Does this look like a happy face?

After Ethan finished eating Sunday dinner today, I told him to go to the bathroom to wash his face and hands. As usual, he spent quite a while standing on the foot stool in the bathroom, washing his hands...I thought. While he usually loves to fill the entire sink up with sudsy water and play with the bubbles, today he was studying his expressions in the mirror.

He came out of the room and said, "Mom, does this look like a happy face?" (He made a really mean face.) I said, "No."

Then he said, "Does this look like a happy face?" (This time it was a straight serious face.) I said, "No" again.

Then he said, "Does this look like a happy face?" (This time it was a HUGE smile.)

It was so cute! I could just see his little wheels turning as he was practicing that in the mirror. So I said, "Ethan, we need to take a picture of you doing that."

Here's what we came up with...he could not quit laughing then, so the facial expressions are not quite the same.

We got one serious face.

Trying not to smile made him laugh even more...

A little more serious...

His sweet face...

More laughing...
Trying to be serious...

It's all over now...he couldn't quit laughing.

I absolutely love watching him think and learn. He pays attention to everything. During lunch, we asked him what he learned in Sunday School today, and he said, “God made the animals.” Then he said, “and God made Evan, and me, and you!” It was so cute!

Evan's Eleven

On March 18, 2010, at 9:34 pm, my first born turned ELEVEN years old! It's so hard to believe! He is growing up way too fast! I am so thankful for my first miracle child. He has such a funny personality & he has such a vivid imagination! He loves to build things with his Legos and he loves figuring out things with electronics. He is so smart with computers and gaming systems. He has even figured out how to email people on the Wii! He can sing really well but at this age it's embarrassing for him to sing in front of people. I look forward to seeing how God uses him as he grows up.

Because it was spring break, we went to Texarkana to celebrate his birthday with our family. I had such a fun time creating a “Wii” cake for him this year. It’s not perfect, but we were pleased with the results.

We ate pizza with the family before we opened presents.

Ethan enjoyed playing with Evan's bow while he opened gifts.

Evan was very blessed with gifts from everyone in the family.

Uncle Kevin & Aunt Ami gave Evan a Soda Can Robot kit.

Kevin & Evan put it together right away. It looks like a techno-fly. It's neat!

We also had another child for the week. We had so much fun watching baby Joshua this week while his parents went on the Mexico mission trip with our church. He was such a good baby all week! Eric & I both commented last night & this morning how it was strange not having him here…we were getting used to having another baby in the house.

Memory Verse #6

I have had a hard time deciding which verse to claim for the rest of this month...I have so many good ones to choose from! :) The Bible is full of them, you know! Anyway, I have come across this one several times in the last few days through my devotional time, reading other blogs, emails, etc. So I decided maybe this is the one that I need to memorize. It's a familiar verse but I've never really committed it to memory.

John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in ME you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

So many times I get frustrated with the trials we go through, but Jesus said right here that it's just part of life. It's what will make me stronger and grow closer to Him. So I need to change my outlook on the hard times and start thinking, "What does God want to teach me through this?"

I'm also participating in Beth Moore's "So Long Insecurity" weekly book discussion. This week she asked us to go back to this post and find several verses that speak to us on God's strength and power and victory. It's very powerful and uplifting to read so many scriptures about how God will give us strength. Here are a few of my favorites:

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Psalm 105:4
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Jeremiah 32:17

Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

Exodus 14:14

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Ephesians 3:20, 21

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever & ever Amen!!

Isaiah 33:6, NET

He is my constant source of stability; He abundantly provides safety and great wisdom; He gives all of this to those who fear Him.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

What verse are you going to memorize this month? I'd love to hear it!

Drawing closer to Him,

Kim

Memory Verse #5

Wow! It’s already March! That’s 2/12 of 2010! 1/6! Almost 17% of the year is gone already. Am I using every minute of my time in the best way possible? Not always. I need to get back on track & make the most of March!

It’s been a little difficult, however, to make the most of my days this week because I’ve been sentenced to bed rest for an entire week…so against my personality! But I’m following my doctor’s orders because his alternative was to go to the hospital! And, honestly, I haven’t had the energy to do much of anything anyway. Pneumonia is an ugly thing!

So…I’m sorry I’m a little late on posting my first verse for March. I had 3 different verses I was trying to decide between for this time, but I finally decided on…

Isaiah 40:29-31
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

…because I feel weary & weak. I memorized verse 31 when I was little & it’s always been a life verse of mine. I like the two verses leading up to this familiar verse, so I decided to work on this 3-verse passage together this time.

So…what verse would you like to memorize this month? I’d love to hear it! It just might encourage me as well! Thanks, Jenna and Allison, for posting your verses already!

A New Attitude with an update

Turning those “Little Annoyances” into “Blessings from God”

This weekend, I’ve had a lot of time to just sit around & think & read & sleep. I THOUGHT I was going to get to spend my weekend with these girls at the Mom Heart Conference in Dallas, but my body had other plans for me.

I have not been out of the house since Thursday afternoon (very UNlike me) except for the 3 hours I spent at the doctor’s office on Friday finding out that I have PNEUMONIA! Not fun! Not fun at all! I don’t understand why I’m getting all of these strange sicknesses this year…I had strep throat in December & it knocked me out for 3 days. Well, we’re on day 5 now and I’m not really feeling much better yet. The doctor thought I’d be well enough to go back to school today, but I haven’t quit running a fever yet! And my chest is in such pain from coughing!

But…as I laid in my bed last night, not being able to sleep from the chills, I decided I needed to focus on my BLESSINGS instead of all of the frustrations.

So here are a few…

*My dear husband is trying his best to take care of me, the boys, and the home. It’s totally out of his comfort zone & he’s so busy & exhausted on Sundays anyway, but he took the boys to church with him (an hour early, I might add) yesterday morning, got our lunch (from McDonald’s), folded a bunch of laundry, washed a bunch of dishes, and got the boys to bed last night.

*Evan has been such a great helper! On Friday morning, he made breakfast for himself & for his Daddy. Toaster streudel with the icing spread on the top and a half a banana on each plate…just like I do for him each morning!

*My dad & sister met Eric & Evan in Gilmer to bring me my little baby back! I missed him so much! God knew exactly what He was doing when my parents took him for the week! We were able to help before & after church each night of the revival…serving pizza, setting the tables for steak night, & doing whatever needed to be done. What an awesome revival we had at our church!
*I got to sit on the couch with my 2 boys & watch an ice skating movie with them yesterday evening. I love holding my little 3-year old right after he wakes up from nap! I hope I didn’t spread any germs on him! J

*I have kept up with my daily readings in my “One Year Bible.”

*I’ve enjoyed reading Beth Moore’s book, “So Long Insecurity!”

*Our puppy, Eli, has kept me warm when he falls asleep on my lap while I’m taking a nap on the couch.

*Several friends & family have called to check on me.

*My friend, Penny, brought her books over to let me read while I’m sick.

*My friend, Kim, brought me orange juice, flowers, & chocolate (which I can eat now that the fast is over)!

And here’s my favorite blessing…
*Listening to Ethan sing “Pop Goes the Weasel” at 11:30 PM last night through our monitor. He was not such a blessing to Daddy this morning when he had to get up at 7 am, but it sure was cute listening to him sing last night! He was WIRED all evening!

***UPDATE***

OK, it's 3:45 pm on Monday and I just got back from yet another visit to Dr. Mahmoud. I called & left a message with the nurse this morning to see if I should still be having fever, etc. Well, at about 1:15, Dr. Mahmoud himself called me & said to get there by 2 for another chest x-ray. Lovely! At least it wasn't another needle. :) And guess what! My pneumonia has grown over the weekend! He showed me both chest x-rays & it has spread quite a bit! He said, "I'm trying to decide if I am going to put you in the hospital." I begged him not to & tried to be tough & not cry. He finally said that he'd give me another antibiotic & that I have to go home & REST & call him again tomorrow. I asked him about going to school tomorrow, and he just looked at me! I kind of laughed & said that we're TAKS testing on Wed. He said he didn't care. That I have to get well! So...I'm heading to bed now to try to get some sleep. Please pray for my stressed-out husband & my sweet boys.

Radiate 2010

Wow! What a wild night! Our church (FBC Malakoff) is in the middle of an awesome revival! Our pastor has been telling us about an evangelist, Ronnie Hill, for several months. He's been telling us to pray, and he even challenged us to a fast for the past 40 days leading up to this revival. He kept telling us that God is going to do something big and we better get ready! He wasn't kidding!

Yesterday was an awesome day at church...wonderful worship, excellent message, sweet fellowship. Today, Ronnie Hill came to our high school and elementary school to do a presentation. He even challenged 6 kids to roll a basketball down the court & make it stop in the half circle. If anyone could, he/she would win $100! One of my students WON!! She was THRILLED!

Tonight was children's night...and boy did they come!! We think there were over 400 people at church tonight & about 180 of those were children! And I think about 50 decisions were made. They picked up 89 people on the buses tonight! Amazing!

Supper time was CRAZY!!! The people just kept coming in...children & adults! I've never seen so much pizza! Evan passed out tickets to the entire 5th grade & a bunch of them came! He was so excited that his two closest friends at school finally got to come. Zach (the youth associate) did an excellent job with this white board demonstration of the gospel story after they ate pizza in the youth room. The kids were really well behaved too! I was very impressed! (And I'm still not sure how that man in the wheel-chair got up those stairs but he did.) They were very organized after we ate too...they grouped us by grades & we took them to the restrooms & then sat with them in church...talk about packing a pew! We sat 2 kids to a seat!

It's so amazing to be a part of something so wonderful! I felt very convicted to be a part of the "counseling/encouraging" group this time...I've never done that before & feel it is VERY much outside my comfort zone. I had the opportunity to visit with a 9th grader last night & a 7-year-old (with her dad) tonight. I felt very inadequate but did the best I could. I'm praying that God will continue to work on their hearts.

So 3 services and about 70 decisions already--we still have 2 more nights...pizza with the youth + a car to give away tomorrow night and then steak dinners on Wed. night! I can't wait to see how God works in the next few days! Let's pray to see even more hearts changed!

Memory Verse #4

I got the idea for my next verse a few weeks ago from my friend, Kim P. I've read Proverbs so many times but I haven't really thought of how important this little gem is. I'm going to really try to apply this to my life now.

Proverbs 12:16
"A fool shows his annoyance at once,
but a prudent man overlooks an insult."

Ouch! I guess I'm going to have to ignore a lot of my student's comments on an hourly basis! :)

I also wanted to share this neat website I found through our Sunday School literature. It's called the Purple Bracelet Challenge and it goes along with one of my memory verses from last year, Philippians 2:14-15. "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless & pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."

The challenge is go for 21 days WITHOUT complaining. If you end up complaining, you have to start over with day 1 again until you make it a habit by NOT complaining for 21 days in a row. I wonder if I could actually do this? It will take a LOT of discipline.

What verse are you memorizing this month? I hope to hear from some of you!