Memory for Today - Simple Smiles

Sam has gotten into the habit of wanting to wear a spider man costume that we got for free. He wants to wear it everyday. It just makes me smile to see him running around. I keep a blanket downstairs to snuggle up with on the sofa. He will go and get the blanket and bring it to me. He will say "Mommy, web you." We play this game where he pretends to spread webs all over me and I throw the blanket over my head. It is so cute. Today I had to run errands and did not feel like going through the ordeal of taking the costume off of him. I called Carl at work and we met him for lunch. He was wearing the costume the whole time at lunch. It was amazing the amount of chuckles and smiles that we received at the restaurant. It is amazing that a little child in a spider man costume can bring a little joy into people's lives. It was a blessing to me and to those in the Wendy's. Also Caleb was sitting next to me at lunch. At the end he just leaned over to me. That is his way of saying "Mommy, hug me." Well, what kind of mother would I be if I refused that cute little boy his hugs. Again, I saw several people in the restaurant smile. In the midst of my life I need to remember that children are a blessing from the Lord and I need to cherish those times when they bring a smile to my face. I need to seek out and do things to bring out those beautiful smiles.

The Importance of Memories

My mother recently visited her mother in West Virginia. Since she got back I have seen a change in her. My grandfather died a few years ago and at the end he remembered no one. My grandmother has started doing the same thing. With my mom having the brain tumor last year she has also started to forget things. I think all of these things combined has really scared her. My two sisters and I received Christmas gifts from her that made us all cry. For years my mother has kept papers and pictures and things from our childhood. I had no idea that she kept those things. On Christmas morning I opened a gift that made me cry the hardest I have cried in a while. Inside was crafts I had done in school. Papers and awards. The most precious things was my baby book. I did not even know she had kept one for me. It brought back so many childhood memories. She also included a journal that she had started. The first seven pages included memories she had of my childhood. At the end was a challenge to keep memories of my children. She asked me to fill the journal with what my days are like. She said even if I write that I had a bad day and leave it at that. Now I admit I am a writer. I love it. It is my passion. These past few years though my life has been full of diapers and schooling and the taking care of my little ones. My moms gift and challenge though has really struck a cord with me. I need to write down the little things. I need to do this so my children have their own memories that they can pass on to their children and grandchildren. Traditions need to be passed down from one generation to another. My mother told me that I need to record them because one day I will start to forget. I am convicted that I have not been diligent about this. I get so caught up in the day to day that I don't record the special times I have with my wonderful children. My mother has given me a challenge this year and I intend to take up that challenge. I think it is a good one for all of us take.

For Tara - Baby Feet

Oh Tara. I love baby feet too.

State Fair

This October is our annual state fair. It is one of the best and biggest in the nation. I went with my parents and Carl met us there during his lunch hour. It was great. We all got in free because we went on Military Day. People over 55 get in free every day so my parents were free too. The only thing we paid for was the food. And boy did we eat. We had not dogs and French fries for the kids. I ate an awesome steak sandwich and Carl had a chicken pita. We then had funnel cakes and fried oreos. Yes, you heard me right. The fair is known for frying anything you can think of. Last year they had fried coke (I know, I don't get it either.) I have seen fried cheesecake, Twinkies, ho Ho's, pickles, candy bars, and even cheesecake. Real healthy, I know. We also had a chocolate covered apple that was covered in crushed oreos and gummy worms. They are Alex's favorite. He gets them every year. The kids got to look at all the animals and the flowers. IT is a very agricultural fair. They only rode one ride each in the midway. They were having too much fun doing all the other things to be too concerned about the rides. Their favor tie thing was climbing the tree in the middle of the fair. There is the perfect climbing tree right near the big arena. It is real low and very wide. They spent about an hour climbing. They had a blast. It was a great day and the weather was perfect. We had a blast and look forward to next year.

Aunt Andi

I am not sure how to spell Didi so I just put this post to Aunt Andi. Esther is really eager to have you pick which dress she is to wear for the wedding. I took some picutres so you could see the options.
Option #1 A White Dress that my niece wore in a wedding



Option 2 A Yellow Dress that would go good with the blue


Option 3 A green dress I got at a yard

Let us know which one you like. She is very concerned about wearing the one that you like. Anyone else can vote too but Andi's vote wins.

Weird?

Isn't it weird sometimes what the Lord lays on our hearts? I have been reading this book again and last night I just got this overwhelming desire to introduce other women to this book. Our home school co-op has ladies Bible studies and I am thinking that the Lord might be leading me to teach a class next semester. Talk about scary. I just have really enjoyed this book and besides the Bible it is the one book I keep reading over and over. I plan on doing an in-depth study of it. By that I mean I want to dig into all the scripture references and really meditate on them. Unfortunately there is no companion study guide to go along with the book so I am on my own. Please pray as I try to determine if this is something the Lord really wants me to do. Also pray for other women who need the message this book talks about. The ideas are pretty radical for our day and age but it all comes from scripture so we should not fight against the ideas. One of the authors is a former feminist so she knows what she is talking about. Her story alone is worth the price of the book. Read the book if you have not already and pray for the Lord's direction for me in this matter.

Caleb Asher

I think that I have the cutest little boy in the world. He is so sweet (when he is being held).