Preggie Update at 26 Weeks

How is it possible that I'm almost ready to cross over into the Third Trimester?!

Because in a matter of days, I'll be on the last leg of this pregnancy!!  A pregnancy where, during the first trimester, all I could do was lay on the couch and cry "I don't think I can do this again" and "Is this ever going to end?!"

Yet...a few months and 15 lbs later, I'm thinking "I so could do this again" and "Time is hauling some major booty and racing by!" In no time, I'll be holding my little girlie.

But man oh man, I'm SO thankful that the whole sickness part did pass. Ick.  The older girls got so used to me throwing up that it didn't even phase them after a while.  I mean, yeah, they were still concerned and empathetic and all but not freaked out like they were in the beginning.

I'd come out of the bathroom and they'd say "Did you spit up again?" like it was nothing at all. *laughing*  In fact, the other night, I got sick out of the blue and Charis said, "You haven't done that in a while, huh?"  My little girls miss nothing.  I love that about them.

Though, I have to say, it does make it hard to get away with eating chocolate 13 waking hours a day. Which obviously I can't let THEM do and be the health-fanatic mother, can I?  Because here I sit eating off the last of the honkin' huge chocolate bar my mom brought back from London.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT hungry.  At all.  But there's just this innate need for the hand to mouth movement to happen.  Over and over and over.  And what fun would that action be without a fist full of fat?  I mean, really!?

When a bunch of guys were over here the other night and dessert was served, I didn't have any.   It was one of those RARE moments of "Nah, just don't want any right now."  They were all like, "But you're pregnant! Can't you eat whatever you want?"  "You have your entire life to work it off."

I was like "People! Please, this is a rare moment of self-control and lack of pregnancy craving, allow me to revel in it."

But normally, I'm popping chocolate like it's my dying breath, as it's a constant craving right now.  So obviously, I'm not worried too worried about it.  Maybe tomorrow I'll actually put our weights and treadmill to use?  No wait. We have a party.  So Sunday maybe?  Well, that's supposed to be a day of rest. Wouldn't wait to break the Sabbath now, would I? :)

But one thing that I truly love about this stage of pregnancy is that when I wear fitted clothes, people know that I'm pregnant instead of just "bigger". 

Yet I'm still able to sleep on my stomach...which is my preferred position. I truly hate when that is no longer an option, as I can't sleep well on my back. So right now, with looking pregnant and sleeping well at night, I have the best of both worlds.

Anyway...that's the Preggo Update.

My Alma Mater Reunion

One of the ONLY normal pictures I took... ...of my dear dear college friends.

December of 1997, I graduated from a state university and headed out to Texas for a year-long training school with YWAM. I was excited about the next step in my life. I was all too happy to leave behind the endless exams, term papers, and deadlines.

But I was NOT looking forward to leaving behind my girls! The ones that I met being a part of the freshman Young Life meetings...and then later got to know on a deeper level as we all joined the university's chapter of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) . These are the women that became my best friends during my college years.


This is us...after a LONG day of catching up. It's 10:30 PM. We're all exhausted. I'm getting ready to leave. And we suddenly realized that we hadn't taken any group pictures together. Thank goodness for Jana's automatic thing-a-ma-bob on her camera.



Though there were a ton of other girls that were a part of our close group of friends, these are the some of the ones that I hung out with the most. Stephanie, Serena, Heather, Wendy, Jana.

Boating. Long talks over a gallon of ice cream being passed around the apartment living room. Worship. Conferences. Early morning jaunts to the gym. Hanging out with the FCA guys. Getting dressed up for an 80s dance party. Sneaking around in the middle of the night playing pranks on said guys...

Wendy and I actually went driving for an hour, looking for roadkill to pick up. We finally found one very dead, very squished possum. Then, we proceeded to drop it off in a strategic and very specified spot near a guy friend's car as a 8 AM surprise. AND the two of us spent weeks collecting bags and bags of cut that was hair from different hair salons. Just so we could drive, by cover of night, to an apartment complex to slather "grease"...and hair on a guy's car. We never got a picture, but it was a Hairy Car! *gag*

Weren't we horrible?! ;)

But through all the crazy and hard and hysterical and heartbreaking times, these ladies meant so much to me. When I was in the process of ending a destructive relationship, these were my shoulders. my confidants. my encouragements.

