Second-in-command

This girl is amazing.

She's lost 3 teeth (2 of which she worked on for over half-an-hour each because she was tired of them being loose and hurting).

She was reading well at age 5.

Does flips off of the diving board at the pool.

Can climb a rope to the ceiling of a basketball court with bare hands and feet.

Has the memory of an elephant.

Survived a 105 degree fever at age 1.

Loves adventure.

Is as observant as an owl.

Decided on her own to outlaw her blankie at age 6 because it "made her want to suck her thumb" when she "fluffled"(the name she had for stroking her blankie! Ha!) it.  Mommy and daddy decided she needed to stop that habit, so she did. In a very practical and contemplative way.

Enjoys gymnastics and singing.

Was my biggest baby at 8.6 yet can wear size 5 in pants at two months shy of age 8 today.

Fills her place as #2 out of 5 children beautifully.

We love this sweetie.

Random Thoughts Thursday

Remember this picture?

Yes, it hurt hurts.

Yes, I was beat up...

by the gravel-ly dirt surrounding second base.

Hello again to red skinned knees and shin tan lines, sweet team spirit and my musty leather high school mitt.

Gotta love softball season(and my tendency to instinctively go all out, despite the painful consequences).

We had our second game tonight... was hoping for a little less of a wipe out this time around but it's super fun playing the game no matter what the score is at the end. The team did a great job tonight. Good attitudes, fielding, working together, encouraging, laughing, communicating...

Our team is beginning to become just that, a team.

~

Last Sunday evening, we settled into what will be our new digs for the next week or so until our basement is re-finished: my grandparents basement. It's a beautiful basement with it's own single car garage, full kitchen, washer and dryer, two bedrooms and a bathroom so we are quite comfortable and thankful!!
I love the imaginations of children. The other night while my husband and I were getting them a little snack before bedtime they wanted me to name each of them.  So, this is who we put to bed that night:
Tempest the Alstamol (part lion, cheetah, tiger, cougar, puma and panther).
Thumblina, the smallest bear in the world.
Tadpole, the cutest puppy, like ever.
Thumper, the tiny little lion.
and
Tipper, the sweet baby rabbit.
I love each and every one of my imaginative Ts.
~
I love my baby girl. She is a giant tiny piece of work.
She has a distinct squeal that she makes when she has sighted a furry little friend.
She falls on the floor and throws fits (at 14 months old!?)
She still doesn't say many distinct words, but my is she loud.
She is busy running around bruising her head exploring and keeping up with her siblings.
AND she is quite obedient! When I say 'no', she will, more than not, walk completely happily away.
She's growing up much too fast, as are all of my babies.
Loving every moment with them.
~

As I grow older I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.
~Andrew Carnegie

I know, and am hopeful, that the majority of Americans and the world alike would not actually talk this way or agree with it's proposed beliefs.

I am not naive enough to believe that many women could be so cold, and uninformed as to turn from their God-given, nurturing, and mothering nature as to dismiss and end an unexpected pregnancy with a silly laugh.

I also know that the world's outlook on the value and sanctity of human life has greatly decreased in the past few decades due to a myriad of things including evolution taught as fact and abortion seen as "okay" and "justified".

I believe that, though sometimes unspoken, the world's actions have completely condoned, conveyed and proven that the proposed ideals of this story have been, are today and will continue to be an ideal for life, taught to future generations, and is grasped onto and accepted as a completely tolerated form of action.

Here is a sad fictional conversation between two ladies that has a powerful glimpse into the idea of how

un-important, meaningless and expendable life is, to people who do not know Christ. 

She’s Having a Fetus
Joe Carter

Overheard at a local shopping mall:
Jan: “Marsha! How are you girl? I haven’t seen you in ages.”
Marsha: “Hey Jan, you’re looking great. How’ve you been?”
Jan: “Just peachy. Hey, guess what? I’m going to have a fetus!”
Marsha (excited): “That’s wonderful! Oh, I’m so happy for you. Isn’t it a blessing having parasites growing in us?”
Jan: “Yes, but I have to confess—I’m jealous. I wanted to have twins too.”

Continue to read The whole story

A Hymn of Faith

This is the prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on shigionoth.

~

Lord, I have heard the news about you;

I am amazed at what you have done.

Lord, do great things once again in our time;

make those things happen again in our own days.

Even when you are angry,

remember to be kind.

~

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls—

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer’s feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Habakkuk 3:1-2, 17-19  

sitting pretty

Pretty beat up that is.