picnik.com

I am sure that many of you already have fancy photo-editing software. However beyond i-photo I do not:( I found this new website picnik.com. You can use their site for free and then save the picture back onto to your computer look at these photos I did a quick fix on. Isn't this awesome!?

L.O.V.E

This morning the kids were getting ready to walk out the door and Elliot asks Grace, "Grace do you love me?". Grace says,"Of Course." one of our new phrases. While in their embrace Elliot tells Grace,"I am going to buy you a mini Lego set really soon." I think this is his way of saying I really love you too, I am not sure.
These two definitely keeps things interesting around her! For as much as they drive each other crazy at times they do seem to love one another quite a bit!

Resha

There are two men in town that have decided to sponsor an orphanage in India through and organization called Kidstown. Last year they asked our Bible study to help sponsor the little girls in their orphanage by sending cards and pajamas and small things that they may need but to also pray for them on a regular basis. We each were given a little girl. My little girls name is Resha and in the picture she doesn't have a lot of hair because they all got a bad case of lice so last year they all had their heads shaved to solve that problem. I haven't gotten a new picture of her this year yet, however I did get a letter from her today. She touches my heart because she is in second grade and almost the same age as my Elliot however their lives are so different. Her father abandoned their family and her mother remarried. However her stepfather didn't want her because of the financial obligation to care for her:( It breaks my heart.
Anyway we have been pen-palling in a way. I have been sending her short messages and stickers and other small things that can fit in an envelope and in return I get neatly written letters from her that she has written in English with the help of her host family. To keep everything fair they have asked us not to send large gifts to the girls but to organize things within our group so each girl gets something of equal value. So last year we sent them a box full of jump ropes, pajamas and dolls. I am not sure what sort of box we will assemble this year but I am just so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of her life. She always says that she is praying for me and asks me to pray for her. and I think how blessed am I to have her praying for me when she has so little.
If you find time maybe you could pray for Resha and her house sisters as well.

Pneumonia....Again????

We have Pneumonia again, or should I say Elliot does. I was completed flabbergasted when I found out that this was the diagnosis because this was the second time in the last 4 months that we have received this news and it was different from Grace's, no fever and he has been acting like regular spunky Elliot. Really people I do actually take very good care of my children and they are hardly ever sick. Although I have called the Dr. 3 times over the last two weeks to have the same response of "its just hayfever it will pass in the next few days, however if it doesn't call back." Well I called back this morning because he actually was very wheezy this morning and has a fairly raspy sounding cough. I asked the Dr. if developing pneumonia common for kids in the sumer she said "no" of course and that both kids now need to go to the asthma allergy specialist once Elliot is better. So I will call and see if they squeeze Elliot in with Grace so we can kill two birds with one stone:) Good news is he is not contagious and can go back to school tomorrow. Bad news is we are missing our first two football games of the season and P.E. for the week.
I just wish they would listen to you when you call into the office, a Mommy knows when there is something up with her bugs!!

For Me Personally...

DISCLAIMER - THIS BLOGPOST HAS NOT BEEN WRITTEN TO CONDEMN OR MAKE OTHERS FEEL BAD ABOUT THERE OWN CHOICES THIS IS MERELY A SYNOPSIS OF MINE.

I am quitting Facebook!! Woohoo!

There are 3 main reasons this needed to happen-

1-I had 384 friends. Really who are these people. Last year in Bible Study we were challenged to really examine the new and modern networking tools we use to "keep in touch." The author asked the question how real are we being with these new outlets and are we really achieving the relationships that God wants us to have. She went on to say that maybe by using these networks (facebook, texting, even email) we are losing things in translation. Maybe even missing out on the whole story. I can say sadly and quite ashamedly that I have a handful of friends that I don't call anymore because we just talk back and forth on this networking site instead. I miss those phone conversations and fear that I am missing out on things I could really be helping them with if I were to call on the phone and give them 5 minutes of my time. Now don't get me wrong it is fun to catch up with people you never see or maybe haven't seen since high school or even grade school and it does serve a great purpose there, I am just not sure if they really need to be kept abreast on the day to day happenings of my life.

2- Time....wow time I don't have a lot of free time and it has just dawned on me over the last 2 weeks how much time I really spend on Facebook. I could use that time to read to my kids, bake something, clean something, call a friend on the phone, pray any number of things and I think those things are more valuable to me. I have a blackberry and it is constantly blinking at me with something and I feel like I need to look at it and respond to, this takes time. In fact I looked over at Brian the other night as we were going to bed and we are both laying there with our blackberries in our hands checking our emails one last time and sending any quick messages that needed to be taken care of. Really I say to myself, SERIOUSLY? Now remember I am not saying that everyone should feel this way at all this is just me personally.

