How Sweet the Sound....

Someday...But Today....

Someday I will get my dream truck....but for today I will be content with my smokin' hot minivan.

Someday I will have a clean house that stays picked up all the time...but for today I will enjoy the mess that is being made by 3 sweet littles.

Someday I will be able to get ready without being interrupted...but for today I will listen to their stories that keep me laughing.

Someday I will sit and drink coffee all day long in peace and quiet...but for today I will dance to the music of crazy, loud giggles and monkey business.

Someday I won't have to check if 3 little faces are clean before we walk out the door....but for today I will kiss sweet cheeks before baby soft fades.

Someday I will have clean sparkling windows & mirrors in the house...but for today I might just add little finger pictures to the smudges myself.

Someday I won't have explain what respect & listening the first time means 50 times a day...but for today I will be thankful while innocence lasts.

Someday I won't have to help tie shoes, button coats, and wipe hineys....but for today I will be thankful for 6 happy feet that can walk and run.

Someday I will have a couch that isn't full of stains and spills...but for today I will remember all the memories of courting,being newlyweds, having new babies, toddlers, tears, laughter, and happiness that this one holds.

Someday the toilet seats will be put down, there will be no more tinkle sprinkle and they won't get dirty as fast...but for today I will be thankful that I truly have the best job in the world :)

Latest Craving....

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/chocolate-dipped-cannoli-recipe/index.html


Chocolate Dipped Cannoli

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons amaretto
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted chopped pistachios
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 12 prepared cannoli shells
• 1/2 cup melted chocolate

Directions

In a large bowl, whip together amaretto, cinnamon, heavy cream and confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form.
In a medium bowl, combine the pistachios and ricotta and stir in half of the whipped cream. Gently fold in the remaining whipped cream. Fill a pastry bag with no tip with the mixture to fill the cannoli shells.
Dip the tips of the cannoli into the melted chocolate. Place the sheet tray in the refrigerator for 2 hours or until filling and chocolate is set.

Integrity

"Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. We must constantly strive to keep our integrity intact. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost. When health is lost, something is lost. When character is lost, all is lost." 

~Billy Graham

Monkey Story #770

Thanks so so much for all your prayers. BabyMonkey had a good night last night and good day today. We have put her on Gabe's diet and they moved up her endoscopy 1 week earlier. We are hoping for the best! 

 

And now on to our BedTimeMonkeyStory of the night:   Standing in the kitchen, cleaning up supper mess and Gabe comes over, turns around,backs up and stands right next to me so that we are nearly smooshed together. I think, "Awe, I will take all these little boy cuddles I can get before he thinks it's not cool anymore." Then before I have barely finished thinking that thought, he leans over ever so slowly with much drama and emphasis and proceeds to try to pass gas on my leg. It takes me a minute to realize what exactly is happening....I could not believe it. I turn to PapaMonkey and get no help....he and Gabe just die laughing. There will be Monkey Manner School at our house beginning tomorrow! For monkies of all ages!!!

JOY

BabyMonkey Prayers

Please pray for BabyMonkey...Tonite we were alerted by a weird sound and my Mamaheart just
knew something wasn't right. We went running upstairs and found Aubrie laying in her bed covered in undigested food. She was sobbing and I can't tell you how awful it is to find your child confused as to why their hair/neck/everything is covered in smelly yuck and they arn't fully awake yet. This has happened a couple times now and we have been suspecting that something isn't quite right. She has complained for awhile now of her tummy hurting, not eating well, very irritable, still on reflux meds since she was 4 months old, and the list goes on. We already have an endoscopy set up but she can't get in until end of Nov. Please pray we can get her in sooner so the results will be most accurate before we change her food diet. The good/bad is that we have been down this road before. (if that's what this is) 4 years ago, Gabe ended up in the hospital for 1 wk before they figured out what was wrong. Severe food allergies/sensitivies. It was an awful experience and this brings back all the bad memories/smells/sights/hurts. As we held her tonite & prayed over her....tears just ran down my face and wouldn't stop. I refuse to let fear take root and assume I know what's going on inside her little body. We have always been so thankful that Gabe's issues have been treatable. Even though this is an awful road to walk because the Mama in me can't go to sleep because "what if??"....I know there are so many going thru such worse journeys than this. It's hard not to beat myself up that I should have caught on sooner with all her symptoms being so similair to Gabe's. It's hard not to beat myself up that I didn't make it upstairs sooner tonite to be with her thru the episode. But there's grace...and I'm thankful for that, and showers, and wash machines, and clean blankies, and rocking chairs, that God is so much bigger than all the yuck we go thru, and a sleeping content baby again. Thanks for always listening to my monkey bedtime stories and thank you so much for the prayers.

