Bible study

This summer, for 4 meetings total, every other Tuesday night, a batch of ladies ranging from early 20's to 50+ are meeting at our house to go through a book, based on Biblical truths and the Word of God on the lies women tell themselves, and what God would have them believe instead.

I am excited!

Last night was our first meeting and I got to know all the women more than I already did. Many of the ladies are close friends of mine, but I was able to know a gal from our church more than just by face; one of my new neighbors came, and two of my co-workers also came and I was blessed by the presence of all these women! The wonderful husbands of many of the women watched children so we only had tiny babies Weston, Andi and Will there--it was great to actually be able to discuss without kiddos running around needing attention!

As group leader, I feel more accountable to be in the Word and to keep myself blameless for Christ. Our couple's Bible study on Monday talked about praying, the will of God, and if he hears/responds to our prayers...all of this combined with the responsibility of leading a flock of God's sheep has got me re-energized for the Word!

My latest scripture memory verse is Phillipians 4:8-9. Here it is:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Moving

Well I am here at a laundromat, which I will explain later--but it means I actually have time to sit and blog!! And no kids to distract!! I will start at the beginning of our crazy past couple of weeks first :)

Last week was crazy with packing and getting ready for clsoing on Monday. We went to Ft Collins on Thursday, I think, to get David some new tennis shoes, get paint and banister makings for the new house, and we got something for the kids too, but I forget what. It was last week :)

Saturday and Sunday David played in the Alpine Tennis Association tennis match (or tournament? I'm not sure). The kids and I were able to go watch a little bit of Saturday's match and some on Sunday as well. He played singles, and won his bracket!! He played doubles with one of the doctors at my work, which was kinda weird to see that doctor in a 'normal person' capacity! They had fun and I think they placed second in that bracket. David got a tennis towel for the doubles placement, and a nice hat for the singles win. And I got a big old dent in the back of my van for my souvenir of the tourney :) I was backing out and ran into a pole right on the corner of the bumper--but it didn't bust out the light or affect the liftgate, so, for now we will just live with it :)

We stayed up late Sunday packing up the rest of the house, disconnecting electronics, etc, and loading up the van with the first loads for the new house.

Monday was closing!! We were there a little before 9, and out and at the new house by 10! We had the first load in the house by 10:20 and then the rest of the day was spent moving. One of our friends watched the kids till 3:30--what a blessing that was!! David and I got about 2/3 of the boxes moved by then, and around 4:30 people from our Bible study started showing up to help move the rest of the stuff! We broke for pizza for dinner, people unpacked our kitchen, and we had the crib up by bedtime. Ryan and David and I slept on mattresses on the floor but the house has been coming along since :)

We discovered the washer and dryer that came with the house actually didn't dry clothing. My wonderful husband bought me a completely new SET of washer/dryer from Home Depot--a fancy high efficiency model which I am very excited about. We sold the other washers and dryer we had within 12 hours of posting them for sale, so our laundry room is empty. We were set to go to Ft Collins tonight and get them, but then David was told they are on backorder. So we were going to go tomorrow. He called today and they actually won't be in until next Tuesday tne 23rd!! Apparently the great deal he got was pretty popular and they are having to order lots more from Maytag :)

Hence, why I have been sitting at the laundromat since 7:30! The 4 loads of wash are now in two giant dryers and I am watching them spin. It's kind of hypnotizing.

No pictures of course as I am at the laundromat--but I have some pretty good ones from the last week!!

Tomorrow I am planning on garage sale-ing in the morning with the kids, grocery shopping (AGAIN--the plan of emptying the pantry and fridge before I moved was good, but now I have to buy lots more groceries. I hate spending money like that!!) and then more unpacking...Brooke's room is probably 90% done, with a lot more to go in the rest of the house. We have the living room about 50% done, but when we get a wall mount for the TV and David can hook up all the electronics, things will go quickly to the finish point in that room. My kitchen is mostly done and I LOVE it. My fridge is a top fridge/bottom freezer and it's great...the dishwasher, even though it's a wheel-to-the-sink version and loud, cleans great. I have ample cupboard and pantry space...I just really like my kitchen a lot. The living room is huge and will have room for the kids to play, room to lounge and watch movies/TV...it's great.

Our room now has a box springs so the bed is built and we are in the process of looking for a dresser (we had to get rid of one that was breaking before the move). When that happens, and when we get the washer and dryer, the bedrooms will be in much better unpacking condition.

David is currently putting up Ryan's bunkbeds, which will help Ryan's room look better...we'll just hav eto find where we want to put all his toys and his room will be done. Thank goodness they were already in rubbermaid tubs--with the lids on them, they were quite easy to move!

