Stained

A few months ago, Jerry did the annual re-staining of the girls' play system out back. I got in the spirit and re-stained a rocker out front. Between the two of us, and the girls, we made quite a mess.

Months later I am still reminded of our staining projects. Stain marks on the swings. Brown streaks on Jerry's work pants. Drips left on the front porch where the newspaper failed. It even tarnished the baby monitor when one of us grabbed it as Jade awoke.

Stain is like my sin. It touches so many things...people...that I don't even intend for it to. The harsh tone I take with the girls. The unkind word spoken to Jerry. The word that I should have left unsaid to my sister. Its affect lasts much longer than the actual act. Reaching further and staying longer than imagined. And even though we clean it up with apologies and try to do better, sometimes the stain remains.

During the month of March, the Bible study that I am apart of studied the book of Exodus. There was much to be pulled from the text, but one thing that kept jumping out at me was how much God HATES sin. Thankfully I usually spend more time amazed about God's grace and mercy and love...than I do wallowing in my shortcomings...but at times I think it is good for me to remember my sin, confess it and remember how much God HATES it.

On this Good Friday, I am so thankful. Thankful that although God hates our sin so much, that he chose to punish Jesus for it instead. Thankful that Jesus not only saved me from my sins, but from the WRATH of a Holy God who cannot stand them.

No longer stained but washed whiter than snow...only by the blood of Jesus.

Forgiven,

I'm hoping this is a good sign...

Jade marched into our bedroom, laid down on the floor with a stack of diapers in hand and said, "Mommy! Diaper!"

With all of the potty training drama that Lily threw our way, I'm just hoping this is a good sign.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

It never ceases to amaze me how during the Elmo's World portion of Sesame street they can take one little thing and pound it into your kid's head over and over and over again. Whether it is skin or teeth or nostrils as it was today, there will be songs, interviews, movies, etc all on this one topic. For some reason nostrils caught my attention as I was making breakfast this morning. They went on a hunt for an animal with just one nostril but kept finding animals with two of them until they came to the dolphin...whose blowhole is apparently a single nostril. Who knew?

Anyway, I'm just glad I was paying attention as the waffles toasted, otherwise my later conversation with Lily might have been a little more alarming. On the way to swim lessons she wondered if I knew that she had two astronauts in her nose.
Me: Astronauts? In your nose? (thinking of any little space toy she could have shoved up there)
Lily: Yes, mommy. I have two, but dolphins only have one.
Me: Oh, you mean nostrils. (sigh of relief)

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She is also rather perturbed about our pet situation. Namely that we don't have any. Months ago, I tried to get her excited about the lone shrimp that is still alive in our Ecosphere, and convince her that it could be her pet. Forget the fact that she can't hold it or love on it...it doesn't need to be fed or watered and I don't have to clean up it's poop. Works for me. Anyway, the other morning she was up at the counter messing with it and I heard her mumbling under her breath, "A shrimp? Man, I don't want a shrimp...I want a DOG."

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I also have to record that for months now she has called her heartbeat a heartbeep.

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And now Jade is talking enough to keep mommy on her toes as well.

We're encouraging sitting on the potty and I'm trying to praise Lily for going when Jade is around hoping that Jade will get interested in the idea.

So occasionally Jade will wander in when I'm actually trying to use the restroom and mutter praise to me..."Mommy? Mommy potty? Yay, Mommy"!

It is pretty cute...until last weekend we were in a crowded bathroom at church and I had her in the stall with me. She started praising me about the potty in an audible voice and then proceeded onto the pee pee vs. poo poo questions.

I was dying as Jade was announcing, "Mommy, tee tee? No? Oh...Mommy Poo Poo! Poo poo, Mommy?" Never mind the fact that absolutely nothing stinky was going on...she had just gotten herself talking and there was no going back.

How many shades of red are there?

I'm hoping Jerry will get to find out next Sunday when I send her pottying with him.

To read what other "tiny talkers" are saying, visit Tiny Talk Tuesday.

Baby's Got Back

I'm really not short on blog material...I just couldn't resist a few shots of Jade's protruding touche. I have a weird thing about baby bottoms...bare, diapered, in a swim suit. Preferably clean, of course. They are just so cute. Anyway, the Lord really blessed me with Jade...because baby's got back.

Her diaper wasn't even full...I promise.

It's all in proportion though...because baby's got front too.


This shot was just before lunch. This mama's got lots of baby to love.

Me, According to Her

This one has been going around FaceBook and the blog world for a while...just chiming in a bit late...

This is me, according to Lily, my 4.5 year old.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Get my shoes on.

2. What makes mom happy?
When I obey.

3. What makes mom sad?
When I don't obey.

4. What does your mom do to make you laugh?
Tickles me.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
You liked flowers, toys and princesses. (she didn't really get this one!)

6. How old is your mom?
100

7. How tall is your mom?
(she made me stand up and eyed me over very seriously and then said...) 81 tall

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Play with me.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Sleep.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
(blank stare, confused look...guess I don't need to worry about becoming famous!)

11. What is your mom really good at?
Telling Daddy stuff.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Telling Daddy secrets. (I think she meant keeping secrets from Daddy...she's going through a phase where she wants me to keep secrets with her from Daddy...I'm not really playing that game.)

13. What does your mom do for her job?
She works. Paperwork.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Pizza. (So not true...I had just told her that some friends were coming over for pizza later that night.)

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
When she takes a picture of me.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
The Cookie Monster. (I'm not quite sure how to take that one. Wow. So many possibilities and I'm the Cookie Monster?!?)

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Play toys.

18. How are you and your mom alike?
Same skin.

19. How are you and your mom different?
I have long hair, you have short hair.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She smiles at me and kisses me.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
The pizza store. (Huh? Again...I think she was excited about having pizza with friends that night!)

So, let's see...basically I am an 81 foot tall Cookie Monster who has been eating pizza for 100 years. Sounds terrifying...I should at least be famous, don't ya think?

Let me know if you have done one of these...I'd love to check it out.

Have a wonderful weekend.