GrouchyPants

Sometimes the worst days can turn into better days. MamaMonkey was a grouchypants today.....so much so that by lunchtime I had to apologize to my littles and then made the smart alecky comment to them: "If you want a different Mom it's ok, I understand." Poor Ellie grabs ahold of me with huge eyes and says, "Oh no Mommy! We want you! You tell us all the times that you love us!"

 

 Gabe---the one who ...

went round and round with me all morning arguing and i had gotten the most frustrated with---from the other side of the room....bouncing a balloon throws out a very typical manly response (that I could totally hear PapaMonkey say): "Oh Mommy! It's ok to be a grouchypants sometimes!".....with that tone of "don't be so dramatic Mommy." Thank the good Lord for their love and forgiveness. And that tomorrow is a new day to try again :)

Humility

 

It's not our job to keep each other humble.

We are to humble OURSELVES in the sight of The Lord.

We are not the humility police- God is!

~Christine Caine

Things that made me smile today:

1-One of my very young piano students saying: "oh yeah I know this song!" student starts singing as we play: "Away in a manger the cattle are dead...." Um....well that wasn't quite the song I learned!


2- I hear Ellie saying: "Ok Aubrie, I'll be right back, you get all your ABC's done while I'm gone and I'll check them when I'm back." I go to investigate and wait hidden around the corner...soon Ellie comes back, Aubrie has a pencil in her hand and she is trying to write just like Ellie. Sweet deal....looks like BabyMonkey will be monkeyschooled by her big sis at the amazing age of 2 1/2 :)

3- Gabe tonite keeps asking me when I'm going to make his "smashed potatoes"


4- 2 nights in a row of a sit down family supper: Tonite was Honey barbecue chicken strips & buffalo chicken strips, mashed garlic/buttery potatoes, buttered broccoli, all natural Applegate Farms chicken nuggets and tator tots........dessert led to my #5

5- New epic recipe that I created and would like to call Chocolate Chip Peek-a-Boo cookie bars.....oh yum...


6- For the first time ever after 1 year of practicing, Gabe wrote our last name super super neat and not allllllllllllll over the stinkin' page.....and he did it 10 times.....I don't dance, but yes, there are some occasions where I do the happy dance and this was one of them :)

7- I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE every single one of my piano students and never get tired of hearing them play. And call me crazy but I don't get tired of listening to the same music played over and over. However, can I just tell you what is my all time favoritest thing ever?!? In the evenings...when this amazing /handsome man sits down and plays piano.....one of the most amazing musicians I have ever met...and one of the most amazing self taught piano students ever. This is the very same man that didn't play piano much until the past couple years so he could accompany his choirs. And now....wow...it stops you in your tracks and you just can't help but listen. (this same man will try to tell you he doesn't really play.) it's hogwash....believe me.....


8- I yell for PapaMonkey: "Hey honey!!!" BabyMonkey comes running around the corner: "What Mommy? I here!" I laugh and say, "A different honey, I'm looking for Daddy!" She frowns and then says with a very serious face and big eyes: "No Mommy! I your honey bunny! not Daddy!"

9- A package that came in the mail from Village of Hope in Guatemala.....a beautiful handmade headband. Would you consider donating today? Our sweet friends moved their family down there and are now serving Jesus and these orphans with their whole hearts. So blessed to hear their stories!

MonkeyStory #555

 Getting the kids breakfast this morning: "Mommy! I want this! Mommy get me that! Mooooooommmmyyyy! I'm so hungry can't you hurry any faster up??" MamaMonkey throws up her hands and says VERY CALMLY(after saying very impatiently thru all that: I'm going! I'm going! I'm going) : "I only have 2 hands, I will get each of your breakfast as quickly as I can.....now please be patient." The Gabester replies very matter of factly: "Well I just wish you were an octopus so you could get us 50 things at the same time!!!" Nice....

Thought Provoking

“These people fail to realize that it is on the inside that God must be defended, not on the outside. They should direct their anger at themselves. For evil in the open is but evil from within that has been let out. The main battlefield for good is not the open ground of the public arena but the small clearing of each heart. Meanwhile, the lot of widows and homeless children is very hard, and it is to their defense, not God’s, that the self-righteous should rush.”

~Life of Pi

Listen in....

The longer we listen to one another - with real attention - the more commonality we will find in all our lives.

That is, if we are careful to exchange with one another life stories and not simply opinions. 

~Barbara Deming

 

 

Our Mountains

Today is a great day to stop talking

ABOUT your mountain & instead

start speaking TO that mountain.

Gabe love...

You know it's gonna be a great day when Gabe says

"Mommy...yer my best girl."

Oh melt my heart. :)

Freedom

Religion gives us rules, but Jesus gives us freedom.

~Joyce Meyer

 

Keep On...

I promise you if you don't feel HOPE today....there will be MERCY tomorrow.

 And if there's MERCY for you tomorrow, then HOPE will be there too.

Hang in there....you and I are a work in progress. Someone else writes your life story and that's the beautiful part.

Even though some of the pages are full of darkness and yuck, and we just can't seem to get it right sometimes, there's always another page to turn.....and if you just keep going forward in your life story.....

 

I promise you, it can turn into a better ending. It doesn't have to stay stuck on today's page. Keep on keeping on....

 

 

Wide/Long/High/Deep LOVE

Helping Hands

Please join us in lending a hand. On October 7, Eldon & Stephanie Kaeb of rural Arrowsmith died due to injuries they sustained in an automobile accident, leaving behind nine children. The Kaebs were wonderful, giving people and their passing is a devastating loss for their families and their community. Our sincerest sympathies go out to all those touched by this tragedy.
In their memory, starting tomorrow - October 18th, 19th and 20th (Thursday, Friday and Saturday), Central Lean will donate a portion of proceeds of all Beef sales to The Kaeb Kids Memorial Fund.
If you would like to donate directly, please contact the Fairbury-Cropsey Community Bank, a division of Morton Bank. Thank you.

Money and Love

Don't ever ever let anyone tell you that having more money will make you happier. It will pay those bills and allow you to do amazing things.....but that's not the big picture. The big picture really is love. Because if you have love, then you are rich. Yes, our goal is to be debt free soon, but let me tell you something.....I ALREADY feel like the richest woman in the world. Because I am so loved by so many. I don't ever, ever want to lose sight of that. And all the money in the world can't buy me that drug.

 

 

Dear Moms...

Jesus wants you to chill out:

http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2012/10/dear-moms-jesus-wants-you-to-chill-out.html

loved it!

What Made My Heart Happy Today:

1-Gabe has been telling me daily, sometimes multiple times a day: "Mommy? Do you know what you are? Me: "No, what?" "You are just beautiful Mommy." Not sure what prompts him to say this so frequently other than he hears PapaMonkey say it often. That right there is an amazing Daddy modeling what great love for his boy :)
2-Ellie giving up something for Aubrie to play without being asked to share.
3-Aubrie talking to her play baby doll that talks also. Her conversation: "oooh honey! ooooohhhh honey! are you hungee?? oh honey....Mommy feed you! ooohhhh honey! you take nap?? ok honey! you be ok! ooooooohhhhhh honey! Do you have poopy? Ohhhhhhhh honey! don't cry honey! no!no! honey! awe honey! I love you honey"

4- Aubrie is really starting to talk clearly....so much so that I should probably stop calling her BabyMonkey :(  not ready for her to grow up. Twice today she said "Mommy! want "eah" (Leah) to babysitt! you go Mommy! "Eah" come now!" Once this morning and once tonite....is she trying to get rid of me?!?!?

