new background new mood

Today is Friday!!!! I have NO IDEA what we will be doing this weekend. And I am quite happy with that! I changed my background and put my playlist on shuffle.... oooh a day of change! Alex is spending the night with my granny and popaw tonight. Too bad Bob is sick ;)
I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe, healthy weekend!

Thought for the day:

Be encouraged.

I received a letter from Spencer Bachus (member of congress) thanking me and reminding me of his stand on all things PRO LIFE. It helps to know you are heard. Alex's school also completed some petitions for me to send to National Right to Life to stop the Obama abortion agenda! I'll be sending those today. If anyone wants to sign or wants a copy of the petition go to http://www.nrlc.org/
Whatever you want to do be encouraged and follow through.

bragging on my girls

Today I got in gear and worked with the girls on some things we've been neglecting for a week or so. Gracie and I worked on the alphabet, colors, shapes, opposites. Alex and I worked on reading and writing. Gracie hummed the abc song well enough today that i knew what it was! She wanted me to sing it over and over. Every time I stopped she would start humming it again so I would sing again. Alex read her new reader on the first try. Her teacher has been giving her harder books because she finished all the class readers already! We had a good time, got all our baths out of the way and got Gracie down for nap at a decent time! WOW!

Thought for the day:
Always apologize!

The power of an apology is amazingly strong!

the fight what fight

A clarification is in order for the name of this blog. Don't think I enjoy fighting or strife. I simply acknowledge the truth that we all fight a battle of some kind in our lives. Small ones daily... will I have that other doughnut, I just lost my cool again, if my face breaks out in one more spot there will be no face left, that sorta thing. But sometimes the battles are much bigger. I think if we share and lean on each other with the small daily battles we will be more connected to help with the bigger battles. That is all.

Thought for the day:
Truth is not determined by a majority vote. Pope Benedict XVI Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

When we are facing a decision in life do we follow the crowd? Or do we look to our God for direction? God has equipped us with decision making skills, we need simply to hide his word in our hearts and never forget to ASK HIM FIRST!

follow up and dress hunting

OK... follow up from yesterday.... after a 'show down' last night our family came to the realization that at some point we fell off the wagon. Thank God it was brought to our attention in a timely manner as to not drag out hard feelings!! Now after a few smart remarks here and there we are on the same page again!!! When all cards are drawn the fact remains that we all love each other deeply. Again, thank God.
Today we went shopping for Easter/spring picture dresses. Now this typically would not be such a hard task but my girls think it is fascinating to match for special occasions! Matching a 17 month old and a 5 year old is not an easy feat considering the older one is big for her age and the other is sort of small. In a funny sort of way it's like a line backer and a pixie..... I may be exaggerating a little but not by much. Any way when I finally did find the perfect ones I couldn't afford them. ARRGGG! That was frustrating! I still may go back -I don't know. Not that I care what other people think about their little dresses- I want them to feel special. I tell myself that your inner self is what makes you special and beautiful and that is absolutely with out a doubt the truth...but every little girl and big girl alike love to dress up special once in a while. But alas we are trying to build a home right now and at some point you have to decide expensive outfits or save, save, save. The little girl in me says go back and get those dresses. I probably will.

My thought for the day:
God rewards those who seek Him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. -Max Lucado (Just like Jesus)

a day of reflection

Today I've been thinking of several things. I feel like I have been slacking lately with my girls. You know, sometimes you just become complacent. That is where I am. lately I've been feeling burnt out. I want so badly to refresh. The problem is our whole family has become a little lazy at looking out for the best interests of each other. We have made a bad habit of watching too much TV, eating too much junk, and just getting through the day. With spring coming we need to do some spring cleaning. To the house? Definitely! But we need to do some spring cleaning internally too! After a visit to my baby cousin at Children's Hospital on Valentines Day it all began. Looking down at a six month old baby hooked up to various tubes and wires, I started to realize just how blessed my family is. I already knew this but a visit to the PICU will really drive that deeper into your thoughts! So I've been thinking today about what I can do to motivate my family into moving more, trying harder, saying the simple words of please and thank you a little more often, eating healthy again, and thinking about how each person in our family is part of us and if we neglect or hurt one it neglects and hurts us as a whole. So I am going to do the 'family meeting' thing tonight at dinner and see what each one needs to feel happier, healthier, and more confident people. We have options in our lives, blessings or curses, life or death. If we sit on idle the choice is made for us. I want to make my own choice!

Today I ask heaven and earth to be witnesses. I am offering you life or death, blessings or curses. Now choose LIFE! Then you and your children may live.Deuteronomy 30:19

I want to live. Really live. If our life on earth is but a vapor, I want to make enough of a vapor that is becomes humid.
Nobody who visits the south in the summer forgets the humidity!

I went on a picnic and trail walking with my grandparents and my two girls today. I love spending time with them. Gracie decided she was too tired to stay in a happy mood on the way to the covered bridge (partly because I woke her up this morning, partly because we all forgot how to get there) A 35-40 minute trip took about 2 hrs. But luckily I was in good company and sweet little Alex sang twinkle twinkle little star a million-ba-gillion times to help Gracie go to sleep. We finally got there after several wrong turns, a couple looks at the map, and asking directions from someone who could barely speek english. O.K. so by now you probably said to yourself 'where is your GPS?' WE DON'T HAVE ONE. Now more than ever I feel behind the times and think it is definately the next thing on my wish list. The weather was beautiful. The trail was lovely and our picnic turned out great. Bobby was taking old rusty Fords apart. Something I will never understand. He met up with us just in time for the 500. Disappointing ending again. Not to say that the win was undeserved but as always I would have loved to see a full race to the end finish. This never seems to happen anymore. And for the record I take Junior's side! Not his biggest fan, but I would have given it my all as well. It is RACING after all not follow the leader! It was a great day! I hope everyone had a great weekend and happy Valentine's Day.