The garage is the big area to tackle--there's lots of random things in there that need brought to the shed or brought in the house and put away. I want to get it unpacked so I can park in the garage and stop getting a sticky car every morning from the trees above the driveway :) However, it IS quite a blessing having a driveway to park in! I LOVE our new home. God definitely blessed us in this home he provided for us! The backyard is great and I have already mowed it :) I am spray painting some chairs for the backyard (patio chairs that my parents gave us) and we're getting ready for Ryan's birthday party on Saturday!!

Long post, I should wrap it up--and I promise pictures soon :)

Two Spiritual Gifts inventories

1st, from Lifeway...

Service -19
Faith -15
Mercy -14
Giving -13
Administration -11
Exhortation -10
Hospitality -10
Teaching -9
Knowledge -9
Wisdom -9
Leadership -8
Discernment -8
Apostleship -7
Prophesy -6
Shepherding -6
Evangelism -6

Spiritual gifts test #2
======================
Music-21
Faith-17
Giving- 13
Hospitality-11
Encouragement-11
Helps-11
Poverty-11
Intercession-9
Exhortation-8
Miracles-7
Teaching-7
Mercy-7
Leadership-6
Pastoring-6
Discernment-6
Wisdom-5
Administration-5
Prophecy-5
Evangelism-5
Knowledge-4
Apostle-3
Missionary-2
Writing-2
Craftsmanship-2
Healing-2
Anything relating to tongues-0
Celibacy-0

From http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift/index.htm

10 months (and 400th post!)

Two milestones in the same post. How lucky can you 5 faithful readers get? :)

Here's a picture post for all of you. Brooklyn turned 10 months old yesterday. Last week she was 18 lbs 3 oz at the doctor's office...CHECK OUT THOSE LEGS! I love summer weather and being able to see her chubby legs and arms!

This was after Mom tried to take her paci away and get a good Mickey picture--she screamed and cried and Ryan came to comfort her.
This is honestly how Ryan fell asleep, after playing on his bed for about two hours during naptime. I don't know how he actually slept like this, but it's awfully cute. David took another picture today of Ryan on a mound of toys, blankets, and his pillow--Ryan has been 'creatively napping' as of late.

So that's all--I am so tired and am going to bed! I packed quite a lot today and organized things for our garage sale coming up...we are maybe 20% packed. The big things will be the kids' rooms and kitchen which I can't do until closer to closing. I'd LIKE to pack the kitchen, but it will just have to wait. I want packing to be DONE and be able to be in the new house, unpacking!!!

He KNOWS he's doing wrong...

Tonight when we came home from Bible study (during which, he had been pushing the limits just a little)...Ryan walked in the door and after his shoes were already put away, he picked one up and threw it at the door.

Just because.

I said, "Ryan Dean, that was not a good choice!"

He walked away from the door, hit his bum, and said "I 'panked myself, Mama. All done."

And went about his business.

Well, as long as he can discipline himself, that makes my life easier, right??

9 lessons from the conference

Briefly, with little explaination I will post the 8 truths Beth taught from Psalm 66.

Who is it that you want to be? Are you willing to train for it? Are you trainable? Are you running aimlessly, or with a purpose? (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

1) God trains us to think bigger. (Ephesians 1:4)
2) He trains us to praise louder (Ps 8:2)
3) He trains us to live livelier--you can't go for the RIDE OF YOUR LIFE with Jesus, if you insist on sitting in the driver's seat!!
4) He trains us to prove mightier (1 Peter 1:6-8)
5) He trains us to emerge purer
6) He trains us to follow through better (Jonah 2:5)
7) He trains us to pass the Word plainer (Titus 2:4)
8) He trains us to trust Him deeper.

A few other randomites that if you want to know more, ask.
--Stay in your lane!!
--It is not about you (me). It is about God!
--Start praising Him more instead of talking about the circumstances. Bring attention to His Excellence, not our problems!

Waayy overdue update

I just have so little motivation to write blog updates anymore! We'll see what I can dredge up. Since it's been three full weeks. I might deserve to go to the blogging hall of shame for that.

Actually, quite a lot has happened in the last few weeks. Some big news for our family, some great events that have happened in Laramie, and just lots of busyness going on!! No pictures...this post turned pretty long...sorry. Maybe tomorrow I'll get some up :)

In the realm of the kiddos, they have both been growing and changing. Ryan hasn't had a potty accident in almost 2 weeks and is becoming quite the outdoor adventurer. He will spend most of his day outside if we let him--even today, when it was raining! (Just a little bit, Mama, it's okay if I'm wet, he told me...) He is doing chores every morning (that I am home) and every night and earning an allowance for doing so--and loving helping me cook in the kitchen. He especially loves baking (that's my boy!) but I think it's because he can crack the eggs, pour oil or milk or water, and lick the batter :)

He also loves matching silverware in the drawer so I jumped on that and he helps me unload the dishwasher. I LOVE having someone help me do chores now! He will also put dirty laundry in the hamper and pick up toys--even his sister's. Ahh. Self-sufficiency. I hear it only gets better! While it breaks my heart that he's growing up ("you don't have to kiss me ALL THE TIME Mama" he told me a few days ago...and is calling me "Krissen") it is also nice to have a helper!

Brooklyn is developing quite a little personality and shaking her head 'no' a lot! She even says no appropriately, such as when I am trying to feed her when she still has food in her mouth, or if people ask her if she's a little monster :) She hasn't mastered 'yes' yet, and is still hit-or-miss with "more" in baby sign, but she's starting to get that we can communicate together. She ALSO has developed a nice screech/squeal if she doesn't get her way and has had her cheek tapped if she won't stop. That does NOT go over well and as an emotional female, she lets out a heartbreaking cry and her eyes spill over with tears. Oh, joy...the emotions of femaledom have come to play already.

She's not crawling yet but rolls like a champ and is desperate to get where I am...if only she'd get on her knees she'd figure out she can get into trouble sooner!! Ryan is still her favorite amusement and I pray they continue to be great friends.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend "Living Proof Live"--a Beth Moore study weekend. IT WAS AWESOME. The worship team was AMAZING, Beth brought God's Word to us plainer than day, and I walked away refreshed, energized, and thoughtful. She taught on Psalm 66 and the strict training God has set for us so we can run with purpose the race He has set before us. It was great. I felt like I had just received a big hug from this wonderful, personable, lovable woman. The worship team was awesome and I think I have decided they could really use me on their team--I'd LOVE that. Or, to be a sign language interpreter...the ladies they had there were beautiful in their sign, especially during the singing! Travis Cottrell was the worship leader. I have both Beth's blog and Travis' on my 'blogs I read' list...check them out. I can't wait to save up extra money for some CDs of Travis' and some sermons/teachings/books from Beth.

It was amazing.

Now onto the big family news...






Ha, no we are not pregnant. But I had some of you thinking that, didn't I? (I always think that when I read that on others' blogs!) No, we have enough friends to cover that base for us :)

But, just as life changing--we have bought a house! Or, more accurately, are in the process of buying a house. We found a for-sale-by-owner that we just adore--and even better, it's just blocks from our good friends the Watsons, and close by the Ennists, Lucas', Bryan's, Reese's, and I'm sure there's someone else I am forgetting. It seems to be a popular area :) It is 3 blocks from a great elementary school, close by two parks, and has a wonderful FENCED backyard to let the kids loose in. If it all goes well we are set to close on June 15th, and I will post pictures as soon as I can after we know it's truly ours. The offer was accepted, inspections completed, and appraisal was on Friday. Our realtor has said if we haven't heard from the appraisal, that's good news--I'll call tomorrow to be sure, if I don't hear back first. So now, we pack, pack some more, wait, pack, and pray that it's what God has intended for our life! Three weeks from today, we will hopefully be in our new home.

Ryan turns 3 in just a month, and Brooklyn will be one in July. I can't believe how the last year has flown. 1 year ago, I graduated nursing school, LOVED my summer 'off', became an RN, watched my baby turn 2, went to Disney World, had another baby, started my first job and found my second, had a great Christmas with David's family, and watched my favmily grow physically and in Christ. I can't belive how time has flown for the four of us.

Ryan is signed up for "Little Kicker's" 3 year old soccer starting in August--he will have practices at a park a few blocks away for a month and games for another month. I think he'll love it!! We have ordered birthday supplies for their respective birthday parties--and hope to have Ryan's party outdoors at our new house. Pray for a beautiful day because we want to let the kids play in the sprinkler on our great lawn during the party!!

I started a new work schedule, Mondays and Wednesdays 7ish till 4:00(ish). Though I work more hours overall, it gives me more days home with the kids and I love being able to spend more quality time with them. I am able to get more accomplished at work, as well, instead of just running in and out 5 hours later.

Anyway, a lengthy enough update I think this is...please leave me a comment if you actually read this thing and it will motivate me to update more frequently :)

Weddings

Ryan was looking at our wedding photo on the wall the other morning at breakfast. He asked me where that was, and when I said it was at Daddy's and my wedding, he asked what that meant. I said, when grownups decide they love each other, they can get married, and have a wedding.

He thought for a moment, and said "I want to get married, Mama."

I asked "who do you want to get married to?"

And he said "I want to marry God. Cause I just love Him."

There's your dose of cute for the day!