5- Crockpot Pork Roast, seasoned potatoes, peas, crescent rolls, holiday grapes, and snickerdoodles for supper

6- The amazing Indian Summer Day with the amazing colors in the trees.

7- Seeing a sun dog last night.

8- Cuddles and monkies fighting over who's gonna sit in my lap.

9- Ellie getting in trouble and right before she gets her discipline: "Mommy you are so beautiful." oh wow.....these are smart little monkies :)

10- Gabe sitting next to me at the computer for schoolwork. I see him outa the corner of my eye lifting his leg. Next thing I know he lets one rip and starts laughing his head off. He then says, "I love farting!" I'll have you know I honestly don't teach such hibity to these littles....I'll give you one guess who does :)

11- We run out of hot water tonite and Ellie has to take the last half of her shower with cold water only. She never complains once....love this girl.

12-We've been talking about yaks, oxes, and axes...........tonite Gabe says, "Ellie, lets go get your yax." Ellie's reply: "What are you saying Gabe??" Gabe: "You know, your tool!!!!"

13- My man working a very long day for us.

14- Getting 10 loads of laundry done.

15- Starting the day and ending the day with cinnamon & sugar pumpkin donuts :)

Slowing Down

"It takes a full 20 minutes after your stomach is full for your brain to register satiation. How long does it take your soul to realize that your life is full? The slower the living, the greater the sense of fullness and satisfaction.

The body and soul can synchronize." 

~Ann Voskamp 

I'm slowing down these days. Back/sciatic pain finally got the best of me but there's been blessing in the "yuck." Clearing my schedule and cutting back on piano lessons wasn't what my heart wanted...but my body said otherwise.

 And I'm learning to just be in the "hear and now."

I'm rocking my babies a little bit longer. I'm pressing repeat a few extra times when a good song comes on. I dance a little longer in the kitchen when a little one says "Mommy, just one more!" even though there are 50 piles of laundry. I hold on tighter to their sticky embraces.

 I stop and talk longer than I should when I cross paths with the elderly...because these are the beautiful ones. I listen a little bit closer when someone's words say one thing but their eyes betray them and say different. Slowing...and being grateful...

Because it was just yesterday I was holding my little ones close to my heart, breathing in BabyMagic, changing 50 million diapers, hearing their first laughs....and somewhere along the way they started growing out of tubs of clothes in the closet in the blink of an eye, learning to tie their shoes, losing their first tooth...and I became a soccer mom.

 My life is full...but it's good. And blessed....because this soccer mama chooses the slow little love boat even though her heart thrives on fast race cars and loud trucks :)

Tooth Fairy

Monkeystory #758:

Tucking in Gabe tonite (he lost his "first ONLY tooth" as he calls it today) and telling him to keep the tooth under his pillow. He says, "Mommy? Will the tooth fairy really come? How does she know where I am and wait.....how do you know she's a girl Mommy? Is she up in Heaven....will you call her and tell her to come? Does she have a cell phone? Wait.....Mommy are you gonna text her and tell her to come in the front door or the window??" Love this kid :)

Fruit not nuts...

Typical Day in the MonkeyHouse:

 This morning my man and I are sitting in the office/studio. I'm sitting with the laptop on a chair behind him trying to print out some papers and figure out why in the world the mouse keeps jumping and moving all over the computer screen.

 

I'm getting more frustrated by the minute....I start to yell very unladylike at the computer....I start to threaten to throw the

laptop out the window.....then I realize my man is very very quiet.

