" The house with the golden windows "

The little girl lived in a small, very simple, poor house on a hill and as she grew she would play in the small garden and as she grew she was able to see over the garden fence and across the valley to a wonderful house high on the hill – and this house had golden windows, so golden and shining that the little girl would dream of how magic it would be to grow up and live in a house with golden windows instead of an ordinary house like hers.

And although she loved her parents and her family, she yearned to live in such a golden house and dreamed all day about how wonderful and exciting it must feel to live there.
...
When she got to an age where she gained enough skill and sensibility to go outside her garden fence, she asked her mother is she could go for a bike ride outside the gate and down the lane. After pleading with her, her mother finally allowed her to go, insisting that she kept close to the house and didn’t wander too far. The day was beautiful and the little girl knew exactly where she was heading! Down the lane and across the valley, she rode her bike until she got to the gate of the golden house across on the other hill.

As she dismounted her bike and lent it against the gate post, she focused on the path that lead to the house and then on the house itself…and was so disappointed as she realized all the windows were plain and rather dirty, reflecting nothing other than the sad neglect of the house that stood derelict.

So sad she didn’t go any further and turned, heart broken as she remounted her bike … As she glanced up she saw a sight to amaze her…there across the way on her side of the valley was a little house and its windows glistened golden …as the sun shone on her little home.

She realized that she had been living in her golden house and all the love and care she found there was what made her home the ‘golden house’. Everything she dreamed was right there in front of her nose!

Stop Trying So Hard...

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/01/when-you-give-up-and-you-break-youve-made-it/

Smiles...

Sometimes life just stinks....like alot....but at the end of the day....
the monkies always can make me smile.

1- PapaMonkey brought me fresh avocados.
2- BabyMonkey informed me when tucking her in that she loved me more than Strawberry Shortcake.....and then proceeded to educate me about her discovery of "her own boobies".....
3- GPS informed me he loved my hair because it was so soft and had no hairspray in it and that that is his favorite way I wear my hair because it's very cuddly.
4- Elliegirl informed me she loved me "to the back of the moon".
...And I'm not gonna lie.....having my windows open in January is the best thing ever :)

Weekend Brunch Casserole

• 1lb pork sausage (can substitute chopped ham, or even bacon if you wish)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 can refrigerated crescent rolls (8oz)
• 4 large eggs, beaten
• 3/4 C. milk
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Crumble & cook sausage in skillet until browned. Drain.
Line bottom of greased 13x9 pan with cresent roll dough (leaving in rectangle shape), firmly press perforations to seal
Sprinkle cresent dough with sausage, and then cheese
Beat Eggs, milk, salt & pepper together. Pour over sausage.
Bake 15 minutes or until set.
Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into squares; serve hot. Refrigerate leftovers!

My Hope

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood
and righteousness
I dare not trust
the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name

MONKEY BEDTIME STORIES:

GPS Monkey tells me tonite: "Mommy, you are my best Mommy ever! You know why? "
Me: "why??"
GPS: "Because you feed me good food. You tuck me into bed. You have nice soft hair. You help me do things. You clean the house. You wash my clothes. You give me good back massages. You teach me good stuff. You give me lotsa hugs. You tell me all the time that you love me. And you are going to buy me an ipod!"
Me: "Really? Really?? "
Monkies these days....

Our babysitter....aka: our monkey nanny....informed me tonight that when she was rocking BabyMonkey, all of a sudden she smiled and nanny asked her why she was laughing. She then felt monkey farts on her lap. Nice....i'm pretty sure there's no hope for any monkey "ladies" at our house!

MiddleMonkey.....just turned 5 years old....turned in her spelling page the other day that read this:
Dad Mom Pee Poop
Nice...like i said....no lady monkies here! sheesh.....

Keep Dreaming

Just look around at those on top. They held their dreams and never stopped. Planted them in fertile fields And watched them as they grew. Little engines proud and bold, Never faltered 'neath their load. Saw their destination through And you can, too. So celebrate the dreamer in you.

