Patient Endurance (WAITING!!!)

During my quiet time this morning, I began reading the book of Revelation. Each morning before I begin to read (book or Bible) or watch (Joyce Meyer) I ask God to reveal to me what He would like me to see for that day. I ask Him to be VERY specific so I won't miss what He wants to say. This am He used the phrase "Patient Endurance" (which means to me, "waiting patiently", while staying in an attitude of faith) to speak very clearly to me. In the first 3 chapters of Revelation it is mentioned 4 times. (And once as "enduring patiently")

I love it when God is so direct with me. Patient endurance (waiting patiently) is what I strive for in the "everyday stuff" of life. I have to say that patience isn't one of my strongest points, but I am working on it. What am I patiently waiting for?

• Constant guidance in decisions regarding our family, finances and how to spend our time. (while I get answers quite quickly sometimes, other times I am doing the "patient endurance" thing)
• Opportunities to show God's love to those He has placed in my life. (I recently stepped down from my job at church to spend more time with Tommy and the kids on the weekends, leaving me to wonder what was next? After 5 weeks of patiently waiting, I was lead to an open MOPPETS position for a MOPS group at a local church. I will be teaching the 2-year-old class. Yay!)
• To call Dave Ramsey and scream "WE'RE DEBT FREE!" (We "officially" started getting serious about our finances when I quit my church job. While extra income would be nice, God is clearly asking us to "patiently endure" cutting back on our spending - I have only been to Target once in 50 days if that tells you anything about God's ability to help us patiently endure the waiting!)

I am so glad that God is always so near, to help when it is necessary to exercise patient endurance at a moment's notice (like today when Logan was throwing a fit at the library and the lady checking me out was taking her own sweet time, while those around us stared at the precious boy throwing the big fit.) God's timing has ALWAYS been perfect in my life, He has NEVER been late. So as I run the race of life, with Him by my side, I will continue to grow and enjoy all of the blessings He has given me while I practice "patient endurance".

It's a winner!

Pizzas on a biscuit! It even passed the picky-eater Olivia test! Yay!

Flatten Pillsbury dough ( I used the flaky kind), top with a little sauce and cheese and presto! Dinner! LOVE simple dinners.

American Girl

Last winter I reserved the American Girl movie Kit Kittredge at the library. Olivia wasn't quite ready for it at the time, but since then we have watched Samantha, Felicity and Molly. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the story lines of these movies! Olivia loves them too and they provide lots of opportunities for discussion about life. I can't wait to start reading the books with her.


Then, McDonald's started the American Girl mini-books in the Happy Meals. We haven't been frequenting McDonald's lately, until now. Olivia wants to collect each mini-book.





Then I ordered her the free American Girl catalog and we re-reserved Kit and she LOVES it.




She has decided that the new American Girl, Rebecca, is the one she resembles. Ironically she hasn't asked for a doll or any of the things in the catalog, so far she is just enjoying looking through it.


I am sure we will save for one one day. Not so much to play with (although if she wants to that will be fine) but more as a keepsake, one day to be passed down to her little girl. (which by the way, I will be changing ALL of the diapers for, because she said she won't be having children if she has to change diapers). :)


This reminds me of the Holly Hobbie and Strawberry Shortcake dolls I used to cherish as a child. While the American Girl dolls are ALOT more expensive, they are a fun childhood memory. I love it when childhood toys are not only cherished in childhood but cherished for generations to come.

I love this quote:

"If you carry your childhood with you, you will never get older"

Waiting...

We spend more time in life waiting than we do arriving......


We must learn to enjoy where we are.....

On the way to where we are going

If you can't find your kids, check the dryer

It was too quiet....

Then I found this:


Followed by lots of giggles and about 15 minutes of in the dryer playtime. Whatever works!

Sometimes the simple things are just hard!

A clean kitchen sink is therapy to me. I LOVE to walk into the kitchen and see it, I feel as though I have really accomplished something! lol!

But what is even better, is if I wake up and find this... It WAS one of my New Year's resolutions, to start my day with a clean sink. Let me finish tallying up the days that I did this.... lets see.... I think it was 3 days out of the last 8 months. ugh. When the kids are in bed and I am winding down my day, the LAST thing I want to do is clean the kitchen!

Why is something so seemingly simple, that makes me soooo happy, so hard to do? Oh well, at least now I can just look at the picture. :)

Wristlet = Favorite!

I have to admit, I like the security of my big bag/purse/diaper bag (my big red one from Target for $7 being my favorite of late). I can take EVERYTHING in it. Sippy cups, extra clothes, library books, etc. However, for a quick trip to the store, or just a night out with my honey, a wristlet is so nice. Why didn't I purchase this sooner????? I feel so much lighter! :)

First time for both of us

I have lived here for almost 11 years and have NEVER been to the State Fair! I can't believe it! So today I took Olivia (a day for just the two of us) and we met Stef and Aiden (Ethan is in school) for a day at the fair!

"Look mom, my drink matches my dress and my eyes!"

Olivia loved running through the stands! I told her this is where the concerts are and she just loved it!

Trying to decide....game or ride, game or ride... in the end she got both!

The Nascar ride.. The semi ride... (notice she chose the purple one) :)

I should have had Stef take a picture of us! This is the only one I took for the two of us.

Climbing the tractors....This one was taken right before she pushed the button that STARTED THE TRACTOR!!! See the "Wonder what this button does?" look on her face? opps!

Olivia's favorite part was the pony ride, and her pony was named "Starbucks"! Too funny!

Olivia and Aiden really enjoyed watching the young equestrians in the practice arena.



It was a great day, lots of walking, talking and watching the kids have a ball. Next year I want to take Logan too.

On the way home:

Olivia: "Mom, there is alot of commotion at the fair!"

Me: "You are right! It is a busy place"

Olivia: "What IS commotion?"

:)

Sometimes it is just simple....

I really want to teach Olivia and Logan to enjoy the simple things....

So this afternoon we set off on a walk/picnic.

Logan pulling Olivia... this lasted for about 2 minutes but I loved the help!

Climbing little monkeys... This makes them so happy and it is just a short walk from our home! Fun Stop #1

LOVE THIS BOY!!!

LOVE THIS GIRL!

Thanks to PBS Kids shows that teach about recycling all the time! Logan enjoyed walking around the bin saying the letters.

Throwing sticks in the creek. They could do this for hours. Looking for sticks and then tossing them into the water to watch the splash... simple and fun for a little one! (Notice how brave Logan is, ugh!) Fun Stop #2The fountain is fun stop #3. The kids love to get to the fountain and watch the water. I love how much they enjoy listening to the water and watching it fall. I never get tired of seeing fountains and I NEVER get tired of watching them enjoy simple things...

One of my favorite parts of the walk

Remember this one?

That's right folks, Tommy and Olivia are playing the prehistoric gaming system PSOne. I remember when we bought this, WAAAYYYYY before the kids were born. Tommy got it out recently and the kids LOVE it! So while its not a DS or a Wii, the kids are having a ball! (all three of them, Tommy included.) :)



Olivia's favorite - Barbie Explorer
Logan's favorite - Atlantis he calls it "Super hot" (a man manuvering over lava)

I am sure a Wii is in our family-gaming future... we better start saving! :)