What The Jesus In My Mind Would Say in A "Hey Girl" Meme

To be clear, I enjoy satire, but I have no appreciation for irony when depicting religious figures, most of all the Creator of the Universe, thank you very much.  I always felt squeamish when SNL did Jesus bits and quickly turned the channel.  I know that's supposed to be the mark of a free society and free speech, but uh-uh, nope, I'm good.

Now that we've got that all squared away...

We try to do a little devotional most nights (less than 3 minutes!) and one of the things I like most is the weekly bible verse.  Some weeks the verse lends itself to motions. I wish I knew ASL, but alas, I only know Jesus, Lord, please, thank you and more.  Meaning I've been to my fair share of evangelical youth camps and attempted to have a toddler request more Cheerios.  I also "teach" kids' choir, so I really also know sing, love, and all the motions to Go Tell It On The Mountain.

All that to say we were practicing the verse James 1:22 that exhorts "Don't just listen to God's Word; you must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves."  I'm not sure the version this is taken from, but it is also more commonly rendered "Be doers of the Word and not hearers only."

As the girls were doing the motions to aid in their memorization, I thought to myself, "Well, shoot, James.  You kinda nailed it there." I mean, that's a "drops mic" moment.  Leave it to one verse in the Bible to knock you over the head.  I believe that's why the theologians like to call it the inspired Word of God.

Somehow, I imagined how Jesus might apply that verse to me, not to fool myself with thinking listening to His words was somehow enough:

I wasn't convicted of any one thing (because let's face it, there's always so much in view of a holy God), but the book of James is pretty clear.  You'd better work out your faith.  It's the proof in the pudding. (End Sermon.)

And I thought I'd share that little nugget with you, along with my two Scripture memory/gong show stars.  Watch to the end to hear the verse :)

It's May. Also Known as Bounce House Season.

Lots of end of season revelry this week as we wrap up schooling and activities.  It's a three bounce house kinda week here, with Sarah's last day at Playschool and J's last t-ball game and an early trip to Monkey Joe's just because we can.  We are putting away our formal schoolbooks Friday and I can't believe we've really done a year of Kindergarten by ourselves.  I definitely want to shoot video of us reading together because that's our A for effort this year.

I've got some clips of the church musical that will probably only interest the grandparents, but I hope it edifies you as well.  Sarah's a blip on the first row, fifth from the right, a tiny thing with a big bow.  I had grand plans for video shot from the first row straight from the stand I brought, but I forgot that those details have to be communicated in spoken word to my husband rather than telepathy.  He gamely shot this with our phone when I could've just got the money shot from the stage as I hid in the wings to help run 4 year olds to the restroom.  She was so very cute.  She technically wasn't an official member of the class but I'm so glad I brought her into the fold this spring.

Our Music Minister wrote me a note of thanks and very wisely reminded me that teaching children to praise the Lord matters quite a lot.  I often joke that we mostly sit in a circle and learn jazzy motions, but really, that's exactly what these children have learned: that God is for them and he is awesome and holy.  I can still remember the words of a children's musical "It's Cool In the Furnace" from the age of 8 and even sang the song this week when I flipped in Sarah's bible storybook about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So even if we jazz it up with sparkle fingers, God's word has a way of taking root.

VIPs in the Kingdom.  BeaUtiful.

If It's Not One Thing, It's a Fever

We (the kids and I) hit the road this week to Nana and Pop's and made a day trip in to Hilton Head.

During the hour and a half drive, the toddler did what toddlers do and began screaming. With authority. When the offering of Chick Fil A fries and drink did not appease The Toddler, I made the command decision to turn around and let the others go on without us. 5 minutes later, The Toddler passed out so we intrepidly continued our journey.

Dumb.

That's when things got LIVELY. About 20 minutes til our end destination, The Toddler resumed screaming, kicking, and thrashing in her carsest (or heckhole without the heck as we sometimes refer to it on such situations).

That's we our journey got really special. A fever was detected, 2 GPS-es were deployed and directives were vigorously pronounced.

Let's just say Mama (that's me) requested a stop and 'bout walked the rest of the way (which was only a half mile tops). 

Mercifully, a outdoor restaurant was spotted, fever relief secured, and everyone got lemonade.

The result of this adventure, which may have shaved 3 months off my life expectancy, was a pretty delightful afternoon we spent watching this merry band enjoy the freezing water and muddy sand.

Filing another memory away in #RealLife.