When we were all fried from exam week, they'd be there to "decompress" with me. Laughter truly is the best medicine. In fact, I specifically remember Stephanie once telling me that she had read that 5 minutes of hard belly laughter was an amazing ab workout. Soo...being the intelligent, always-up-for-a-challenge women that we were, we layed on her bed and made ourselves laugh like hyenas for as long as possible. We had some pretty tight abs back in the day. *wink*

When we just needed to veg and have a Girls' Night, these were the girls I'd usually hang with. Once there was a planned Friday night All Girl Hang Time with about 12 girls. But I couldn't come due to last minute RA duty (Resident Assistant of a girl's dorm), which meant that I couldn't leave my room all night. I had to be available...in my room...by the phone...and ready to do dorm "rounds" every hour. I was sooo upset.

But they all surprised me by bringing the Girls' Night TO MY ROOM. I walked up to my RA apartment after doing hourly rounds and there they all were. *sweet*

They brought a TV. movie. snacks. Honestly, I don't know that I've ever felt so loved by a group of friends before. I'm sure I cried and laughed at the same time.


All of those times...plus some that will remain hush-hush *laughing*...were these girls.

Years have brought huge changes. Four of us are married with 11 children (plus one on the way) between us! One is training for a National Ballroom Championship. One is hoping to go to Jordan as a full-time missionary soon. One is in the process of planting a church with her husband in the Carolinas. One is doing youth group ministry. One is trying to keep up with her three boys, aged three and under.

We're all busy busy. We're all different than what we used to be. But still after all these years, we had REAL times. Tears. Laughter. Prayer. Bonding over non-stop eating. What's can be better than that? :)

I love these ladies!! Hopefully our plan to make it a early event will happen...

Just because it cracked me up

A study done on the "Generic names for soft drinks" by county. Click on the picture to see it enlarged.

Personally, I don't call it a generic name...I use its "formal' name. Dr. Pepper. Sprite. Pepsi. Etc. Not that I drink the vile stuff... but still. My hubby, who grew up in Texas and Pennsylvania, calls it coke or soda. Wonder why. :)

Crazy stuff, eh?

God redeems with his revelation...

Some friends of ours own a local quarry. They are very generous people who allow others to enjoy their property whenever it's available. A while back, Jet and I had booked it for Friday and Saturday thinking that we'd camp there.

But last minute, due to the weather forecast, we decided to forgo Friday, arriving Saturday afternoon after Raegan's nap...



As we drove through the gate and pulled up to the spot, cars were everywhere. Cars of people that were not supposed to be there due to the fact that we had made arrangements with the owners.

Long story short. A large group of scuba divers were there. People who do have an agreement with the owners for use of the land. As long as they book it. And at a different part of the quarry than where they were. An agreement they were obviously disregarding.

But even when we confronted them on it, they were very nonchalant. told us when they planned on being done. and then remained a long time after they were done...just talking.

I won't even mince words. I was ticked. They were disrespecting us. AND the understanding they had with the owners. Everything about their indifference was disgusting.

We had our large doberman there. Jet made me keep him on the leash while those "trespassers" remained. But man, if I didn't want to just let him loose. "Sic 'em, boy!"

By the time they did leave and our friends arrived, I wasn't in the best of moods. The whole attitude of those people completely unnerved me and I had a hard time shaking it.

But thankfully, our girls had a blast. :) Here's Raegan wrapped in her Daddy's shirt because I forgot to bring warmer things for her.

These three girls were in heaven. Boats. Waters. Smores. Friends. Does it get any better than this?!

Soooooo...the next morning as I was getting ready, the memory of the whole ordeal flooded my mind all over again. And that anger over their disrespect and obvious rude indifference came rushing back.

And the thought hit me, "I so wish I had been one of the owner's daughters. Or had one of their children with us. THEN I would have had the authority to kick them out:

"Uh, hi. Here's the deal. My DAD owns this place. You're not supposed to be here as you and I both know. So you need to leave NOW."

Immediately, the Lord interrupted my thoughts and said, "You Do have that authority. In the spiritual realm. Because I am your Dad. And the Earth is MINE."

