The Fish Tank

I didn't follow through on Monday Musings so I thought I'd share my thoughts today. I have been wavering back and forth with what to write. I thought maybe I'd get some profound epiphanies through the scripture I read today but that didn't happen. Unfortunately my mind kept wandering back to surrender. A topic I didn't want to face. We had communion at church Sunday. Now, I always get a little weepy during this but Sunday it was uncontrollable. I couldn't wipe the tears away fast enough. No, I wasn't sad. I was scared. I hadn't completely surrendered to God some things I needed to let go of and knew I needed to. I had one of those heart pounding moments where I knew I had to do something but didn't want to because the road might be difficult. Notice how I said "might." I don't really know if the road after surrender will be tough, I just assume it will. I set myself up to deal with the worst even though the worst hasn't been present...

Every night before dinner Scott and I pray. We pray about many different things. Usually Jackson holds our hands and just watches sneaking a bite of food here and there placing his slimy hand back in ours. Last night Scott asked Jackson what he'd like to pray for. We've asked him before but he never really responded. He'd just whisper giberish for his own prayer. Well, last night he said his prayer request was for dinosaurs and butterflies. So, daddy prayed for dinosaurs and butterflies. Jackson also bowed his head and said a little prayer for his "friends."

Scott, Jackson, and I had an extremely fun family day on Saturday. We started the day by going to The Heard Museum of Natural Science in McKinney. The museum has a walking trail and along that trail they put life-size dinosaurs that move and make noise. It was so cool (I thought of you and the kids, Amy)! Jack was very excited to see the dinosaurs on our drive there. He has a dino book and loves reading about the amazing creatures. However, once we got up close and personal he was a little unsure. He was okay as long as Scott was holding him and as we walked away from each one. It was funny to see and hear all the parents tell there weary toddlers to just go up to the giant roaring animals even though you are terrified. Of course Jackson can't stop talking about the dinosaurs and wants to go back. We just may. It was a blast. At the end of the day we ate pizza and watched Madagascar in our media room. So much fun!!!! This was the only dinosaur Jack would touch. This is what Jack di...

Watch out Frisco, the mommies are taking over:) Ten of us ladies were able to get away from the hubbies, kids, and responsibilities of everyday life and enjoy some MUCH needed girl time! We were all very chatty, giggly, and like tourists taking a ton of pictures! It was fun to sit back and listen to the conversation and laughing. We will definitely have to do this again!!!

Below are thirteen verses from the book of Proverbs. Some are very telling and others are just plain funny! 1. "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise." Prov. 19:20 2."Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Prov. 3:5-6 3. "He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done." Prov. 19:17 4. "He who answers before listening-that is his folly and his shame." Prov. 18:13 5. "The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts." Prov. 18:8 6. "Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children." Prov. 17:6 7. ""Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord." Prov. 16:20 8. "In his heart a man plans his course, but th...

About a month or so ago we bought Jackson a hermit crab. The kid really wants/needs a dog but Scott and I are not ready to take on that kind of responsibily. Quite frankly, we have enjoyed our pet-freedom. Anyway, I thought a hermit crab would be an easy pet to have and something Jack could enjoy. Well, it has been easy but we have added to the "Cwabby" family. Scott looked up how to care for hermit crabs and found that they like to be together. So, Jackson and I made the trip to the mall yesterday and came home with two more crabs. So, now we have three: Spiderman, Batman, and Elmo. All are named according to what is painted on their shells. When we just had Spiderman we tried to get Jack to call him Spidey but, instead, he called him Cwabby. Yesterday I went to the garage to tell Scott something. Jack had the crabs in their cage next to him. I told him that the crabs had to stay in their house until I got back. Of course they were all out when I got back. I found one under ...