 

I look up.....why yes, he is calmly sitting at the desk playing with the wireless mouse....having the greatest fun ever.....laughing silently. :)

 

He made up for his tom-foolery tonite. He cleaned up the kitchen and while the kids were playing downstairs....we ended up dancing to Aaron Neville's Stand by Me....right there amongst the mess of dirty supper dishes.

 

I told him if someone would have told me 10 years ago that I would be married to a music guy, us giving lessons together out of our home, with 3 amazing kiddos....I wouldn't have believed them. Who says you can't have your happily ever after?

 

 It may not always look exactly how you imagined it.....in fact....in might turn out even better :)

 

 

Selfless Strength

Pray...

Say Yes...

"I choose to say "yes".

"Yes" to the things God asks of me and

"yes" to the people He places in front of me. You can too.

I am just an ordinary person.

An ordinary person serving an extraordinary God."

{Katie Davis}

 

Prayers for Ethan

I've requested prayer for this sweet boy before but I'm going to ask again. Please please pray for a miracle. Little Ethan is now 4 months old, still in the children's hosptial and now in critical condition. Let's pray for answers, complete healing, and peace. Lets pray him home with his Daddy and Mommy.... Mark and Kara.

Sermon Snippets

Our past transgressions DO NOT disqualify us from the race.

 

The dark season don't last forever...God will pull you up and out...if you take His hand

and let Him help you push thru to the light.

 

Yes the destination is what we are all looking forward to....but the journey matters too.

 

BELIEVE....God really does have something bigger and greater for our lives.

 

One of the biggest themes of the Bible is this: GOD HAS MORE FOR US! God didn't send His Son for no reason. He sent His Son so we could more...so that we could have a greater life.

 

JOHN 14:12 "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

 

Sometimes we are called to leave something good behind for something greater ahead. And sometimes that means we have to burn something....so we don't go back.

 

DREAM BIGGER....start smaller.

 

Digging ditches means you believe that God is the only one that can bring the rain to fill your ditches.  Sometimes that takes FAITH....digging your own ditch....and believing that God will fill your ditch.

 

If we trust God with the little things....He then says, now I can trust you with more.

 

Stop believing the lies about yourself. God will always over rule....and upon further review He says: "You are enough. I love you this much. This doesn't have to be the end for you. Even if it looks like death and feels like death...it doesn't have to be death in that dark season. I have more for you." And He does have the final say. Take your objections to Him. Sometimes they look like a disappointment and it's just you believing you aren't good enough. It's you thinking you aren't capable enough or equipped enough. And God says, "You bring that objection to Me, and I'll you know that I've over ruled that and you are good enough. Cause I've taken another look at it, and you don't have to let that weight sit on your shoulders anymore. You are enough. You were made for more."

 

Moving on towards a greater life just takes one small step.

 

 

To watch the complete sermon....go here:

http://www.elevationchurch.org/sermons/greater/part4

Date Night

Date Night tonite consisted of:

 

1- sticking to our "get outa debt quicker plan" and have date night "in"

 

2- Family supper (sadly the first one this week where actually all got to sit down at the same time)

 

3- Baths and kitchen cleanup

 

4- Monkey business here and there :)

 

5-Bible stories

 

6- Tucking in and laying hands on Aubrie and praying for healing of her uti and sore throat and overall miserableness

 

7- Snuggling up together to watch The Voice with some Goose Island, guacamole & chips, and a mean cherry cobbler with cool whip (which i discovered that it tastes much better and turns out much better if you add 1 MORE COMPLETE WHOLE STICK OF BUTTER TO THE RECIPE WHEN IT ALREADY HAS 1 WHOLE STICK OF BUTTER IN IT!!!! oh my goodness.....yes.....unbelievable

What can I say? Country kids love them some butter :)

 

8- BabyMonkey not settling down so we bring her down to snuggle with us and enjoy some one on one time with her and laughing at her loopiness at that time of the night

 

9- Tucking all monkies back in for the 50th time and threatening them with no cookies or candy for the rest of their lives if they don't stay in bed and get to sleep!!!