~Dolly Parton

Messy Faith

"I whispered, "I'm slipping God. I can't stand this another minute. Much less five more minutes. Or five more hours. Seriously God. I can't. I'm trying to be brave. I've begged for Your healing. And I truly believe You are healing me. But I'm freaking out. And I'm so sorry if 'freaking' is a bad word — I'm still on the fence about that one. But God, I feel myself falling and I can't figure out what to grab onto."
This is where faith gets awfully messy, isn't it?
Faith.
Most days, I'm like a little kid on the swing going higher and higher without fear. I know the swing will hold me. I know the chains are secure. I'm bold. Assured. Confident.
That night though, I was terrified of the swing. The chains felt more like unraveling threads with a screaming me dangling at the end. My faith felt small.
But my faith was right in front of me. And when one falls, out of instinct they grab onto whatever is right in front of them.
And I just want you to know that even small faith is completely able to hold you. It held me that night. Through the minutes and hours I didn't think I could press on...."

Read more at:
http://www.proverbs31.org/devotions/where-faith-gets-awfully-messy-2013-01/

MamaMonkey's M & M Brownies

1 Devil's  Food Cake Mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
2 TB water

*Mix all together for 2-3 min on medium speed. Place in greased 9 x 13 pan.
Cover top of batter with M & Ms and pat down gently. Bake at 350 for 20 min.
Enjoy!

MONKEYSTORY OF THE DAY

 Gabe says while he's doing his schoolwork this morning...."Well Mommy, I'm going to ask Daddy when he gets home if he can get me a hot balloon so I can fly up to Heaven where

it's always sunny and warm!"
#1-I'm pretty sure he's speaking of a HOT AIR balloon
#2-I love how kids think...I wish it were that easy....♥

Challenge

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge."

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Faith Over Fear

You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.

Love and Beauty

The other day I met a beautiful woman. As we talked about this and that she informed me she was so excited to be having the stomach shrinking surgery very soon. She didn't meet the qualifications medically so her doctor told her if she gained 15 lbs extra she would qualify....so she did. She gained the extra lbs. As we talked about it, I couldn't help but feel so sad. People....she was beautiful....I hadn't even noticed her extra weight. All I knew she had the kindest and sweetest personality, long dark hair, big dark eyes, and seriously...just beautiful. Then she said the words I'll never forget...."Honey, I'm single and I've got 2 big things going against me. #1-I've got 2 kids. #2-I'm chubby. I have to do this. I need this."

I'm angry....I'm angry what Hollywood, society, and magazines have done. I'm angry that we as a whole can't get our act together and tell people they are beautiful just as they are. I'm angry that so many girls struggle to feel good enough. I'm angry that so many women are heartbroken because they their true beauty isn't being appreciated.

Yes, losing weight is a good thing. Yes, eating healthy and exercising is an even better thing. But the best thing?!?!?!?! It's simple:

LOVE PEOPLE for who they are....not their body shape or size.
 LOVE people for their personalities and for who they are dreaming to be someday.
LOVE people for their hearts and remind them how beautiful they truly are.
Because we all need to hear it. And we all need LOVE.

Amazing Day...

mini piano recital + 9 hour date with my man + beautiful weather + shopping + Biaggis + Jack Reaper + Cannoli + getting to cuddle a sweet baby = best day ever :)

For the Wives

http://www.thirdoptionmen.org/blog/feel-my-muscles/

LOVE

Ellie....who just turned 5.....was doing her spelling the other day. She can sound out and spell many 3 letter words. She did probably 20 words correctly on her own, then said, "Mommy, don't look...I have one more word to spell for you." When she was done, she handed her paper to me with a huge smile. At the bottom of all her words she wrote: LOVE. I was shocked....I asked her how she knew how to spell that word when we have not done any 4 letter words yet, let alone the silent 'e'. Her reply: "I just know Mommy.....I see that word every day on a picture in the bathroom. It's my favorite word!"
Isn't that the truth....when we see and feel "LOVE".....we just know. It's not always gonna be "ooey-gooey" and all "romantical".....but the human heart is an amazing thing. It knows LOVE.....and it's what keeps us going in this place called life. <3 p="p">

Faith

FAITH is the bridge between where I am

and where God is taking me.