"The Holy Spirit is at work in you to change your desires to match up with the Father's desires. We must keep our life plans flexible. Never make concrete plans without leaving room for God to do something different.: Priscilla Shirer My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11~"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I have loved, cherished, and "lived by" the verse since I was saved when I was 15. It has always been that one verse that stuck out to me; gave me peace. I thought I really understood and believed this verse; lived it out. However, when I read the quote above I realized that I don't fully live by my life verse. I have desires for my life. So does the Lord. I am a planner. Ask anyone who knows me. Everything has a time and a place to occur and I will try to organie that time and place to the best of my ability. However, these past two years have ...

We have had such beautiful weather that I just could not stay inside. Jackson and I met Gavin, Elijah, Auntie Bre, Macy, and Whitney at the park today for some fun running, jumping, swinging, and laughing. We even had a picnic. It was a wonderfully fun and beautiful day. The best part was that Jack crashed and is still napping. Wahoo for mommy! Thirsty??? Macy trying to quench her thirst. I love this face...so mischevious. Gavin turning Jackson around on the crazy swinging bar. Gavin was "coaching" Jack on these pods. It was so cute! He was saying things like, "You got it Jack!" Sweet Macy. Can she get any cuter??? Weeeeee! They love the swings! Hi boys!

Scott was not in the mood for my pastrami sandwiches tonight so we went out to dinner. Scott's pic: The Olive Garden. When we pulled up Jackson said, "We are going to the Grape Store." Both of us were a little perplexed and began to look around to find out what might have prompted this comment. We noticed that there are grapes on the front of The Olive Garden. So, we had dinner at The Grape Store tonight. Silly kid! I hope he never stops saying funny things like this!

Yipeeeeee! Jackson slept through the night! Wahoooooo! I know I sound like a new mom when, in actuality, I have a 2 year old but I cannot tell you how absolutely fantastic it was to wake up at 7:30am knowing that I slept without hearing the cries of my toddler in the middle of the night. I did get woken up by Jack's hermit crab hitting his shell against the side of his cage but I will take that over a crying kid any day! Now let's hope this lasts!!!

Ever since we began potty training Jackson (which is going wonderfully) he has regressed in his sleeping patterns. All of a sudden naps are a struggle and you'd think he was going to jail when we put him down at night. Then, he usually wakes up crying at least once in the middle of the night. Ugh!!! Poor Scott gets the brunt of this since Jackson knows how to work mommy to the point that he gets to sleep in our bed. I sure hope this is just a phase and ends soon! Sometimes it feels like we have an infant again!!!

I was thinking about what to write today in the shower. I was thinking about my circumstances and how, although they are not exactly how I would have planned, I have joy. Undescribable joy. I learned about this undescribable joy about a year and a half ago when our house fell out of escrow and I was going through a Bible study on the book of Philipians. I honestly thought I knew what "having joy in all circumstances" meant and thought I was living it. Now that I look back I realize that I really didn't live this out. Today I can say I am. I am living filled with joy even though everything is not exactly where I want it. I can seriously say that I have joy regardless of what is going on. No longer am I chained to life's circumstances. I am free to have joy no matter what's going on. Then, after this shower epiphany, I learned the following in my Bible study by Priscilla Shirer today. "God's voice reveals His character and His purposes. He invites us to coo...

We have had a fun week enjoying the Ft. Worth Zoo and a kid concert at the church where I attend MOPS. Jackson has had an exciting week! Here are a few pictures from our adventures. Enjoy! All the kiddos. Cheese! We got stuck inside the penguin exhibit because it started down-pouring. This is Texas:) Anyway, there were two penguins that kept swimming back and forth playing with the kids. They were so funny! Jack and Gavin being safe holding hands as they walk through the zoo! THe 4 kiddos:Jackson, Caden, Sydney, and Gavin watching the monkeys Jackson petting the fake elephant. I think he was more impressed with this little guy than the actual elephants! This was so cool. We went into an area filled with birds with a stick with seeds on it. The birds flew all around us and landed on our arms and hands. The kids were laughing so hard! Sydney cracking up at all the birds on her! The boys loving the birds and cracking up! Swinging like a big booy! Checking out his shadow. I explained to hi...