacation. The phone has only rung twice, and one of those phone calls was from my husband calling to check on me. I can tell it's going to be a slow morning since I have already been here an hour and a half and only 2 phone calls. The church building is quiet, which gives me time to catch up on some much needed reading and praying. I am really enjoying my quiet time. I do miss my little family, but at the same time it is nice to have some time to myself. Who doesn't need just a little time to themselves?

How likely is it that the number of bad days a person has is directly related to the missed days of quiet time and time alone with God? I’ve been horrible about my quiet time lately, but today I have a chance to make up for it. I've had some pretty stressful days as of late so I am pleased to be working today. I do not think that God is “paying me back” or disciplining me (although this may very well be true) but that I continue to fall farther away from His holiness the more time I spend away from Him. Now I have a chance to catch up, almost.

Does God let me fall away to teach me a lesson or show me how dependent I am upon Him? I think these things are certainly true but I also believe that my sinful nature does not want to be close to God. It is more comfortable to do things of the flesh — especially since that is what I have known for so many years. I am comforted by the fact that I recognize this and dislike the distance between God and I. I want to be close to Him — which fights against my sinful nature. I am so deprived and incapable of good, it is reassuring to know that God loves me no matter what. He will always be there for me to pick me up when I fall. Again, He isn’t doing this out of jealousy or mind games — He disciplines me because He is my Father for eternity. He wants me to be the woman that He knows I can be. It is incredibly comforting to know that He is in charge and will instruct me in the right ways in all situations.

Still Growing in Christ,
Tanya

Thankful Thursday

A friend of mine posted what she was thankful for on her blog today and asked people to respond. So Tricia, I am responding to your post by adding what I am thankful for on my post for today. Thank you for giving me something to think about.

For the Christian, every day should be Thanksgiving Day. We should even be thankful in the midst of problems. The Apostle Paul said, "I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation" (2 Corinthians 7:4). He knew that God was working all things together for his good, even though he was going through trials (Romans 8:28).

Problems will come your way. God will see to it personally that you grow as a Christian. He will allow the storms, to send your roots deep into the soil of His Word. We pray more in the midst of problems, but it's been well said that you will see more from your knees, than you will on your tip toes.

If we watched a butterfly struggling to get out of its cocoon, some people might want to help it. Say for instance we did help it, we got a razor blade, and carefully slit the edge of the cocoon. The butterfly would escape from its problem ... and immediately die.

It is God's way to have the butterfly struggle. It is the struggle that causes its tiny heart to beat fast, and send the life's blood into its wings.

Trials have their purpose. They make us struggle—they bring us to our knees. They are the cocoon in which we often find ourselves. It is there that the life's blood of faith in God helps us spread our wings.

Faith and thanksgiving are close friends. If you have faith in God, you will be thankful because you know His loving hand is upon you, even though you are in a lion's den. That will give you a deep sense of joy, and joy is the measure of the depth of faith you have in God.

So that being said, I am thankful for the following things:

1. The world in which we live. God created a beautiful, magnificent place for us to dwell. In Genesis 1:31 the Bible states: "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good."
2. Family. Christians ought to not only be thankful for our physical family, but also their spiritual family: the church, their brothers and sisters in Christ.
   
3. The love of God. I think that the following verse sums it up very nicely: John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
4. The sacrifice of Christ. As previously mentioned, the Lord sent His only son to die so that through obedience people can be saved from their sins. Ephesians 5:2 states: "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Also Hebrews 10:12-14 states: "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."

I know that there are many, many other blessings for which I should be thankful, but this is all I could come up with for now. What things are you thankful for?

Still Growing in Christ,
Tanya

My Little Lady-In-Waiting

My almost three-year-old is testing my patience.

Daily. Okay, maybe it's hourly.

A Lady-In-Waiting is a lady appointed to attend to a queen or princess. The other day, I was organizing Madilyn Grace's books when I ran across the book, Lady in Waiting for Little Girls: Strengthening the Heart of Your Princess by Dede Kendall. I just had to stop and read it myself because Madilyn Grace was doing something else. As soon as I read it, she came into the room and asked me what I was doing. So I took a moment and read the book to her. My daughter did not ask me what exactly a Lady-in-Waiting was. But apparently she liked the sound of it so much that now waiting is all I ever seem to do. After all, she is my little princess, right?

Sadly, my patience is not as boundless as it might be.

Here is a partial list of the tasks that cannot possibly be done in less than 30 minutes and without an elaborate ritual...

• Choosing clothes/Getting dressed for the day: First we must have a "favorite colors" guessing game or a "guess what shirt I'm thinking of...?" game. Or usually she wants to wear something that matches what Mommy is wearing.
  
• Brushing teeth: She must brush, then I must brush. "First, count to 20," she will say before handing the brush to me as I slowly pull out my hair.
• Putting shoes on: Thank goodness they are slip-ons. Sometimes, though, they are sandals. Here we fall victim to "I'll do it myself" syndrome. Even putting the strap through the little slot and pulling it tight enough . It takes For-Ev-Er.
• Getting into the car: Not getting to the car... just into it. She has to do a super-jump and climb into her car seat, smoothing the back of her shirt just so. Then she has to have whatever toys are in sight right then and there, before I can even buckle her up.
• Getting out of the car: We are usually searching for a lost item before getting out -- a book, barrette, or toy. If she ate anything while we were in the car, then we have to clean that up before we leave the car.
  
• Choosing a book: I love to read to her, but often 20 minutes of looking will have her settling (finally) on a book with 6 pages.
  
• Any meal: She's a picky eater, so she will nibble on whatever we put in front of her. After a few chews she says, "I don't like it." Then we have to go through our whole family and have her take a bite for them. We start out with, take a bite for Mommy, take a bite for Daddy, and so on until it is all eaten up. Whew! Who knew feeding a toddler could be so exhausting?
  
• Bedtime: Each night I have to kiss the bears, baby dolls, Dora, Boots, and blankie before I can kiss her. Then we say our prayers and sometimes she skips a whole lot of it, so we have to say it again. Usually it takes about 3 times before we can FINALLY go to sleep.
  

Let's face it, by the end of the day, I'm exhausted. My sweet, darling girl has figured out how to monopolize my time and attention as often as she can. I get exasperated with it, quite honestly. I wonder when she will ever just stop playing all the time.

And then I think, What Is Wrong With Me??

She's almost three. And playing your way through the day is what age three is all about. It's also about asserting your independence (which has issues of its own -- trust me.) But mostly, it's about operating on your own "schedule" and doing things in your own time.

And then something happened yesterday while I was cleaning my house that made my parental hypocrisy meter top out. I was cleaning the bathrooms when my daughter came up and asked me to play with her in her kitchen. "After I'm done with cleaning the bathrooms," I told her. She waited. She made conversation. She made up a game to make the waiting go faster, which I played with her as I cleaned. Finally, she left for a few moments and returned.

"Are you ready to play now, Mommy?"

It hit me that I was "playing" in my bathrooms while she patiently waited for me, doing whatever she could to spend time with me. (And also, I am an idiot for making her wait like that.)

So I stopped cleaning, because I was done, and we had one heck of a cooking party in her kitchen.

We played for a long time, but it was fun, so that makes it time well spent. In the end it was my own little Lady-in-Waiting who taught me a lesson about patience and being considerate. And about making time to play.

Still Growing in Christ,
Tanya