If nothing else came out of our family-weekend-gone-wrong...that personal revelation from the Lord was worth it. He has given me Authority to take back the land that the enemy (sickness, death, poverty, addiction, etc) has claimed as its own.

BustAMove

Though it may look like she's in pain, she's not...



It's just one of her many "Look Mom, I'm dancing!" faces.

This girl can really get down. It's both hysterical and amazing all at the same time.

She's always been a music lover...the louder the better.  But now that she can walk/run, her dancing has reached a new level.

Maybe one day I'll actually get video of this household phenomenon.  But so far, whenever I've gotten the camera out, little Miss Hollywood throws off her dancing shoes to try and man the camera.  That's my girl...both an aspiring dancer and director.  And all at 15 months.

No, I'm not proud or anything. :)

Night Night?

Why did Charis suddenly decide to compare the size of her shoe to her Daddy's?

Who knows? But I'm thinking it had something to do with the excitement she was feeling as she and Jet put their shoes on in preparation to go for McDonald's Ice cream. She was excited about having unexpected "Special Daddy Time" and was just looking for another way to connect with him.

"Hey! We both have feet. Let's compare them. Whatdaya say?"

You see, having been in bed for at least an hour, she came downstairs at 8:15 distressed that she wasn't tired. and my guess, a little nervous that she was going to get in trouble for being out of bed.

But instead of getting frustrated, I pulled her close and whispered in Jet's ear, asking if he'd take her for a special treat. And like any good Daddy, he was all over it. As was she!!

Take note of how *bright* it still is at 8:15 PM!!

She was one happy girl! And we are striving to be parents who make this home a place where unexpected surprises and one-on-one outings with parents are the norm.

A place where they love hanging out. A place where memories like this come easily years from now. A place where they know the unconditional love of a daddy, even when they're supposed to be asleep, but are just having trouble getting it done.

The FULL spectrum of the Daddy-daughter relationship

She has a certain "glow" about her, doesn't she?

Yeah. It's SWEAT.

And not because she's worn herself out playing with dolls. Or ran upstairs to find her dress up clothes. Or even because of the Extreme Heat (100 degree temps) we've been experiencing this past week.

Nope. Not this girl. Or the other two for that matter...

Aww. What a sweet Let's-Love-on-Daddy-Moment, eh?

Uh, not so much. Don't be fooled by this freeze frame of time. They were not snuggling with their Daddy. Maybe when I add the bottom half of the picture, it'll be easier to see what's really happening...

Yep, there's Charis trying to bend back his foot. In dire attemtps to hurt him. Preferrably to the point where Daddy yells out, "Ow, Charis! That hurts!" And the other two? Well, they had just pounced seconds before I took the picture.

They were ALL attacking Daddy. Full force. Head-on. Plowing him over. Growling like wild animals. Running across the room and jumping on whatever body part was vunerable and uncovered. If I remember correctly, he had to stop once and remind someone not to bite him. :)

Poor, poor, manly Jet. Surrounded by "only girls." Girls who will willingly dote on him one minute and play WWF the next. What's a daddy to do?

A cheerful heart does good like medicine

"I like your face when you smile."

Charis said this to me tonight as I tucked the girls into bed. And it made me wonder...was there more to what she was saying?

Don't get me wrong...I am fully able to receive compliments without thinking they are loaded. But something in me questioned if there was more to her innocent statement.

Kissing her goodnight, I asked: "Do you think I should smile more?"

Smiling, Charis peeked out at me between the rail of her top bunk and laughed as she said, "You have to."

Out of the mouths of babes.... Yeah. I'd say that pretty much sums it up. I have to.

She wasn't being rude. or manipulative. or even sneaky with her compliment. She meant what she said. She likes my face when it's smiling. And likes it less when the smile is gone.

One thing that I've been praying for these past years is JOY. I used to be one of the most joyful people I knew. Honestly, I don't say that as a haughty statement. It's just a fact. I laughed non-stop. I smiled constantly. I was truly joyful to the extent that people told me that when they first met me, they wondered if I was fake "because no one is always that happy".