3-Gossip- Now this is a big one. Over the summer our pastor delivered a series of messages on gossip. He described several different forms and ways that gossip takes place and I feel like Facebook has been one of them for me. He showed me that even just listening to someone else gossip is gossip and getting caught up in that is just as bad as delivering the "news" yourself. I cannot tell you how many conversation I have been a part of and/or witnessed that start with oh I saw on Facebook. Are you kidding I finally told myself this is not healthy or helping me in any way shape or form to cut down on this -no not bad habit- SIN. Yuck sin!! It is hard enough to control!

So after really doing some soul searching over the last two weeks I have decided to quit cold turkey and turn off my account. You may now find me calling you on the phone more to see how you are doing. And I will get back to forming good healthy relationships with people I truly care about!

What is normal and who really cares?

Recently I had a conversation with a friend about her childs first day of school. As she was describing the environment and the teacher and all that goes along with that she made some comments referring to her childs behavior and the teachers response to it. She said I am just waiting for her to recommend that he be put on medication for his exuberance and excitement for life and to me he is just "normal". Although I know she didn't even realize what she was saying at the time and I know with all of my heart she didn't mean to offend me at all it did offend me a bit.

As many of you know we had similar experiences with my amazing Elliot last year. Oh man what a journey that was and how I struggled with the thought of my child being one that may need a bit of help in the area of self control and focus. Because in my mind he was "normal". Well let me just tell you we did come to find that my Elliot did have something that is referred to as ADHD and he did need the help of medication. I struggled with feeling like I was failing him, feeling like I was taking the easy way out, feeling like this diagnosis was something negative and something to be hard on myself about. But then I stepped back and looked at the situation with the Truth... God made each and everyone of us perfectly and specifically to fulfill a purpose in this world that will bring Him Glory. And I realized that God also calls me to do what is best for Elliot and what helps Elliot succeed in this life. Elliot is perfect in Gods eyes as well as mine. There isn't a single one of us who could stand back and say we don't struggle in a certain area. There are also many people in this world that do need help of a medication to get through each day and thank God for Dr.s that God has used to come up with these.
So I would say that this diagnosis is partly what makes Elliot "normal" not different or set apart. And this is what I am teaching him.

Peanut, Peanut, Butter

We are big time peanut butter loves in our house. We all love it however, I have become aware that we all love it differently. First of all in my opinion it has to be JIF, this is the peanut butter that I grew up with and it is the one I prefer, I could really careless less about brand names on most things but peanut butter is an area I am not willing to compromise on. Recently Costco changed from JIF to Skippy I was heartbroken and we did switch to Skippy for the summer. But today I went to Costco and what did I find on the shelf???? JIF!! I refrained from cartwheels in the aisles however I was elated!! I know many of you are laughing at me because it is just peanut butter but we take it seriously around here:) In fact I have 5 jars in my cupboard right now. 1/2 Jar of Skippy. 2 Jars of JIF:) 2 Jars of Safeway Brand Crunchy. As I said before we all like it differently. Grace-Smooth Peanut Butter with honey no crunchy things(crust) Elliot- Smooth Peanut Butter Strawberry Jam and Crust left on Mommy-Smooth Peanut Butter with Homemade Raspberry Jam can't be store bought no thanks Daddy-Crunchy Peanut Butter on the Wheatiest (not a word I know) Bread you can find.
Now you know where to find a Peanut Butter Sandwich if you want one:)

Ballet Ballet Ballet

Ballet started today!! woohoo I won't wonder what to do with my extra money anymore;) Grace picked out a new leotard and skirt yesterday they are both black, what a change from pink pink pink. She also chose argyle leg warmers and pink tights. As many of you know for the most part a let Grace dress her self and choose her own outfits which provides for much entertainment at times, however I also think it helps build personality. Oh man shes cute and I don't feel bad for saying so!!

Elliots First Day Of First Grade

My little man started first grade today:(:) Not sure exactly how I feel about it yet, but I can tell you that it was sure nice to start off in a great environment where I know that he is comfortable. We started off the year with some new adjustments. The Mommy is getting up at 6:30am in order to have some Mommy time and get my prep out of the way, this is new because every minute of sleep for me is coveted. However I can tell you after one day;) I think it was a great idea. The kids also are not going to be watching any cartoons on school mornings. The cartoons are just one more excuse to not be able to get onto the next task. After some if, ands, and buts, the kids did fine without them, imagine that:)
Elliot started out his day with Convocation and I went along to snacks ready for parents afterwords. It all went smoothly and can already tell a difference in Elliots ability to sit for more then 5 seconds. Now I know pride comes before the fall, and he was still wiggly and looking around the room but he was not bothering anyone else and he kept his mouth quiet. This is a difficult task for Elliot. In fact this morning before we got to school we talked about self control and I told him I didn't care if he was looking around he just need to keep his mouth quiet and hands still! He did both what a blessing.
I am looking forward to this school year I think its going to be great. Oh and by the way Elliot told me this morning again to remember that he goes to school everyday this year, all day and not to forget to take him on Tuesdays and Thursdays because hes not in kindergarten anymore. At least he keeps me on my toes, I will never be bored as long as he is living under this roof:)