Happy Love Day

Isn't technology cool?  I made these on Shutterfly to pack a Christmas Thank You/Valentine's Day one-two punch.  You can import your pics right from Facebook and Instagram, and let's face it, that's where most of our pics are stored now.  Not an ad, just a fun share.

Happy Love Day!

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Signs of Life

I read a memoir recently called Signs of Life by Natalie Taylor.  I grabbed it off the shelf because it was a) about a new mom and b) by an English teacher.  The book chronicles a year in the life of this 24-year-old mother who loses her husband to a sporting accident while she is  5 months pregnant with their child.  They are newlyweds about to hit their second year of marriage.  The book is brutually honest and also hilarious.  Natalie has a great 'voice' and I can imagine she's a fantastic teacher.  Each chapter is taken from her journals and begins with a quote from a piece of American Literature that she is teaching her high school students as she grieves.  She invents and converses internally with her Fairy Mother Godmother who tells it to her straight about what mothering really is.  I highly recommend this book.  While the author is probably agnostic and uses a peppering of swear words, she is real, touching, and funny.  The book proves that when you think life is over, it's not.  It may be over as you know it, and that is worth grieving.  But pain can be purposeful if we let it make us stronger by enduring and thriving in the midst of it.  Thank God I've not been where Natalie has.  But as a young mother, I can relate. Worth looking at.

Here are some small signs of life I've caught:

Sarah really like to fill things up.

I think this is great.

A young John and Jackie, you think?

Got the bright idea to dump out all outgrown clothes in an attempt to straighten closets and get ready for our Fall Consignment Sale.  The door to this room will be locked indefinitely.

Hair accessories!  Really!

The gnawed crib.  Proof that the IKEA crib might trump the heirloom crib in terms of wear and tear. 
And heartbreak.

More dumping of stuff.

Staying alive!

Easter Traditions

Alex was able to stop by after the egg hunt.  These two need both parents' supervision during big events!

Prelude to a kiss

Jeremiah was more interested in collecting pine cones and throwing them in the lake.

Mr. Analytical

Yummy sucker.

Sarah was the egg collector.

The Easter Bunny came early via Nana and Papa.  Thank you!

Kid Code & Verbal Shorthand

Here's ours:

Youngs' Kid Code

I. Movie Code
 A. TS (Toy Story)
 1. Tee Stees (Jeremiah's pronunciation)

B. Squeakquel (Alvin and the Chipmunks)
  1. Toby!!!
  2. The Chips

C. Finding Nemo
  1. Goldfish?

D.   Quotable Quotations
1. Bad Cheese! (AATC)
2. Mater's Greater (Cars)

II. Jeremiah-isms
1. Red dirt.
2. DANCE!
3. Baby's sweepin'!!! (screamed upon any cry from Sister)
4. Stinky sweet.

III. Sarah's Utterances
1. Bwubbles.  Bwubbles.
2. Gabba gabba gap!
3. MaaaMaaa!  (How darest you leave me in someone else's care?)
4. Dada!  (He's so cute.  When does he get home?  'Cause you are boring me.)

IV. Food & Drink
1. Tea, tea? (any colored water)
2. Cerul? (cereal)
3. Yummy popcorn?
4.  Ham-bur-ger?  (Upon passing any McDonalds)
5. Pete-zza!
6. Choco-wat milk.

(Sidenote: I think I've just made a speech pattern discovery.  Jeremiah really cannot pronounce the letter 'L' in the middle of a word unless blended with another consonant.)

V. Mommy & Daddy

1. Dipes and wipes
2. Stinky Butt (a game and a nickname)
 a. Stinky Feet (a derivative of Stinky Butt)
3. The Sylvan Swap  (trading kids when Mom tutors)
4. The Crazies
5.  Children of the Corn

We would love to add to our parent lexicon.  Please share yours!

Be Mine...

I may be a clueless cupid,

happily munching my cakes,

but I want to say thank you,

on this Valentine's Day.

Thank you, Nana & Papa, Grandma & Grandpa,

Thank you, Aunt Natie, and Great Aunts Susan, Jan, Kris, & Debbie

My Uncles and Cousins, too,

For the cards, the toys, and dress up clothes

Especially for the edible cards and bows!

XOXO,

Jeremiah & Sarah via Mom

Goobers on Parade

Dinosaur Train + Body Pillow + Jeremiah = Total Contentment.

And here's Sarah walking!  I need to transfer her birthday pictures from my fancy new camera.

Life observation:  Children know when to act adorable after showing their fanny for days on end.  It must be a survival instinct.  Jeremiah has been saying "Achoo!  Sneeze!" and laughing hysterically.   He just got a hair cut and is so cute.  I think he has been jealous of Sarah, who is getting over a fever and in my lap all day.  (No fever now.  No need to panic, Mom!)

Enjoy, y'all!

Thoughts on Life and Grocery Story Aisles

1. I am so excited that my parents will be here in a few minutes to celebrate Sarah's birthday!

2.  Pimentos are never where they should be in the store-- by the pickles and olives.  Olives stuffed with pimentos.  But no pimentos.  I like pimentos.  I really like homemade pimento cheese.  Consider this a PSA.

3.  Jeremiah took a 2 hour nap yesterday in his bed.  Without fuss. 

4.  Jeremiah woke up at 3 a.m. and Alex had to spend 45 minutes in his room.

5.  Jeremiah was flipping through this little book called "Jesus and Me" that we have read almost daily for a year and proclaimed, "Jesus is Love."  That's the last line of the book.  If he's getting that, we are gonna make it through this stage!

6.  I am beginning to understand why mothers can overspend on their girls.  It's wish fufillment.  I almost was suckered into buying a Princess Castle bedroom and Princess Belle for Sarah.  It's 3+.  She already has two baby Belles, so I think she'll (and I'll) wait.  I did get her a play tiara and bubble wand, as is fitting her status.

Yea!  I am thankful for the little things today.

Time In A Bottle...

My sweet baby girl turns one in a week.   Last January, our Sunday School class had a marriage conference and we are going through marriage topics again this year.  I feel like we were just preparing to go the hospital.  And now she's taken her first steps just this Friday.  She's just gotten her front two teeth.  She's saying "uh oh".  Pointing.  Waving.  Being a total spitfire.  The child has more baby dolls than you can shake a stick at.  Several options for her birthday party outfit.  May even have a wardrobe change midway through her Princess Belle party.  Ah, time.  Just can't stop it.  And I guess I wouldn't really want to. 

There are first days of school.  Recitals, hopefully.  Cute boys on the playground.   Just the right outfit.  Doing the mall crawl.  Girl Scouts.  Disney World.  Boy bands.  Crushes.  Dances.  Sleepovers.  Memorizing lines to cheesy girl movies.  Best friends.  Barbies.  Childhood.

I can't wait.  It makes those hard days of missed naps, achy teeth, poopy diapers, and crying jags worth it.

All my love to sweet Sarah Anne.  Your mama and daddy love you.  

Preschool Party

The backstory:  Sarah was wearing her matching outfit, but due to the antibiotics for her ear, we had a blowout.  Big time.  At McDonalds.  They enjoyed the party; however, Jeremiah fake cries during choral singing, so he did not enjoy "Happy Birthday, Jesus".   Sarah fell from holding on to a chair while I was taking Jeremiah's picture by the tree.  So my excellent parenting skills were on full display!

 I love the picture of Sarah chugging the juicebox.  She's so blase about it!

Santa Babies

Jeremiah at 7 months on Christmas Day  2008

Sarah at 11 months a week before Christmas 2010

AFP

Awkward Family Photos.  Check it out.   The following are not on the same level, but they make our own hit list of awkwardness.

Before...

After.

Merry Christmas!

Yoo Hoo

Anyone else had their fill of George Michael's "Last Christmas" and John Lennon's "War is Over"?   Those seem like the only two songs I hear in the car. I really like the Classical  and Swingin' Christmas channels on Pandora, however.

We've pulled out the Christmas boxes and I've decorated the dining room.  We are attending the WR Christmas parade, our church musical, and a company dinner this weekend.   I've stocked up on sugar cookie mix and chocolate chips in hopes of baking for Christmas.  We are trying to start some family Christmas traditions this year.  I unpacked the Nativity scene and explained the story to Jeremiah.  He really likes the baby Jesus figure and the lamb. 

Sarah is climbing. the. STAIRS.  She's 10 1/2 months!   She is so happy and such a joy.  We had Christmas pictures taken of both kids, so be on the lookout for them to pop up in your mail.  I'll post them after the cards are out.  Wouldn't want to ruin the anticipation!

Oh, and I BOGO'd today. I seriously get this slightly frantic rush while sorting and scouring for the coupons to match the deal. You know I took an obnoxious picture. I had about $15 in coupons, and with the sales prices, saved $44 and spent about $21. Great deals on Beech Nut baby food: 17 cents per jar with BOGO and coupons. Check out Southern Savers under the Publix tab for links to the coupons and best BOGO deals.


Here's an assortment of photos: