As Our World Turns

I've been so focused on posting pictures and getting caught up on my blog from the past few months, that I haven't really written anything about what we're up to right now.  I've been sorta obsessive compulsive about posting pictures and blogging about the summer and fall.  I can't just not post pictures and leave a big gap in my blogging!  :-)  Oh my, no!  Well, actually, yes I can.  So, here they are.  Real, actual words about us!

* I don't know if I mentioned this before, but Josiah is now POTTY-TRAINED!  (Pardon me while I yell a little!)  He still wears a diaper for naps and night-time, but I wonder if he'd do pretty good if I just put underwear on him.)  Anyway, it's really, really nice.  He's younger than either of his big brothers were. :-)

* Hannah is now cruising around furniture and standing alone for a few seconds at a time.  I think she's just itchin' to walk.  She's also started trying out a few words here and there.  Or, maybe I should say, making obvious attempts.  That just amazes me!  As Rhonda (mother of 4 of my nieces) would say, with a knowing, almost smug look, "That's how girls are!"  And, her first two teeth are about to pop through - late just like her brothers!

* I've been going to physio therapy for my back and feet.  I don't know what's wrong with my feet, but I'm supposed to be "massaging" them with a little ball and it hurts like the dickens.  And for my back, we're strengthening my almost-non-existent abs.  Fun.  The therapist showed me how to exercise abdominal muscles I never knew I had.  And I would never have found them by doing crunches.  It's very interesting and gives my some hope for some day having a flatter tummy and no lower back pain.  

*  I have a Dr. appt. for Josiah on Monday to check out his little "seizures" that he gets when he hits the back of his head.  

*  We went to the dentist a few weeks ago and found out that Logan has 5 cavities and Caleb has 2.  Caleb also has a receding gum by one tooth which is either caused by crowding (sorry for the genetics I passed on there, Son!!) or plaque build-up.  Sigh.  So we're beefing up the brushing routines.  Instead of getting the cavities filled immediately, I'm going to get a second opinion at the suggestion of a friend.  But, that means another dentist visit and bill.  It seems like we've been in a "season" of appointments lately and it sure makes the schedule challenging!! 

*  Yesterday Logan was drawing worms in his "Do You Doodle?" book and he said (loosely quoted):

Logan:  Look Mom, these worms are girls.

Me: How do you know they're girls?

Logan:  Because they have eyebrows.  Pretty eyebrows!

* Yesterday I spent about three hours talking on the phone with two friends.  That was so much fun, because it hardly ever happens.  But, it's frustrating too, because at the same time I'm feeling a little bit guilty for "neglecting" my kids and house.  I guess that's just one of the tensions of my chosen schedule and life right now.

* A quote from one of the aforementioned conversations:  "I love Math in theory.  It's the actual numbers that mess me up."  Oh, really, Becky?!?

* Yesterday Caleb was reading "World", a Christian news magazine.  Suddenly he piped up with, "Mom, what's abortion?"  Ugh.  I told him and watched the flicker of pain that went over his face.  It's so sad to see their innocence slowly be chipped away by the rawness of our fallen world.  Did I make the right decision in telling him?

* I've been very fed up lately with my "brokenness" and the junk in my heart.  I'm so longing for a real and lasting change.  "How long, Oh Lord, how long??"

* And along those lines...  We're heading up to Stormer Lake this afternoon (as soon as I'm done with this post?) for a weekend of encouragement and fellowship.  There will be about 10 of us getting together to share and pray for each other and worship together.  I'm hoping this will be another good step along the journey of life.

* In the past few months, Josiah has gone from "stinker" to "the sweetest thing around" to "Challenging"!!  Help me, Lord!

* Oh, and speaking of brokenness... I've REALLY been struggling with my eating lately.  I just want to eat what I want and when I want and hang the consequences.  (Well, actually, I'm wearing the consequences.)  I was thinking about a whole post about "hunger", but here's the abridged version.  When I'm "hungry" for comfort food, what I really need, I know is to feel loved, safe, comforted, etc.  And I know in my head that food doesn't bring a lasting satisfaction.  It just makes me want to go back for more.  Recently I was reminded of the verse, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.   It's a promise.  So, do I need to re-direct my "hunger" in the right direction?  To hunger after God, to long for him to fill my heart with his love and to love him in return, to hunger to be clean and pure in his eyes.  That's what I really long for underneath the "felt need" for chocolate.

* Keith has gone moose-hunting a few days with no success yet.  Last Sat. he took Caleb and Logan with him.  They actually saw a cow, but it was right when they parked the truck and Keith didn't even have his gun loaded yet and she took off right away.  He was pretty disgusted about that one!

* Oh, and I did have a birthday sometime not long ago which was well-celebrated.  I celebrated by signing up on facebook.  Haha.  Not really.  But I did join facebook around that time and I can attest that it's fun but it can be a real time-waster.  I still like blogs and blogging!

* And now it's time to close this sucker down, give Hannah a bottle, and hit the road.  And when I come home, I'll have 12 comments, right?  :-) (That's what ya call shameless begging!)