He First Found His Own Brother

This little guy already has a heart for the gospel. For Christ. For sharing the gospel of Christ with others. He's bold. He has a passion that in untamed by fear of rejection or ridicule and will tell anyone who will listen about Christ.

Jesse and I talk about how much he talks sometimes... it does seem to be never ending. But, much of his talk is about Christ. His passion reminds me of Andrew. He doesn't wait until he knows everything about Christ... he waits long enough to realize who Christ is and then he's off to tell his brother.

{ESV}

I want to be like that when I grow up!

Be Mine {Friday Favorites}

It's been a while since I've done Friday Favorites, and what can I say? Apparently, I'm in the mood to get ready for Valentine's Day!

Last year, I made a Valentine's Day Friday Favorite's list for my husband to get gift ideas for me... and then I was a stinker when I didn't get a single thing from the list. Even though he did get me some nice things! I'm such a brat.

This year, my collection is more broad... there may be a thing or two on here I'd like for my little girl instead. :) We'll see what happens!

Any favorite books or movies you'd suggest for the 14th? I'd love to hear your ideas!

What I'd Tell You

If you came over today, I'd tell you that I've officially started using cloth diapers yesterday. The entire 5 that I own. Which doesn't last the entire day. But I've got more on the way. So, soon.

I would tell you, I'm feeling fairly good about the whole thing but that I probably did 20 hours of research before I got started. And I really wish that I knew someone who was using the pocket diapers like mine to shop me step-by-step their own process. The whole yucky-messy thing.

If you were here, I wouldn't have to tell you that the house is a mess. It's not as horrible as it has been in the past month. But it's not great, and I really need to get it back under control before it becomes a uncontrollable monster again. But! The Christmas decorations are put away... always good!

I'd tell you that Cruz is walking now. And climbing everything. Making little step-stools out of anything he can. And he gets really mad about not being allowed to get and touch and climb whatever he so desires.

My big kids, I'd tell you, are learning the books of the Bible, and read the story of the Tower of Babel today. And then built a tower. The directions said to use little balls of clay and toothpicks. But we used toothpicks and mini-marshmallows. Because it sounded yummier. And they liked it more. And now (at 6:05) their disassembling it and eating the marshmallows as a pre-dinner treat. Because that's how we're rolling today.

What would you tell me?

Waking Up

I laid down beside Eliana today for a few minutes to encourage her to fall asleep. She's been fighting the naps she still desperately needs. (It doesn't make for pleasant outings in the evening when she immediately crashes the second we leave the house.) An hour later, I came down the stairs to realize Diego wasn't here. Fortunately, Jesse wasn't either and I was hoping they'd left together. A phone call and some relief to know they'd both headed out to Autozone made my mama's heart calm down from all the what-ifs that floated about.

Honestly, I'm tired. I've been somewhat of an insomniac lately. I find myself ready to climb into bed at 9:30 (instead of midnight), but then I wake up at 2, and 3, and 4:30... at which time I finally give up and pull our Jane Eyre. I finished the last several chapters this morning all before the kids woke up.

My cell phone hadn't been charged since late December... my pastor mentioned me not replying to a text he'd sent. Whoops! I confessed I hadn't used that thing in weeks. He mentioned something about feeling free... yes, yes, I do when I don't have it. Yesterday, Jesse charged it for me and I spent a good deal of time listening to phone messages. (Good thing most people know my home phone, but still...) I've yet to receive several texts that were sent over the past few weeks.

I'm determined to write again. To do something with my shop in the next few weeks. Sorry I've been gone so much, but I find myself still waking up...


Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight.  God's bright glory has risen for you.The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness,But God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you.


Love you all for listening.

And So It Begins

For over a year now, I've been waiting to see my *ahem* relative try her cloth diapers to decide whether or not I should give it a go. I'm still waiting. So, then my relative-in-law (ya'll know who you are!) bought some. I think she used 'em a bit with her older one but still hasn't tried them with little one who is now almost two months old and although I've asked for a review of how she likes them... I'm still waiting. *sigh* I'm sure she's doing nothing else but sitting around eating bon-bons all day.

And then my little man started breaking out while using one of the two major brands that I've always trusted. So, I switched him back to the other brand (even though I've noticed they've recently raised their prices, again)... and still the break-outs now and then. Something must be done. If not for the rashes for the sheer cost of it all. I seriously calculated that we spend somewhere between 40 and 60 bucks on diapers and wipes a month. Yikes!

So, I've bought 5... yes, I know that's not enough... bumGenius. 4 of the 4.0 and 1 of the all-in-one organic. And now? I'm trying to figure out what to wash them with... I think I've decided on Charlie's Soap. I honestly am excited and terrified at the same time. I'm hoping that it goes well, they don't leak, and that I'm consistent enough to keep it up. I think that if it does, and if they don't, and if I am then I could be a super money saving hero! And that (here's another hope), it might help someone else wake up at night while wearing 'em and not still be wet at night. We shall see.

I plan on starting at nights and then if they hold up well, I'll buy more of the same type... and if not I may peruse other brands.

SO, here's to my start of a journey. Any suggestions on the subject are, of course, welcome!

Yeah, So Maybe

Yeah, so maybe I've already posted about New Year's.

So maybe, I should just move forward from there.

So maybe, I should have shared Christmas a week ago.

But, here it is anyway.

A smattering of photos. We had lovely times. We had some really gross times.

We had a night or two where Jesse slept in one room with the big kids and I slept in another with the baby so we could help them "quickly" when necessary.

We may have infected everyone around us. It was the gift that keeps on giving.

It was a tired Christmas. But even with the sickness --it was good.

We were together. No one was in the hospital. No one was away fighting a war.

And our God came down and loved on us... in the midst of the sick, of the tired, of the weary.

Rock the Clock

Diego and I made the piñata that we found in the Babiekins Magazine... it honestly was the fastest piñata I've ever made... mainly because it was made out of an gift box and there was no papier-mâché involved. I'm guessing all told it took about an hour and a half. We followed the instructions loosely and used old hymnal pages for the the white and gold tissue paper instead of craft paper for the circumference. I also pulled out Jesse's hot glue gun... which made it very fast to place on the paper.

We made ours a pull string in pinata because we didn't really think it was necessary to beat it to death for our 3-child party. Filled with raisins and fruit snacks because we have chocolate coming out our ears. Thank you Santa. And Yaya and Grandpa. And Jason and Wendy. My kids love you.

We started the evening going to look at the lights at Botanica with my sister and her family. (Of course, I left my camera at home! Gah!) It wasn't too cold, but the wind had picked up considerably so I'm glad I'd bundled the kids well. The lights were okay and the kids enjoyed them. But my favorite part of the night was Diego dancing down the walk to Mannheim Steamroller. Hilarious. Forever I will have his funny dance ingrained in my memory whenever I hear their music!

After a dinner of fried rice, we tried to take our last family portrait of the year around the dinner table. This is as good as it got. :)

Then time to "break" the piñata. The kids were thrilled and perfectly happy with the evening. And by 10:30 everyone (yes, the adults too) were snuggled in bed and on their way to dreamland. Staying up until midnight is highly over-rated... who am I kidding, this is me the night owl we're talking about. I have no idea why I wasn't up until 2, but I'll take it. Perhaps I'll turn a new leaf in 2012 and learn to go to bed at a normal time. Only time shall see!

Hope your New Year's celebration was just as special... and that you rang in 2012 appropriately for all of us sleepyheads!