And then some things happened in my life that stole that joy. I felt as if my personality was raped (I truly know of no other way to describe it). My smile changed. My laugh changed. My personality changed. I was literally left a different person.

God has since brought tremendous healing in the area of that specific wounding. But to this day, I don't feel like the fullness of my joy has been returned. So when Charis says "You have to..." it resonates within me.

I've been praying for God to just restore it. You know, like one of those *bam* moments when in the blink of an eye everything is made whole. And while they may happen, I'm also being made aware that it's something I need to practice. to choose. to PUT ON.

Job 29:14 says “I put on righteousness and it clothed me.”

Job, first, put it on. And then, it covered him... enveloped his being. I imagine that you couldn't look at him without seeing that which he put on.

“Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendour....” Isaiah 52:1

The people needed to wake themselves up from their slumber (rut)...and choose what they were going to be covered in. No one else could do it for them. And they definitely couldn't do it themselves while they remained in the "sleepy" (inactive) position.

“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. 1 Peter 5:5

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience." Col. 3:12

It's never an easy task to choose to be truly humble or kind or patient. But it seems to me, from these scriptures, that once you take the first step of allowing yourself to be draped by it, it becomes an easier trait to carry.

You, first, allow it to cover your "body". Then you begin to embody all it represents. And that is what I want: To Embody Joy.

So today, I choose to smile more. to look for reason to laugh. to joke. to sing. Trusting that as I embrace the very thing that was taken long ago, it will begin to embrace me. becoming second nature to wear. first choice of what I pull out of my "spiritual" closet.

Cousin Time

This past weekend was filled with "Special Cousin time" for my girls. With BOTH sides of the family.

My girls love their cousins. This cannot be stressed enough! And it's a good thing, too, since they are surrounded by them.

On my side of the family (the above picture), there are nine grandkids. Ranging in ages from 18 years to 7 months. With only two boys in the brood. On Jet's side, there are ten grandkids, ranging in ages from 7 years to a couple of months. 5 boys. 5 girls.

Both sides are still growing!

Saturday...while I went to a Girls' Reunion (with my college friends)...Jet and the girls drove to his sister's house. Our three girls (5, almost 4, and 15 months) and their three boys (7, 4, and 18 months) playing hard all day.

Picking eggs from the chicken coop. Trying to milk a cow for the first time. Endless races around the house (where Jet said Selah and Jacob...both about 4....consistently won). Holding newborn puppies. Petting horses. Splashing in water. Eating watermelon. Roasting marshmallows for smores.

They were full of stories to tell me! (though no pictures to share because I had the camera with me).

Then, Sunday afternoon, my parent's gave my oldest niece a high school graduation party. And though my girls played hard with these cousins...I'm thinking the highlight for them may have been the CAKE. :)

Growing up, I had one first cousin that we played with. But he lived three hours away and we rarely saw him. As opposed to Jet who has 53 first cousins. Quite the different experience from me!!

We're so thankful that our girls will grow up surrounded by cousins. A family of built-in friends.

Random thought for the day...

The spiritual insights that I receive because I'm a Mom never cease to amaze me. I feel like because I have children, my heart is more sensitive in understanding the Father Heart of God for His kids. And, in today's particular case, concerning the things that He has to say to them....


A situation in my home that has recently become a moment of discipline is when I ask one of my children to relay a particular message to another child and it's not appropriately carried out. Take the following example:

"Honey, will you go outside and ask X to come in please?"

The child runs off, quite pleased with her new-found, promoted status of Messenger-with-a-Parental-Backed-Directive.

She throws open the door and, with much more force than necessary, yells "Mom says that you need to get inside. Right now. And hurry it up!"

Did my messenger-in-training get the job done? Technically, yes. But only because the message produced a portion of the desired outcome. the sibling ended up coming inside.

But were those my exact words? Was that even close to the heart in which I said it?! Did it leave the sibling secure in the fact that she is loved by the one for whom the messenger speaks? No. No. and No.

So did Messenger Girl even come close to representing me and what I was hoping to communicate to the child outside? Not. at. all. She came across as mean and angry and annoyed that the child had even dared be outside in the first place.

Okay, Messenger Girl. We need to have us a little chat about responsibly and lovingly relaying a message. Mkay?


