have you ever had God show up in a big way, right in the middle of your 'situation'? that was my experience today. i sat at my appointment this morning, mindlessly flipping thru an outdated magazine, (everyone already knows marie osmond fainted) and running thru a lengthy checklist in my mind. i looked down at my chewed off nails while going through my questions, my opinions and every possible scenario i could contemplate. i prayed for clarity of thought and of words ( i often leave there saying i have no questions and then get in my car and realize i had temporary mush for brains). i prayed that i would be clear in what i say (i am a rambler, especially in awkward situations) and that he would listen. i also prayed that at the end of this conversation, God would make His plan clear.

the conversation went especially smoothly. he had the info i was looking for. we both were thinking the same thing as far as where to go from here....and wouldn't you know it, that mental checklist of mine- he went right down the list without me even bringing them up.

please don't misunderstand. i knew that God was there in that conversation. and i knew that He already had this worked out....my stress came in wondering when He was going to fill ME in on His plan.

but today...he doubled heaped blessing on me. my best case scenario was blown out of the water by His plan. i did not see that coming. i not only got an answer, i got peace which i know will be followed by a good night of sleep tonight.

there will be bigger conversations. and others have bigger stresses. but isn't nice to know you are held even in the smallish size situation that has your mind all wrapped up today? and you look back at how you had this thing playing out in your mind and you realize that once again, you boxed God in.

i feel grateful that i am not my own best advocate.

i feel blessed to be thought about, considered and interceded for.

i feel overwhelmed by my God, who showed up in a big way today.

i am reminded that this is from God and i will not sell Him short by dismissing it as random things. it worked out because He worked it out.

i didn't even realize how stressed i was feeling, and to be given abundantly more than i even thought to ask about...i think i will just sit in that.

yea God.

shower hymn (emma style)

today was one of my greatest highlights of parenthood. if i could have videotaped it, it would have made your day as well. this morning, while i was getting ready- emma was in the shower. now, when you shut the shower door for her, she is in a world of her own. a couple of minutes in, she begins to sing...very loudly. so loudly, in fact, that her little voice is squeaking. the lyrics are posted below. i wish i could help you out with the accompaniment, but it was a tune i have never heard. also- the lyrics are original. caution: they don't totally adhere to Calvinist standards.

"Jeeee-sus- died on a cross.
now He es in hea....ven.
grammy harlene's mom is there too.

Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-sus died on a big cross.
not when he was a tiny boy.
when he was a teeny baby he lived in a box.

Jeeeeee-sus died on a cross.
He was a grown up.
like my daaaaaaa-ddy.

He was tough and sturdy (i am not kidding, the girl said tough and sturdy)
when he died on a cross.
He didn't like it.
But now He es in hea------ven
like a tiny baby (?)"

is that not the sweetest (though odd) thing you have ever heard.

6 words or less...

i heard some people discussing this on t.v. several weeks ago and thought it would be fun to see some of your answers. so, everyone who reads this--post a response!! don't think too hard about it...your 6 word description could change every day.

here is your challenge. describe your life (or day or moment) in 6 words.

i will start...based on my morning-

to state the obvious, i'm outnumbered!!
i can't wait to hear your answers.

blah, blah, blah...

i truly have nothing to say, but i was browsing around hoping someone had posted something new, and i decided i am tired of my own blog as well. we were just outside playing t-ball. anna starts on tuesday and until 2 days ago, she has never caught a ball (esp. not with a glove), she has also not swung a bat.....this has not deterred her because she wants to stand "way far away from me" while we play catch. she did not catch even one ball at that distance, but apparently as long as you are "way far away" from the person you are playing with- you are considered REALLY good....she told me such. i threw some grounders at her and was telling her to stay behind the ball. she was not listening, so every time i threw one, i reminded her. she says " stop talking!! all i can hear is your voice in my head". i say good. i hope she always hears my voice in her head!!

lauren had sadness on the field, so i was holding her weepy self. she starts giggling like crazy and says.

i wiped snot on you. lots of it.

people will call you snot coat.

last week i walked around with snot on the pocket of my coat until my m-in-l told me it was there. i am sure i will forget about the snot on the back shoulder area of my coat this time too.

that's ok....sticks and stones

a lotta questions.

this was forwarded to me and since i have nothing else to update--it was an easy post.