Miracles

PapaMonkey and I sat down and celebrated with a Digornio Pizza and chocolate donuts tonite. As of today....We officially own both of our vehicles!!!!! No more car and van payments!!! Our 2013 goal is to be debt free in the next year. And I'm happy to say we have been crack-a-lackin'. :) We have been so bad with our finances all 8 years of our marriage...actually there's alot of things we have been bad at....but we are learning this: There's new grace and mercy every day. Every day we have the choice how we want to live it. When we set our hearts and minds on what is important for our family and what kind of legacy we want to leave....miracles happen in our home. And miracles can happen every day.

MONKEY BEDTIME STORIES

1-I watched the sweetest thing ever. The kids had went across the street to play at the neighbors. I looked out the window in time to watch Ellie......sweet, brave little 5 year old girl... hold the neighbor's dog while Gabe...our sensitive cautious (very scared of dogs) 6 year old boy crept along the outside of the house trying to get past the dog. I watched as she talked him thru it, kept encouraging him, and slowly, he made his way past the dog. I had a proud Mama moment while I thought of all the times they have argued and not gotten along....it's good to catch these moments in action too. I have a feeling this sweet chick might just toughen her big brother up :)

2- Gabe and PapaMonkey were wrestling.....all of a sudden Gabe yells :"What???? How did that happen?? I just gave myself a wet wooly!!!"

3- Aubrie walking around the house saying: "Oh tooooooodles! Oh toodles!"

4- Gabe and Ellie inventing a new song. Then telling me: "We have to sing this  new pretty song for Daddy when we get home!" So they do...they sit him down, then they stand in front of him and start belting out: "Oompa-loompa-dooba-a-dee-doo.....I have a smelly fart for you!" Then they turn around, shake their hineys, and make loud farting noises with their mouths. We laughed so so hard....we have no idea where they come up with their shenanigans :)

5-I catch Aubrie picking her nose.....I get after her and tell her that's just nasty and not ok....She looks at me and exclaims: "Mommy! Babyfood in my nose!!!!" really....that's what they call it now days???

Our Story...

We all have a story...a beginning, a middle, and someday: an end.
What I really want is for people to stop judging others when their storybook
doesn't look exactly how they think it should.
What I really want is for people to realize that you can't judge a book by it's cover or
even the first half of the book....you have to keep reading and turning the pages.

What I really want...is when I get to the end of my life and they put my storybook back up on the
shelf.....that it is said: "She loved well....not all of the pages of her book were pretty...some torn...some smudged up with mistakes and regrets....some stained with fears and failures.....
but if you keep reading...and you really take the time to read her story.....you will see that she loved well. And her story had a beautiful ending.

And she had some stinkin' funny-cute little monkies :)

EARLY MORNING MONKEY WAKE-UP STORIES :)

Me: Aubrie, what does the cow say?
Aubz: Mooooooo
Me:  What does the dog say?
Aubz: arf arf arf arf
Me: What does the kitty say?
Aubz: MEeeeeeow!
Me: What does the lion say?
Aubz: Raaaaaaaaaaaoooooow!
Me: What does the horse say?
Aubz: Neeeeeeeiiiiiiggggghhhhh
Me: What does the bird say?
Aubz: Uuuummmm? Um? Oh! Flap! Flap! Flap!!!
{puts her arms up high and flaps her hands like crazy}
Me: Hahahaha.....what does the truck say?
Aubz: Vroooooooooooom
Me: What does Gabe say?
Aubz: {with a very serious look and sound in her voice}
   "Aubrie! stop talking! is what gabe tell me lots and lotsa times!!"

Heaven I'm Headed To...

I hear people talk of heaven
And how it's only for the precious few
But in the book that I've been readin'
Sounds to me like there's a lot of room
So I bet some folks are gonna be surprised
About who makes it to the other side 'cause in the

Heaven I'm headed to
There's a place for preachers, thieves and prostitutes
Saints and soldiers, beggars, kings and renegades
For any soul that ever found amazing grace
Ain't no tellin' who on earth He might include
In the heaven I'm headed to

It's not my place to say
Just who does or doesn't get to go
I'm only one among the many
Stumblin' down that narrow road
There's so many things in this life to love
And I believe there's hope for each of us 'cause

And the only thing I know
We all get the chance to go

Saints and soldiers, beggers, kings and renegades
Any soul that ever found amazing grace
Ain't no tellin' who on earth He might include
In the heaven I'm headed to
~Dierks Bentley

http://youtu.be/oUuX8aCrIMw

Moving Forward

The adjudicator looked down the row of girls and budding pianists and said it with this steady beat.

“We are all going to botch it somedays. We all sometimes get the notes wrong. But the song only goes wrong when we keep thinking back to the wrong notes.”

“When a piece starts to fall apart — fall forward. Fall forward into the next bar. Moving forward is what makes music.“
~A Holy Experience...Ann Voskamp

 

It's a new year...I'm determined this year more than ever to keep moving forward....even when I mess up and get it all wrong...I'm gonna remind myself that all the imperfections in our lives eventually turn into a beautiful masterpiece.

Conversations on the way to church:

Gabe: "Is Pastor Shawn going to talk about going to Heaven?"
Me: "He just might do that..we will have to listen real close :) "
Gabe: "Well I just want to go to Heaven now so I can play with lions and tigers and drive big trucks all by myself on the gold streets!" He turns to Ellie: "Cuz Ellie if we die and go to Heaven before we are old enough to drive, we will still get to drive in Heaven cuz in Heaven everything is just gonna be so awesome!"
Ellie: "Well I really still don't want to eat peas, even when I get to Heaven!"
Aubrie: "I ride pink pony and take my blankie in Heaven Mommy!"
Ellie: "I can't wait to go to Heaven Gabe, cuz we won't ever have to wear band-aids again...no ouchies in Heaven!"
Gabe: "I just want to go to Heaven now! I'm tired of living in Forrest."
Aubrie: "Mommmmmmmmy! I go to Heaven too!!!!"
Me: "Someday you can....but let's talk about something else now sweetiepie"
Aubrie: "I AM NOT YOUR PEETY PIE....I AM DADDY'S PEETY PIE!!"
Gabe: "Hahahahahhahahahaha"
Ellie: "Hahahahahaha! Oh I can't wait to go tell Daddy all about that!"

How We Talk to Little Girls

Loved what he had to say about how we talk to little girls.......



http://jeffdlawrence.com/2011/12/23/some-thoughts-on-how-to-talk-to-little-girls/

Life and Love

This mama had a very angry heart this morning when a migraine ruined our plans to hang out with amazing friends and team mates today. But tonite, at the supper table, when Gabe said to BabyMonkey: "You can't have any more bananas tonite because you will get plugged up so bad!!!" My heart softened a little bit. When we did a couple workbook pages together and he wizzed right thru them and then told... me, "Thank you Mommy for helping me do my school work good" he NEVER EVER does this...my hard heart cracked a little bit more. When I tucked the girls in, Ellie asked me to rub her back and Aubrie asked me to rock her...so I did both. Aubrie looked up me when I was tucking her in and said: "I love you Mommy honey bunny." When I got done and went to walk out of their rooms, Ellie sat up in bed, opened her arms, hugged me tight, and said "Thank you for rubbing my back Mommy, I love you so much" Don't get me wrong, we think we have awesome kids, but they arn't always this polite and thankful. my heart just couldn't take any more.....the anger left...and I knew at that moment that God is going to teach me alot more about life and love through these little monkies than any adult I've ever met.

TRUE HAPPINESS...

is giving it away.

Love it Forward-2013

As I fed the littles their supper tonite and filled their plates full...something caught in my heart as I thought of the all littles out there that may not be getting supper tonite. Snapshots in a faraway place in my mind reappeared as I vividly remembered watching little sweet faces eat rice and beans for 3 meals a day in a far away country. The excitement on their faces as we shared our treats a...nd gave them candy. As I tucked mine in to their beds tonite....and looked around their room at all their "stuff"...a part of my heart hurt a little bit. How many little ones are out there tonite...hurting...crying...sad...broken...hungry? How many who don't have a Daddy and a Mommy to tuck them in? How many are being forgotten? I want our kids to know the important things in life. I want to leave a legacy of love and not "stuff". I think 2013 is gonna be a year of "loving it forward" for the monkies :)

The Mystery...

 

"Friends come and go. Pain and heartache does the same. But for some unexplainable reason my faith holds steady - weak at times, miffed often. Yet, I still hold onto the hope of Christ. Am I crazy?

No, I'm in love with the mystery of God..."

~Chonda Pierce