God has called us to be a prophetic people....

"Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy." 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NASB)

...which simply means that He wants to communicate his heart to us. to speak to us about someone and their situation so that we, in turn, can share what we heard with that person. to bring divine life, hope, and encouragement.

"But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort." 1 Cor. 14:3 NIV

But how often do we only get the general message right? falling short in conveying the HEART of God? How often do we speak the technical words, but not the spirit of what was heard? How often is the person receiving the Word left with a "spiritual residue" of something other than the Love of God?

I want to be careful to adequately represent Him...

“We are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20, NIV).

...You know, since we ARE addressing his children and all. The Apple of his Eye. Because I know when I am misrepresented by my child to another one of my children, it truly makes. me. mad.

Father, it's my sincere prayer today that whenever you entrust me with a message for the "sibling outside," that I would speak it with humility and love. Not only getting the words right, but also being a carrier of your heart's intent as well.

Mirror Mirror on the wall

It's always so telling to listen to the pretend play of my girls. Especially when they're pretending to be a mom. Though I have to admit, there are times when an insider's view into their "innocent" perception and depiction of me is a little scary.

Okay. a LOT scary. Because all I can do is sit back and think "Oh my word! Please tell me I'm not like that!"

Surely they speak of their ...uh, other mom?


...
As I was sitting at the table going looking through some books, I heard Selah shout with feverish indignation, "No. I'm not a kid! I'm 30 years old!! Okay, Charis?! I'm Thirty! THIRTY! THIRTY!!!" I hear her stomp her feet in protest to drive the point home.

Apparently that debate was won by the older sister. Because a few minutes later, Selah was obediently being the child taking a nap in the room where I was sitting.

Watching the girls play as discreetly as I can, Selah gets up and goes to the window to watch a passing neighbor. Then whispering to Charis, Selah instructs her on how to react to this blatant act of disobedience. So Charis, the mother, stomps up to Selah and demands with hands on her hips: "No Kid! Go back to bed and don't get out of bed until I say you can. Do. you. understand?"

Selah's shoulders sag in pretend defeat. But she doesn't question as she walks back to the "bed" because clearly this is how life goes when trying to negotiate with Meanie Mom.

A few minutes later, Charis comes into the 'napping room' with her shirt up, "nursing" a doll.
"Kid." she says softly. "Wake up. I have a surprise for you. I had another baby."

Selah goes on to examine the newest sibling, from the Prison-Bed, like it was an everyday occurrence for her mom to pop out another child.

And the playtime abruptly ends.



Huh. Heartwarming, isn't it?

Please refrain from calling social services. I can assure you this is not reality...at least as I know it. :) Though I'm quite sure some child psychologists, after observing this play, would say that my role as their mother can efficiently be boiled down to the following:

I throw a tantrum over my age, so never ever ever refer to me as a child. Or question me, period. You will be set straight. Rather loudly.

I lovingly refer to each of my daughters as "Kid." What can I say? I don't mess with the formality of first names. It's easier that way.

I restrict them to their beds for ungodly amounts of time, only letting them step foot on the floor when Master (IE. that's me) says so. And I never say so. Curiousity of the outside world is neither encouraged nor permitted. Unless, of course, it can be observed from their Permanent Post on the bed.

And whenever they wake up, I have successfully had yet another child. I am pregnant and pop them on out a regular basis. It's just what I do: breed.


So there you have it. Daddy is the Cool one. I am the Tyrant, yet Fertile one. Any questions? ;)

Train up your child...

picture taken January 2008

The longer I am a mom, the deeper my realization that I don't know very much when it comes to parenting. Especially now that I am expecting my fourth child.

Now don't get me wrong. I don't mean to imply that if you have less than three or four children you have not yet "arrived" and, therefore, couldn't possibly understand what I am feeling or talking about as a mom. Hardly.

Because honestly, I don't think it matters if you have one child or twelve (though I can imagine it takes much more brain power with a dozen), the concept is still the same:

Children are not carbon copies of one another. Regardless of how similar they look on the outside, they are each vastly different on the inside. And above all, they are not a Mini Me.

"Train up a child in the way he should go..." Proverbs 22:6

It suddenly occurs to me that it's my job, as a Christian parent, to train them up in the way that THEY should go. Not where I went as a child. Or the direction that their sibling is headed. Or their cousins. Or some model kid that I think that they should be.

But rather, in the direction that the Lord has designed specifically for them.

And that is the place where I find myself floundering. Because my girls, though their personalities fit together so well, are still very, very different from one another.

Therefore, it's no cookie cutter calling that the Lord is asking of me... or any parent for that matter. This whole training up a child thing.

A few months ago...before a light bulb went off in my head concerning that scripture...I always read that Proverbs verse as a "duh" kind of statement. Meaning, that obviously I want them to follow the Lord. Therefore, I just need to point them Heavenward and that will be that. Mission accomplished.

But I'm finding it's needs to be so much more than that, you know?

It's really sitting down and taking into consideration who they are as individual people. Their likes. Their fears. Their strengths. Their weaknesses. Their giftings. And then, helping them search out God for His heart for THEM, individually. not for the masses.

The thought both excites and overwhelms me. I get excited thinking about how deep of an impact such intentional seeking and personalized training would have on their young lives. And I also get somewhat overwhelmed thinking that the majority of that falls on me in this season.

But then again, I suppose that is the realm of parenthood: Joy mixed with fear and trembling. Knowing that, for a short season, you hold a very precious life in your feeble hands. Yet rejoicing that you forever get to hold them in your heart.

Daddy Dear

The girls get to swim in our kid's pool...a rather big one, in my opinion...almost every day. They splash around, get out, run to their slide or tire swing, and then run back to splash some more.

Even on the days where it's hot outside...the water is still cold. Take note of the blue lips. Though I HAVE carried out buckets of hot water to help it warm up a bit.

But apparently my letting them swim on a daily basis...and toting heavy bucket after bucket out of the house... isn't as cool as running through the drip drip drip of a rainstorm. Like daddy...

This afternoon, Charis and I are sitting on the porch. It's raining softly.

"Mommy, can we go out in the rain? Last time it rained really hard and Daddy let us go out in it." She pauses to let that sink in before going on. "...without our shoes on!" She looks up at me. "Can we go out now? It's not even raining that hard anymore."

The last part must be read with the attitude of someone who is addressing a slower thinker. Kind of like, "Okay, Mom. It's only barely raining. See? You can do it, just say yes. Be cool like Dad. You know you want to."


HOURS later:

I was sitting at the desk, when I heard Jet asking Charis about the cookies on the counter. "Did you guys bake these for me?"

Charis, with annoyance in her voice said, "No! We didn't bake them OR put them in the oven. This is a TRUE story."

I can almost see her arms crossed as she looked defiantly at her daddy. Not because she's mad at him, but because she wanted Super Cool Daddy to fix Mommy's obvious error in judgement and obnoxious withholding of love.

How mean of me to let them stay up late last night to make them. But then refuse them the joy of using the hot hot oven today. Mean, mean Mommy. :)

Oh, the love of a daughter for her daddy. What in the world will I do when I have four little girls running around after Daddy chanting One Who Does No Wrong.

*laughing* Who am I kidding?! I LOVE that they adore him so. ...but for my sake, Jet? Can you try and not be so cool?

Setting some memories in stone

As in all seasons where God is doing the most in my heart or where our family schedule is full of things that I want to remember, my time to journal becomes an impossible feat. I have countless journals where there is a large lapse of time in between my writings...all of which are during the busiest, most fruitful, most fun seasons of my life. Oh to be able to carry around a pen and paper at all times!

Okay, so maybe not. I can see it now. Christin has no friends. Only a pocket protector. :)

But I would, at least, like the ability to go back in time to remember those moments that I didn't want to ever forget. But inevitably did because the next memorable moment happened. *sigh*

This past little while has proved no different. The girls have been changing rapid-fire. God has been planting visions and desire into my heart non-stop. I have been having prophetic dream after prophetic dream. Jet's and my nights have been go-go-go to the very last minute before sleep. Life has just been full!

But here are some things about my beloved girls in this past week or so that I don't want to forget...

--- Charis has taken after both her Daddy and Grandma in her love for planting and caring for a garden. She, like them, can work non-stop for hours. Just determined to make those plants of hers grow. immediately. :)

---For the past little while, she has been advertising herself as completely capable when it comes to all things difficult. Like swimming. Or playing baseball. Or driving. All things that she has yet to learn. But because she can imagine herself doing it ...or has mastered something close to the desired talent. Like the ability to, oh say, throw a baseball in the general direction of her sister, she then dubs herself proficient at baseball in general.

It drove me crazy.

Over and over, I've had to tell her, "No, Charis. You don't know how to do it yet. You still have to be taught."

And just so you can understand why I was becoming so tired of her Theology of Learning... imagine homeschooling, where I, as the teacher, find myself teaching a student who "already knows" nearly everything.

But recently, the Lord spoke to my heart. Something to this extent:

She has faith. She believes she can do it. And that's all she needs to know. She doesn't feel the need to master something...to gain the approval of someone older...in order to feel confident to step out and try it, completely expecting herself to have nothing less than success. Isn't that what faith is, Christin?

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

And I suddenly realized that I was getting annoyed at my daughter's attitude because I saw it as over-confidence that said "I don't need anyone to teach me anything." While God saw it as faith to do the impossible. All the while, I was unintentionally training her out of the child-like ability to have deep-rooted faith. A faith that says she is gifted to do whatever lies before her.

So I've been rethinking MY way of approaching that whole scenario AND at the same time, trying to learn a bit from my wise daughter about stepping out in faith. expecting nothing less than the best.

---Charis continues to be a songwriter. She'll make up new worship songs on a daily basis, sometimes even writing them down. I need to find some of them before they get lost forever! If they haven't already. :(

Two weeks ago, Selah decided to ask Jesus into her heart. There was nothing "spiritual" that preceded the decision...other than a prompting from her sister over the months. And a desire to be able to participate in our church's monthly communion like her big sister. What can I say? She likes church snack time. :)

But even though there was no outward sign of "depth" of decision from this 3 year-old, I know it was sincere. There have been many times since her asking Jesus into her heart, where she has been outside, by herself, proclaiming to our neighborhood in song or in verbal decree that Jesus has now given her power to do all things. Not really sure where she got that from...at least I don't remember telling her that. Hmmm...maybe from the Faith-infused big sister?

---Now that Charis has had her training wheels off for a day or two, Selah is determined to have hers off as well. The funny thing is that she will probably be able to master the art of riding without training wheels even though she's only three. It's just her personality to rise to the challenge and prevail.

--Here's Raegan, at 14 months, doing one of her favorite things: eating. And though she isn't a particularly picky eater, there was a short season where she would cry if you put something green (ie. vegetable) in front of her.

--Speaking of crying, she has shown a very dramatic streak. One where she will open her mouth wide and just let out this pitiful wail. even to the point of throwing herself on the floor in "despair" if you take something away or tell her no. Honestly, all I can do is laugh.

--Once we forgot to put the gate up blocking the stairs. And we suddenly realized we hadn't seen Raegan for a minute or so. Jet called out "Raegan, where are you?" And we immediately heard little footsteps racing across the floor upstairs. She was running to the bathroom to hide. :)

--The past little while has proven to be an explosion of learning for her. She's said at least a dozen new words: chicken, all gone, horse, cat, dog, bye-bye, gramma, out, duck , nose, gentle, that, .... of course, I can't remember them at this particular moment, but there are tons!

--She's recently started to tell me when she needs a new diaper ("di-dee" or sometimes she'll say "bah-bee" as she's still playing around with being able to say it)...and at times will bring me a clean diaper.

--Thankfully, she likes going to sleep. All we have to do is say "Night-night, Raegan" and she'll go around the house telling everyone night-night. She'll even start rubbing her eyes instantly. Oh, the power of suggestion! :)

--You can hear her, at times, in the middle of the night talking to herself. She's just got the sweetest voice. "Baby! doll! Baby!" It's pitch dark in there so I'm not sure why she wakes up so eager to play or talk, but it's amazingly sweet. To the point that I'm so tempted to go downstairs and get the video camera, just for the sake of getting the audio on tape. ...if it weren't 1AM.

Each day, literally, becomes more and more precious with these little girls. They are truly truly truly a joy to be with and mother.