1 . WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? no.

2 . WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? i teared up a bit in church this morning.

3 . DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? not particularly. but i do not despise it either.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? turkey or chicken, but not the slimy kind.

5 . DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yes

6 . IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? sometimes, other times i would run.

7 . DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? yes.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS yes.

9 . WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? not a chance. ever. you know that rope would unhook while i was on it.

10 . WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? grape nuts or smart start

11 . DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? no.

12 . DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? well physically, i could squash my neighbor like a bug...but that doesn't say much. emotionally...i have not cracked yet!

13 . WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? chocolate peanut butter

14 . WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? their facial expression...happy, sad, worried....

15 . RED OR PINK? pink.

16 . WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? hmmm- it is hard to pick one. my nose, most other areas of my body.....


17 . WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? my goldfish who were flushed down the toilet (while still alive)

18 . WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? black pants and no shoes

19 . WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE ? a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie bar. (i am a total health nut!...there is that darn sarcasm again!)

20 . WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? my tired children-spatting

21 . IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? green

23 . FAVORITE SMELLS? the ocean, sunday dinner at my mother in laws, hyacinths and lilacs

24 . WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? my friend, emily

25 . DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? it was a forwarded, forwarded, forward from someone from church who sends these to the whole church.

26 . FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? gymnastics and soccer (anna style)

27 . HAIR COLOR? Brown with some blond highlights and 1 misplaced grey one.

28 . EYE COLOR? dark brown

29 . DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? no.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? pizza. and dessert. and i just really like food- all sorts.

31 . SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings

32 . LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? bee movie

33 . WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? light green

34 . SUMMER OR WINTER? summer, i guess but only after spring and fall

35 . HUGS OR KISSES? hugs

36 . FAVORITE DESSERT? it would be impossible for me to pick just one. c'mon, people!!

37 . WHAT BOOK( s) ARE YOU READING NOW? not reading, though i would love to be. only looking for overdue library books....

38 . WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? no mouse pad.

39 . WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV last NIGHT? i played mexican train dominoes last night..wait i caught a bit of snl before falling asleep.

42 . FAVORITE SOUND? my girls singing

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? beatles (but bring on the country!)

44 . WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? belize

45. IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD YOU LIVE? if i could take some folks with me i would head out to the east coast somewhere.

46 . DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? i can touch my tongue to my nose. (long tongue and big nose)

47 . WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Grand Rapids, Michigan

48. HOW IS LIVE DIFFERENT THAN YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE? wow. in every single aspect i can think of.

49. WHAT IS YOUR BEST FEATURE? hmmm...i do not know.

50. HOW WILL LIVE CHANGE IN THE NEXT 6 - 12 MONTHS? how am i supposed to know? my brother in law will wed. my friend and sister will become mom's again. my girls will grow another year older. life will go by too fast.

easter pics

today's talks

lauren, claire and emma are heading down the steps; each with a purse slung over their shoulder. i ask where they are off to and they reply to disney world. i ask if i can come along and lauren says that you need money to go there. "how much" i ask. and she replies "one hundy 20 billion" "wow!" i say "that is a lot of money". i have lots of money, she says. "where did you get all that money" i ask. she answers "my kids are all grown, i got my money back".


just now as we were tucking dramatic claire into bed she is on the verge of totally losing it. i am trying to calm her down and explain that she is tired and that if she chooses to act this way, there will be consequences (i.e. her beloved cubbies tomorrow). she says "i feel as though no one loves me". i tell her she knows that is not true and she says "when i close my eyes my head tells me that no one loves me and if i sleep, no one will like me neither." her therapy bill will start at a young age. increase the flex pay for next year.

**marissa- no need to post a comment. i have had enough badgering for one day. ;)