 

10- And ending the night rolling with laughter.....so hard we were crying....reading this:http://hahasforhoohas.com/the-fart-that-almost-altered-my-destiny/

 

11- Yeah.....i would call it an amazing Date Night....God is good...and we are blessed.

 

Happy Weekend!!

Stepping Stones

 

I love the life we have been blessed with....a steady adventure filled journey. However...I really love when we are given days like today.

 

A soccer game, 2 piano lessons, groceries.......and nothing else scheduled. And even though BabyMonkey is supercrabby with a UTI and a sore throat....I'm enjoying this cup of coffee on the couch.

 

Watching the most handsome man in the world play baseball with the older two in the front yard. Supper is almost ready....Creamed beef over potatoes, corn on the cob, sugar snap peas, cinnamon bread, and cherry cobbler.

 

That same handsome man snuck up behind me a little while ago, put his arms around me, and whispered in my ear that we are putting the kids to bed early and having a date night.

 

Today I'm thankful for this life and these people that I've been given. Not every day is like today. It isn't always easy or smoothsailing....and God knows we've had our share of heartache. We've messed up alot and not always always chosen the right paths to take. But I'm discovering when I choose to be grateful for all these little things then we end up on the right track again. So today, I choose to be thankful for all the rocks along the way....cuz they are being broken into stepping stones towards a beautiful road ahead.

 

 

Prayer

Love this on PRAYER:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=F3IVusw11Rw

Infinite Grace

"If you live close to God
And His infinite grace,
You don't have to tell;
It shows on your face."

-anonymous

 

When I read this quote today it brought back a flood of memories.

9 years ago I decided to pursue my walk with Jesus. After attending and joining the church that I had grown up in all my life....I started hungering for more.

 

A deeper walk...a more intimate relationship. I wanted to go deeper than the "surfacey things."

I prayed...and prayed...and prayed.

And cried so many tears.

And prayed...and prayed...and prayed.

And devoured the Word.

I pressed in....I was so desperate to crawl thru the dirt and touch just even the hem of His garment.

 

I wanted to know this Jesus who had died on the Cross for me while I was still in sin.

Romans 5:8"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

I wanted to know what this love was all about.

 

I wanted to know freedom in the Cross.

 

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galations 5:1

 

I wanted to know about this GRACE and HOPE that was spoken of....but couldn't see it or feel it where I was.

 

 ^"You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.  For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope". Galations 5: 4-5

 

I wanted to be able to share with others the good news...but yet how was I to set the oppressed free when I was surrounded by depression and oppression everywhere I turned in my very own church??

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,

¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4

 

 

I wanted to be away from the darkness that was surrounding me. I was desperate for JOY and light.

 

 

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.² See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.³ Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

⁴ “Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the hip.
⁵ Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy;"

Isaiah 60:1-5

 

I was so tired of striving to please man and be "good enough."

I wanted to live my life for God...completely...not for man.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

 

I wanted to be a part of this:

^"15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16

 

I wanted to live in the house of GRACE.

^"14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 6

 

After 2 years of prayer....and that peace that passes all understanding....He led me to a new church family. Freedom happened over the weekend (and over the years).....just one little domino fell down. And as I finally began to learn what the Love of God really was all about.....as I began to know who my identity was in Christ...more dominos fell....one by one. I rested in His embrace of love

and I gave Him my whole heart.

I let go of those black and white blocks of fear, oppression, judgement, striving, and legalism.

 

I knelt at the foot of the Cross....and lifted my hands high as the rainbow of His love and INFINITE GRACE embraced me. I stepped out of the darkness and into the light.

 

No more fog.....no more confusion....no more heartache of who am I?

 

And as I walked back into my workplace that Monday morning...I will never forget the looks of my co-workers/friends faces as I walked thru the front doors.

You see...I hadn't changed my appearance yet. My "looks/clothes/hairstyle" was the same as it had been for many years. But my face....glowed with the make-up of this:

 

I knew who I was. A child of the King. I was good enough exactly how I was...a sinner.

I didn't have to strive to keep man's approval. I had the stamp of approval the moment Jesus shed blood on the Cross for me. I knew I was loved. I finally knew that I was clothed in the garments of joy and grace. I was forgiven. I was blessed. I was wanted. I was His.

 

To me...it all happened in slow motion. The clinic seemed to come to a stop as I walked thru those front doors and time stood still. All eyes were on me.

Then the questions started: "What happened?!?!? You look so happy!"

"Laura!! You are glowing!!! Did you meet a guy this weekend?"

"Laura!!! wow! You are shining! Who's the lucky guy?"

"Laura! There's something different about you! What is it?? Tell us! Tell us!!"

 

And I did...I told them all about the "the guy".

I told them all about my Jesus.

And His infinite grace.

 

"If you live close to God
And His infinite grace,
You don't have to tell;
It shows on your face."

So True...For the Mamas:

Love this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allison-tate/mom-pictures-with-kids_b_1926073.html

Wags

Monkeystory #581

-----Gabe learned about wigs in homeschool today. He had a picture of a wig and then it was multiple choice to pick which word it was. It was A) WIG B) WIN C)WAG Tonite when tucking him in:" Mommy, do you wear a wag?" It takes me a little bit to figure out what he's saying then I notice he's looking at my hair. "Is all that hair a wag Mommy or is that your hair?Cuz you have so so much hair" bahahaha.......

Toots

Monkeystory#580:

Tonite when tucking them in Gabe and Ellie informed me very proudly: "Mommy, we tooted alot when Leah (the sitter) was here." Me, horrified..."what?!?!?!? what do you mean?" Gabe laughing, "We just tooted alot in the kitchen and up here in the bedroom while we were playing cops an robbers." Me: "Guys! that is really gross and not polite to do that in front of other people." Ellie: "But Mommy, it was just a little toot here and a big toot then a little not, not all big toots!" Me: "Well that makes me feel so much better...um not!" Ellie: "Mommy, we have a song to sing for you now......she stops and looks at Gabe and they start laughing.....then start singing: "Mary had a little toot, little toot little toot!!! Mary had a little lamb who had a little toot." They both fall on the floor laughing while BabyMonkey joins in the song. I sit and stare.....and stare...and stare. Great just great...not only have they taught her the fart song but now she knows a toot song. *sigh*

MamaMonkey Ramblings

 

 

 

For all the times I get so frustrated and wonder if any of our "parenting and love and discipline" is getting thru to these stubborn little monkies.....today I felt like God said, "here let me show you."

 

Twice today, we heard Gabe say kind things. Once to one of our students here after school and the second time out on the soccer field during his game to another boy. And it's at that point that I just want to cry and do a happy dance like a crazy MamaMonkey all at the same time.....cuz man, this parenting stuff is tough.

 

 It's so worth every part of it....but some days, you just need to see the payoff. Like today: when i spent a part of my morning cleaning NON-FLUSHABLE baby wipes out of the toilet FULL OF PEE that BabyMonkey decided to stuff the bowl full of. REALLY....i can think of better things to do on a Monday morning.

 

And then there's Monkies G & E finding great delight in playing "LETS RUN AWAY FROM BABYMONKEY!!!! EVERY DAY!!! EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF THE DAY!!! AND MAKE HER SCREAM AND CRY AND THROW A FIT.....EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF THE DAY!!! LET'S TAKE HER BABIES AND HIDE THEM FROM HER. LET'S TAKE HER BABY BOTTLES AND HOLD THEM ABOVE HER HEAD WHERE SHE CAN'T REACH THEM."

 

And then night time comes....monkies are tucked in....the house gets quiet...and PapaMonkey and I sneak out the back door and hop in our private jet and fly away to a exotic beach........I mean...I mean....we sit on the couch and look at all the toys I forgot to have them pick up...and say:"Yeah, life is good. We're gonna miss this someday" :)

Never Once

http://youtu.be/e02UNZRsdSQ


Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful