What a Fabulous Day!!!

Today was truly a GREAT day. We decided to take the family on a little road trip to Myerstown ~ soon to be our new stomping grounds.

Now that we've sold the house & are planning to move next month, we thought it would be nice to take the girls to see our new home & to get them excited about the upcoming "uprootment."

We started off the day with a bit of a splurge. Both girls got new car seats!!!!! Aren't they cute?!?




When we got to Myerstown, we decided to pick up some Happy Meals & head off in search of this illustrious park with a pond & ducks that we keep hearing about, but have never seen. Well, I'm not sure how we could have missed it. It's right down the street! It's a great little spot, complete with pavilions, picnic tables, grills, tennis courts, basketball courts, playground, community pool, ducks, geese . . . you name it!! As we walked over this quaint little bridge, Jason said, "I could definitely see myself studying here."



After lunch, it was off to the seminary. And here is our scholar looking so smart at the entrance to the school!!


And here is our new home. Caleigh was very excited to finally see it. Her only disappointment was that we were not able to go inside (there is a missionary living there until the end of May). She seemed to think it was a good idea if we could just wait in the van until it was ready & then go in. :)



One of the things that Caleigh is looking forward to the most about moving to her new house is the swing set that is in the middle of the backyard for all the kids who live in the townhouses. There are a lot of things that Caleigh will be giving up (like her own room & her dog), so we're really trying to play up the positive. When she spotted the swing set, it was all over, so we took the girls over for some playtime!



Then we took the girls on a stroll around the campus to show them where Daddy will be going to school & to get tons of pictures for friends & family so they can see where we're going to be for the next 4 years. This is Christ Hall. All of Jason's classes are held here, & it is home to all of the professor's offices & the chapel. Graduation (I get giddy just thinking about it) will be held right here on the front lawn.


This is a picture of Rostad Library ~ or as I like to refer to it . . . Jason's Home Away From Home. I have a feeling he will be getting quite comfy here.



All in all, it was a wonderful day. Caleigh is very excited about going to the new house, which was our main objective for the day. We were also able to drive around & get the lay of the land. We located all the grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, restaurants, etc.

We had so much fun that both girls were in bed by 8:00! Now that's what I call a good day!!!!!!

Our Version of Normal

PeyPey's face says it all!!! It has been quite a few CRAAAAAZZZZY days for the Dickinson family!

On Saturday, we had the privilege of spending the day in West Chester watching Jason's brother, Adam, graduate from WCU with a degree in criminal justice. The ceremony was nice, but long. And here is a picture of the girls with our favorite graduate . . .


We had a party afterwards, where we discovered that Caleigh loves games that involve a bean bag toss (you'd better believe that we're going to get one of those for the new house)!


Mother's Day was less than ideal. Although my wonderful family took me out for lunch, disaster was about to ensue. Towards the end of the meal, PeyPey was getting a bit antsy, so I held her. I could practically feel her temperature rising in my arms. By the time we got her home, her fever was up to 105!! We immediately got some Motrin into her & called Aunt Sharon. We wanted to avoid the ER (Sunday, Mother's Day . . . what are the odds that we would actually see a pediatrician?). We were able to get the fever down & manage it throughout the night (even though that meant we were up all night). In the morning, I called our family doctor. We were sent to the ER anyway. I must say, I was less than thrilled with our experience there. I'm about to get on my soapbox, so here goes:

As a mom who has no knowledge of the medical field,
I feel completely unqualified to argue with the medical
staff, even when my mother's intuition tells me that
something is not right. I don't know what to tell them that I
want . . . I just know that I want something more than what
they're giving me. I don't know what the problem is . . . I just know
what I think it's not. I don't know on what basis I don't
believe them . . . I just don't believe them. So
where did that leave me on Monday??

We were sent to the hospital for the following reasons: the results to all tests & bloodwork could be given to us STAT, an IV of antibiotics could be started, & PeyPey could get some fluids immediately to prevent dehydration.

Not only did we not see a pediatrician, we didn't even see a doctor. We saw a physician's assistant who looked into PeyPey's ears, said it was an infection, gave us an antibiotic, & sent us on our merry way. We spend the rest of the day on Monday watching Pey's every move, administering Tylenol & Motrin at regular intervals, & doing our best to keep her cool. On Monday evening around midnight, Pey's temperature spiked again to 104.8. What to do??? We had already been to the ER & had given her the first dose of antibiotic. We gave her more medicine . . . nothing. So we moved on to a cool bath . . . nothing. Finally, we put an ice pack on the back of her neck & rocked her to sleep. Around 1:30 am, we got her down to 102. It was a scary night.

By morning, her temperature was normal & has been ever since. Please keep little Peyton in your prayers. We are concerned that her illness is not just an infection (although I have no medical basis for this ~ just Mother's Intuition). Please pray that if it is just an infection, we can knock it out for good this time.

On Tuesday my poor husband had the arduous task of taking care of all 3 of his girls, as I was sedated for 5 hours for dental work. With me out of commission, he certainly had his hands full!!!!! He has some funny stories to tell about me on the pain meds . . . although I don't remember any of it!

But, I guess it was all worth it in the long run. While I was unconscious, the girls were with our favorite babysitters, & Jason was watching the crown for my tooth being made, our house was being sold. Yes, you heard me correctly . . . we sold our house!!! Barring any unforeseen glitches, we will be moving on June 25th. We're really excited, but also a little sad. Things are becoming more final every day. We are trying to take one day at a time & walk by faith one step at a time.

But for now, this is our new version of normal!!!

My Biggest Fear

I came face-to-face with my biggest fear yesterday & walked away victorious . . . . I went to the dentist!!!!!

Now, I don't know how you feel about going to the dentist, but I HATE it! I would rather do anything than go to the dentist . . . anything. Just the thought of the dentist chair puts a knot in the pit of my stomach. I have been known to take Tylenol before a visit to the dentist in anticipation of the pain. A visit to the dentist for me equals an entire day of sweaty palms, butterflies in the stomach, & tension all over! But in light of Jason starting seminary in the fall, we will no longer have dental insurance. In a moment of pure insanity, I promised my mother that I would visit the dentist & have all my work done before the insurance is no more. What was I thinking!?!?

I'll freely admit . . . I'm a wimp!!!! Embracing that fact & adding to it the fact that I was certain there would be some work to be done (cavities, crowns, etc.), there was only one logical conclusion in my mind -- go to a dentist who practices sedation!!! And my wonderful husband graciously agreed.

And so, next week, I will undergo 5 different dental procedures . . . all from the comfort of Dreamland!!! Now that's going to the dentist! :)

Our Busy Life!

There's so much to report . . . where to begin??


First of all, thank you so much for all of your prayers for Peyton. She is doing really well. She just finished her strict antibiotic regimen yesterday & we have seen great improvements in her health. She has almost no cold symptoms, she's eating like a champ, & she's not sleeping around the clock! She goes back to see the doctor next week & will hopefully get a clean bill of health! Your prayers certainly worked & we're grateful for all of you who love little Pey~Pey so much!!



We took a little trip on Monday to Evangelical & you are looking at a picture of our new backyard!!!!!! Pastor Tim came with us & gave us the official tour of the campus. Christ Hall is absolutely beautiful! We were able to meet a lot of Jason's future professors, including the president of the seminary. The library was awesome ~ filled with the smell of old books . . . my favorite!

Jason registered for his classes & I couldn't believe his schedule. I guess I was just assuming it would be like when I went to college ~ class Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 3 pm. Not so. He only goes to class on Tuesdays from 3 pm to 9:30 pm & Thursdays from 8:15 am to 2:45 pm. We were thrilled because that gives us a lot more time to divide among his studies, work, & family.

Then we took a tour of our new home. We got a 2-bedroom townhouse & although it is small, we see a lot of potential. We were excited to discover that we can take our picnic table & our grill! And, as you can see from the picture, the area is beautiful!!!!

We signed the papers with our realtor last night, so our house is officially on the market! It was tough & we got a bit misty eyed, but we know that the Lord has great things in store for us.

As we get closer to moving, more & more prayer requests arise:

~ Please pray for a job for Jason that is completely orchestrated by the Lord. We have no idea what Jason's study schedule will be like, so we have no idea what the best days & times to work would be.

~ Please pray that there will be a buyer for our house (of course) & that the date of settlement would be completely orchestrated by the Lord. We are torn between getting there early so that we can settle in & get into a routine before the semester starts & staying here so that Jason can continue at Travelers for as long as possible.

So, that's the big news here. I guess that's enough to keep us busy for awhile ;)

Bring the Rain

We are praising the Lord tonight for the protection that He provided for little PeyPey's body. If you didn't get our e-mail updates, allow me to fill you in.

We were able to see Peyton's regular pediatrician today. Although the misdiagnosis of a mass on her lymph node & subsequent CT scan caused unnecessary panic, the test showed that Peyton has a very serious infection in her sinuses, ears, & throat. She has been put on a strong antibiotic for the next 12 days. Her doctor wants to see her again in 3 weeks. If the infection does not clear up, we will have to move on to antibiotic shots & be referred to a pediatric ear, nose, & throat specialist. We are monitoring 2 things that could be affected by an infection this severe: her lungs & her hearing development. The doctor examined Peyton's swelling & is 99.9% sure that it is swollen glands due to the infection & we should see the swelling go down as she gets better. Although the infection is nothing to take lightly, it is much better & far more manageable than the worst that we were imagining!

We are so grateful for all of your prayers. We know there are so many of you who love our family & Peyton & were storming the gates of Heaven on our behalf.

Someone approached my dad this week & commented on how terrible it was that this trial was happening to our family. My dad didn't see it that way. He said that it's to be expected. Jason & I are answering a call to full-time ministry & we are being refined . . . funny, that's what we thought, too.

Jason discovered a new song by MercyMe this week as we were in the midst of all this uncertainty. When he shared it with me, I knew I had to share it with all of you:

"Bring the Rain"

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through.
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You?
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on You, oh Lord,
My only shelter from the storm
But instead, I draw closer through these times
So I pray . . .

Bring me joy, bring me peace,
Bring the chance to be free,
Bring me anything that brings You glory.
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain,
But if that's what it takes to praise You . . .
Jesus, bring the rain.

I am Yours regardless of
The clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain.
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny.
So tell me, what's a little rain?
So I pray . . .

Bring me joy, bring me peace,
Bring the chance to be free,
Bring me anything that brings You glory.
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain,
But if that's what it takes to praise You . . .
Jesus, bring the rain.

Sifted Wheat

I have fallen in love with a verse. And I am claiming it as my own today & perhaps for many more days.

"Simon, Simon,

Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

But I have prayed for you,

Simon,

that your faith may not fail."

I must confess, I am feeling a bit like sifted wheat lately. You know the old expression, "When it rains, it pours." Well, it's flooding here. If you've read the earlier post, you know that Peyton is having some medical problems. We are scheduled to have a CT scan done tomorrow morning. We are also in the middle of home repairs that need to be done so that we can put our house on the market within the next week or so. Well, here are just a few (there are so many more) curveballs that have been thrown our way.

Saturday was set aside for laying carpet & putting furniture into storage. We had purchased a 12 x 18 piece of carpeting. When Jason unrolled it on Saturday morning, the carpet only measured 12 x 15 . . . not enough to cover the room. We had to return the carpet to Ollie's (where all sales are not so final), pick out a new carpet at the Ollie's in Pottstown, pick that one up, & take it home to install it.

Yesterday was a difficult, yet encouraging day. Lots of friends prayed over Peyton & hugged & cried with us. When I came home from grocery shopping in the evening, I soon realized that the box of diapers that I bought for Peyton were still under my shopping cart back at the store. And once I stepped in the house, I saw that the dog had peed on the brand new carpet!!!!!!

Jason & I have been assured that this is normal. Our pastor looks back with a smirk on the months before he entered seminary as some of the hardest, yet more rewarding months he can remember. He brought this verse to our congregation's attention on Maundy Thursday. What most captivated me was the power in the 3rd, 4th, & 5th word of this verse: Satan has asked. I can rest assured that Satan can do nothing that the Lord does not allow.

I have re~discovered something else amazing about the battle between God & Satan ~~ Satan is always trying to have the last word & God never lets him. Even with the snags that we've been hitting, God just keeps smiling at us! For example, Ollie's is going out of business & all sales are final, but when Jason explained the situation, they were willing to give us our money back. Not only that, but when I went to get the 2nd carpet, they gave me 10% off because of our trouble. And when I called the manager at Walmart about the diapers I had left on my cart, he told me to bring in the receipt & they would give me a new box!!!

And here's the kicker to all of this ~ as I was sitting here typing up this post, Jason called. He had just gotten off the phone with the Dean of Admissions at Evangelical School of Theology. HE'S IN!!!!!! With no extra restrictions or requirements!!!!!! And they have a townhouse for us!!!!!!!!!

Satan has asked . . . . BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU!!!!!!!

Sweet PeyPey ~ Prayers Please

Please pray for Peyton. Earlier this week I had noticed some swelling at the base of her skull. I chalked it up to teething & didn't think much more about it. Late this morning, as we were playing in the playroom, she came crawling up to me. When I rubbed her head with my hand, my attention was immediately drawn to a lump the size of a quarter. I took her to the doctor this afternoon & he found what he believes to be a mass on her lymphnode. We need to have a CT scan done within the week, as well as some bloodwork.

Please keep PeyPey in your prayers, as well as the rest of our family. We'll keep you posted. Thanks.

Easter Pics

Caleigh enjoys some of her Easter candy (she has a sweet tooth . . . just like her Mommy)

Whatcha lookin' at??

Daddy & PeyPey lookin' snazzy!

Yes, this is really the best picture I got of Caleigh in her Easter dress.

Caleigh enjoying the egg hunt

Caleigh enjoying the benefits of the egg hunt :)


PeyPey's Easter basket loot

Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!!!

I do realize that this blog is being posted 2 days after the fact, but I still hope you all had a wonderful Easter! I know our family certainly did.

The festivities began on Thursday evening with our Maundy Thursday worship service. We had an amazing service of remembering Jesus' last night with His disciples where He commanded them to love one another & to wash one another's feet. We then shared a special time of communion & washing each other's feet.

On Good Friday, Jason & I decided to babysit some of our favorite kiddos so that mom & dad could go & enjoy the Good Friday service together . . . in peace. Once everything died down for the evening, we settled in & watched "The Passion." Rough stuff ~~ this was my 5th time seeing it & it doesn't get any easier.

Saturday was a busy day (I'll fill in those details in a moment ~~ let's just say it involved paint brushes & carpeting).

Sunday morning was an awesome celebration at our church! This is our 2nd Easter at our church & I just love it!! It truly is the happiest morning of the year! The worship was so hyped up!!!!! The girls looked gorgeous in their Easter duds (courtesy of Nana). After church we headed over to MomMom & PopPop's for lunch, Easter egg hunts, & games. Good times!!!!

As for your weekly Evangelical update ~~ no new news yet. I think Jason's going to call tomorrow to make sure the committee isn't waiting on any missing piece of information.

However, the realtor was here on Wednesday. Things went very well, but we do have a few minor home repairs to do & he would like us to have them done in the next 2 weeks. Yes, I said 2 weeks!!!!!!! We need to repaint the bathroom & put up all new curtains, repaint the livingroom-diningroom-hallway area, repaint the kitchen, get rid of some furniture, & carpet the diningroom . . . in 2 WEEKS!!!! It is quite the undertaking, especially with Jason working full 8-hour days & me having children underfoot all day! So we've divided up all the work & have come up with a semi-manageable game plan. Saturday was devoted to the bathroom & I am happy to report that it is DONE!!!!!!! We were even able to purchase some carpeting at Ollies (ours is going out of business, so we got it for a steal!). We've been right on schedule with the renovations so far, so pray that that continues! Tonight we are edging the livingroom-diningroom-hallway, (as soon as the hubby gets home with the carpeting we bought at Ollies . . . good stuff cheap!!!!) so I'm off to put on my painting clothes!!!!!

Heartfelt Thanks!

I would like to send out a public thank you to Mimi (my sister, Alicia) for the huge bins of clothes she gave us for Caleigh on Saturday. She doesn't know it, but she was a gigantic answer to prayer this weekend.

I've noticed lately that the girls have been outgrowing their clothes ~~ particularly Caleigh. On the first nice day of this spring season, I immediately got Caleigh ready to go outside to play. When I put her sweatshirt on, the sleeves were up to her elbows & most of her shirt was sticking out the bottom!! The next day, I grabbed a short~sleeved shirt for her to wear & it was more like a belly shirt!!!! So on Friday night, I headed up to the attic to get out the bins of the next size of clothing for each girl. Pey~Pey's were easy to find & there was tons of stuff for her. But I couldn't find anything for Caleigh. Now, I could have sworn that I had picked up all the 2T & 3T clothing from my sister already, but I couldn't find anything for spring or summer. Nothing!!!

I headed downstairs & told Jason what I had discovered. We have committed to not charging anything to the credit card, so we gathered our cash together (including the birthday money his parents had given him). Trust me, it didn't amount to much. But I was planning on heading over to Goodwill to see how far it would get me. Something (God) compelled me to call my sister. I said, "I hate to assume, but did I pick up all the clothes you had for Caleigh or did you have more for us that Lauryn has outgrown?" To which she said, "Yeah, I have 2 bins full of stuff for you!" Praise the Lord!!!!!!

I picked the bins up on Saturday morning & was blown away by what I found . . . dresses, sweatshirts, lightweight jackets, pants, jeans, long & short~sleeved shirts, shorts, long & short~sleeved jammies, bathing suits, shoes . . . everything & anything we needed!! And some things still had tags!!!! It felt like Christmas!!

So, Mimi, thank you so much for everything. You will never know how much it was appreciated . . . and enjoy the picture of Caleigh in one of her "new" outfits!!

Evangelical Update

Just want to keep everyone in the loop concerning Jason's schooling in the fall. Pastor Tim spoke to the Dean of Admissions. Basically, we have spent the past week putting together a "portfolio" of sorts. This included 2 pictures ~ one of Jason & one of our whole family, a completed application, 2 500-word essays, 3 reference letters, a completed housing application, the notes for the Sunday school curriculum that Jason is developing, & a 13-page book review of Jesus Among Other Gods by Ravi Zacharias!! Trust me, it was just as exhausting as it sounds! :)

The portfolio was turned in today & now it is in the hands of the Lord (not that it wasn't all along). A committee will review the material & decide what, if any, additional schooling Jason will be required to do before enrolling in the seminary for the fall (like taking an English course or 2 at RACC or a summer course at the seminary). Please pray that God will make His will clear to us ~ that He will SLAM the door shut if this is not where He wants us.

We are thrilled at the prospect of going to Evangelical. On Sunday, Jason & I & the girls took a little detour through Myerstown on the way home from Hershey. It was love at first sight! We were able to drive around the campus & got a good look at the townhouses (which I received a brochure on last night & I'm thrilled . . . washer, dryer, storage, patio, backyard :) ). To quote Jason, "This feels like home."

Please don't misunderstand ~ if God wants us at PBU, we're there!! We have not stopped pursuing that avenue. Jason is still enrolled for the fall (we have until May 1st to back out). But I have used the analogy before (perhaps in an earlier blog, so forgive me if I am repeating myself) ~ we are wondering if perhaps PBU was our "Isaac on the altar" & now that we showed our willingness to give it all up to live in a tiny apartment for 4+ years, God is providing us with our "ram in the bushes."

Please continue to pray with us & for us. We are so willing to go wherever God wants us. Pray that He will make His way plain.

It's Here!!!!

Okay, okay . . . the masses have requested & I have finally answered!!!! Morgan Marie Designs has a website!! There are only a few items listed (as I'm trying to save some of my pieces from my big spring show in April), but I will add more pieces frequently.

The address is . . . . . drumroll, please . . . . . . . .

www.morganmariedesigns.etsy.com

Happy Shopping!!!!!

Little Blessings

Have I mentioned lately how much I love staying home with my girls!?!

We were just hanging out in the playroom yesterday & decided that it was definitely a Kodak moment!!!

BTW ~ notice the new 'do!!!

News, news, news . . . .

A huge thank you for those who knew & prayed for my family this weekend as we traveled up to Maine for my grandmother's funeral. We all made it home safe & sound. And although we wish we had all gathered for a more joyous occasion, it was good to see our family.

For those who are keeping in step with "The Great Adventure," you probably noticed that I alluded to a new schooling possibility that was looming on the horizon. I was hesitant to say anything about it out loud because it was such an extreme long-shot. But our God seems to thrive on the impossible odds . . .

We have often expressed to our pastor that we would love to be able to stay in the area & remain at our church. We have grown to the love the church body & enjoy the ministries that we have been able to be a part of. {Obviously, we cannot commute to our church from PBU.} He would like for us to stay as well, so he started kicking around some ideas with us. He attended & is currently teaching at Evangelical School of Theology in Myerstown, which is not too far from us. Jason had been looking into the school as a place where he could possibly do his seminary work. The seminary has a program where they will accept life experience in lieu of a bachelor's degree. And this program is only 2+ years, as opposed to PBU's 4 year program. However, you must be 32 to qualify for the program (called the Certificate in Ministry). Forsooth, Jason turned 28 yesterday (Happy Birthday, Babe!).

This past Tuesday, Pastor Tim went to speak to the Academic Dean about Jason. His answer to enrolling Jason in the CiM program was a prompt, "Yes!" UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!! Not only that, but if he does well in the program, he can then go on for his Masters of Divinity & with the CiM, he will already be 2/3 of the way there!! When all is said & done, Jason will have in 3+ years, what would have originally taken 7+ years. Our pastor e-mailed the dean an official letter & the dean forwarded it to the head of admissions. Then the dean e-mailed our pastor a comment that our pastor graciously forwarded on to us . . .

"Sign him up and don't let him head toward

Philadelphia. You may want to consider taking the air out of his tires."

What a shock!! All the details are not ironed out yet, but here are some things that we are very pleased about: 1) Instead of apartments, the seminary's married student housing are townhouses (complete with attics, sheds, patios, etc.), 2) the rent is less than half the cost of an apartment at PBU, 3) the townhouses are located right there on the campus as opposed to 1 1/4 mile away, 4) the area around the school is quite a bit safer than the Langhorne area, 5) we would be able to continue attending our home church.

What next?? How can you pray?? On Tuesday, Pastor Tim will be going to see the man in admissions. Although the Academic Dean can say that Jason is in, it is the admissions department that has a legal obligation. They will discuss when Jason can start & the possibility that Jason may have to do some extra work to show that he is capable of working at the graduate level.

We are ready, willing, & able to go wherever God is calling us. Please pray that God will make His way plain to us . . . be it Evangelical or PBU.

Prayer Warriors, Arise!!

I just heard from the woman in charge of housing at PBU. Here's the deal: she expects to have 9 apartments available & we are . . . drumroll, please . . . ninth on the list. She is still waiting for official termination of leases & to hear from prospective tenants #1-8 to make sure they are still interested.

However, another possible schooling option has come up. We don't want to say too much because it is a very uncertain possibility.

Please continue to pray with us that the Lord's will is done & that we will know it when we see it.

Our Trooper

First & foremost ~ a HUGE, heartfelt 'thank you' to all who prayed fervently for Caleigh (& Mommy & Daddy) this morning during Caleigh's surgery. Everything went extremely well.

For those of you who are out of the loop . . . Caleigh had surgery to have tubes put in her ears this morning. After 10 ear infections in 2 years ~ the last one resulting in loss of hearing ~ we felt that it was finally time to bite the bullet. We had a consult with an ENT specialist 2 weeks ago & he assured us that we were doing the right thing.

Don't ask me what happened . . . I left the office with the distinct impression that we would be with Caleigh when she was put under & would also be there when she woke up. Not so. When the office called yesterday to get some information on Caleigh, I thought it best to double-check a few things. When I asked about being there with her, the nurse informed me, "No, you won't be there when she's put under & you won't be in the recovery room either." *Panic!* My verbal response was, "She's two. Do you have a lot of two year olds who go to the operating room willingly?" She very nonchalantly replied, "No. They usually scream & cry. It'll be harder for Mom than it will be for her. She'll wake up crying for you too." *Gulp, PANIC!* So much for her bedside manner!

Things weren't looking too much brighter this morning. As we sat in Caleigh's hospital room, where she was being prepped for her surgery, we saw the little girl before her being wheeled down the hall . . . . screaming, crying, & trying to crawl off the bed!! *Gulp, PANIC!!!!!*

After being given a sedative, it was soon time for Caleigh to go. Mommy very bravely told her to lie back & hold on to Buddy (her elephant). Her lip quivered for a moment & that was it! Not a tear, not a sob, nothing! She was so brave & we were so proud! Watching her being wheeled down the hall was possibly the hardest thing I've ever done. Needless to say, I fell apart after she was gone.

I wish I could say things went just as well after the surgery. I know she will never remember what transpired today, but I will & it was rough. I could hear her crying for me in the recovery room loooooong before they came for me. When I was finally able to go back & see her, there was blood on her pillow & she was practically inconsolable (which I do realize was mostly from the anethesia). But I put on my Mommy Game Face & crawled into bed with her. We cuddled while I sang, stuck stickers on Buddy, & blew bubblegum bubbles.

So now we're home. She's in a bit of pain & is tired & cranky. But other than that, she's great!!!!!

Thank you for all the prayers, phonecalls, & concern. God is good!!

My Oscar Soapbox

No, I did not watch the Academy Awards last night. No particular reason why. I mean, it would have been hours of my life wasted, when all I really care about is who won & what did they wear? I can do without hours on end of acceptance speeches.

But allow me to rant for a moment about Hollywood. Yes, I realize that I feed into the ridiculousness by signing up for Netflix & attending the movie theater. And I do think that Penelope Cruz looked stunning. But the amount of money that these people make to simply entertain us . . . ABSURD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It really tells you where America's priorities are when our doctors, firefighters, policemen, etc. (you know, the people who actually save lives) don't make even a fraction of what the Hollywood elite do! Craziness!!

One other thing utterly amazed me. And, frankly, I was impressed by my response to it. This morning, my husband caught some of the Oscar highlights on the news this morning. He informed me that someone (typical man . . . . no name) was wearing shoes that were worth $500,000 a piece!!!!! Only to be outdone by someone (again, no name) was wearing a diamond pendant that was so expensive that it couldn't even be given a dollar value!! Now the old me would have responded like so ~

"Lucky girl!
I wish I had that kind of money!
Imagine having designers, jewelers, & stylists at your beck & call!"

A newer version of me would have said ~

"Think of all the good that could be done in the world for $1,000,000!
Instead, the world has a pretty pair of shoes!"

But as of this morning I thought ~

"You know what?
My God, my Abba Father, my Dad made those diamonds.
He owns those diamonds.
He's just letting them use them for a while."

For Those Who Know Them . . .

This post is for all of you who know my children & can properly appreciate their antics.

I know that every parent thinks their own children are so cute & so funny (& that is as it should be). But mine are really hysterical.

Here are a few of the funny things they've been doing & saying lately:

~ Yesterday I asked Caleigh to hop into bed while I fed Peyton & put her to bed. From where I was sitting, I had a clear view of the large open space in Caleigh's room right next to her bed. As I was sitting there, something caused me to look up (call it Mother's Intuition), just in time to see Caleigh flip off of her bed & land on her back on floor. Thank goodness she wasn't hurt ~ just a bit stunned ~ she looked up at me as though confused by what had just transpired & said, "Mommy, I fell off the bed!"

~ During the aforementioned naptime, Caleigh was singing a bit too loudly. After waking her sister for the second time, I went upstairs to tell her to be quiet. What did I find when I got up there?? Caleigh . . . naked. I got her dressed & giggled my way back down the stairs. This morning when I went to get her out of bed, what did I find? Caleigh . . . naked . . . again! I hope this is no indication of her teenage years! ;)

~ The other day Daddy was watching the girls in the playroom ~ Daddy & Caleigh were working on a puzzle & Pey~Pey was in her walker. Caleigh was also snacking on some yogurt. For some reason, Daddy & Caleigh left the room (probably b/c Caleigh had to go potty . . . she's such a big girl), but they had left Pey~Pey & the yogurt behind. By the time they got back into the room, Pey~Pey had already seized the opportunity & the yogurt!!!! Hence the pictures.

~ For Christmas, Mimi bought Pey~Pey a cute, little beanbag tiger. There is a story behind it . . . Caleigh & Lauryn have both fallen in love with a beanbag elephant . . . Lauryn's is "Winkie" & Caleigh's is "Buddy." Peyton couldn't be left out of the loop, so Mimi bought Peyton "Lovey." It didn't take any coercion at all for Peyton to fall in love as well!! As soon as she sees Lovey, she nuzzles her face into him with gusto!!! Describing it just doesn't do it justice.

I'm sure there are many more things that are slipping my mind right now. Everyday they come up with some new way to infuriate & amuse me!!!

My Cutie Pie!!

Who can resist those eyes!?!

Date Night

So, last night was date night ~ a sort of belated Valentine's Day celebration. Now why is it that when I actually have the opportunity to go to the movies sans children, there are no good movies playing (yes, I know, "Breach" opened last night, but it wasn't playing at the theater near us)???

We dropped the girls off at MomMom & PopPop's & headed to the mall. And although we were childless, we couldn't help but stop into KayBee Toys ~ they were having a GREAT sale!!!!!

Then it was off to Bath & Body Works (one of my favorite stores)!!! It seems that in the busyness of having kids, Jason & I are often not able to celebrate certain holidays on their exact calendar date ~ but I think we've stumbled onto something . . . everything for Valentine's Day was 50% off!!!! I got 2 cream body washes (Warm Vanilla Sugar & Black Raspberry Vanilla), Jasmine & Vanilla massage oil, Wild Honeysuckle body lotion, & my personal favorite ~ White Cherry Blossom body butter!!!!! We only spend just over $20!! We did so well, I think we're going to celebrate all holidays after the fact!

Then we headed over to Ross to do some clothes shopping. I am currently sporting a new long-sleeved, red t-shirt with a funky owl design on it . . . for the low, low price of $5.29!!

We went to TGIFriday's for dinner . . . which I love, but WAAAAAAY too much food! So I guess I'm having Bruschetta Chicken Parm & Crispy Green Bean Fries for lunch with some Oreo Chocolate Cake for dessert!!! I can hear the pound being added as I type!

Of course, no night out would be completely without coffee. So we found a little place in the mall & indulged in a grande Mocha Hazelnut Latte . . . yuuuuum!!!

But, forsooth, there is no such thing as a night JUST to ourselves, so we ended our evening with a trip to Walmart . . . the dog needed food!

C'est la vie!


{By the way, my prayer warriors, Caleigh's ear surgery is scheduled for March 1st, early in the morning.}

Ice, Snow, Teddybears, & Unexpected Blessings

Valentine's Day greeted us ~ as it did many of you ~ with ice & snow . . . lots & lots of ice & snow. Unexpected Blessing #1 was that the roads were far too treacherous for Jason to venture out, so he got to stay home with his girls all day . . . which quickly led to Unexpected Blessing #2: I got to sleep in until 9 am (this is major, considering that Jason teases me about having a love affair with our bed ~ I LOVE our bed ~ & I usually have to be up by 6 am)!!!!

The girls got stuffed animals for Valentine's Day. Yes, Caleigh's was a black & white teddybear . . . exactly what she asked for. For those of you who have been wondering, Jason's Valentines got him a Bible ~ a black, French Moroccan leather-bound, thin-line, NIV Bible with cross referencing. So, 4-6 years from now, when you see Jason preaching from the pulpit with black Bible in hand, you'll know where it came from. I was given a beautiful card filled with coupons ~ good for back rubs, housecleanings, & my favorite ~ "No Mami Aqui" nights!!!!!

After putting Pey-Pey down for her morning nap, Jason & I headed out to try to locate our cars. We quickly found out that although Caleigh loves snow, she does not love ice. So while we were shoveling & scraping, she was sitting in the van, cozy warm, watching Dora the Explorer on the DVD player.

Not long after our cars were uncovered, our neighbors were warned that if they didn't move their cars within the hour, they would be towed. So my Good Samaritan hubby headed out to shovel & scrape & push 2 more cars out of the snow. What a nice guy!!!

Unexpected Blessing #3 came when Jason sat down in the afternoon to do our taxes. Most of you know that doing our taxes is the 1st of the next set of steps for the Great Adventure. Step 1: Do taxes. Step 2: File FAFSA. Step 3: Put house up for sale. It turns out that our refund check is going to be TWICE as much as we were expecting!!!!!! We were so excited!!! Our realtor is going to walk through our house & give us a list of small home-improvements that we can do ourselves to increase the value of our house & that money will be a great help!!!

Post-Valentine's Day, the snow & ice are still here. I had to help Jason get his car unstuck so he could risk his neck driving to Harrisburg. Yeah, he didn't know 78 was going to be closed for 50 miles when he left.

Hope you all had a wonderful, love-filled day!!!

My Funny Valentine!

We just LOVE Valentine's Day. For all of you out there who are single, I get it. It's a stupid holiday ~ just another day for Hallmark & Kay Jewelers to capitalize on. But when you are married to your best friend & have 2 beautiful children who are the loves of your life . . . it's a GREAT holiday. In our house, we observe the traditional rules of gender; therefore, the 3 of us girls share Daddy as our Valentine & Daddy shops for his 3 special Valentines.

Last night, as I was tucking Caleigh into bed, I told her that today was going to be a very busy day -- we were going shopping for Daddy's Valentine's Day gift. Being a typical 2-year-old (aka "It's All About Me"), she wanted to know where her gift was. I informed her that she was Daddy's Valentine, so if she wanted something special, she had to tell Daddy.

So . . . on this fine, brisk February morning, the girls & I ventured out in search of Daddy's Valentine's Day gift. We had great success; & truly, I wish I could tell you what we got for Jason, but he is a regular reader of this blog & I would hate to give away the surprise.

While we were in this particular store, Caleigh was so enthralled with all the things to look at (that, of course, was after we visited the potty ~ really, what is the fascination with public potties??). I wrote this off as a unexpected blessing, for it allowed me some time to carefully choose a gift. Little did I know, she was carefully filing away information in that "steel trap" of hers.

When we got home, she insisted that she needed to call Daddy & refused to tell me why. I happen to think it's adorable that she likes to talk to her Daddy throughout the day (usually to tell him that she had to sit on the naughty step, her panties are still dry, Pey-Pey's crying, or other some such toddler news), so I indulged her & just whispered a prayer that she was not going to give away Daddy's Valentine's Day surprise. After Daddy got on the phone & she was sure that she had his undivided attention, Caleigh said, "Daddy? I want a teddybear for Valentine's Day. A black & white teddybear."

While I had been consumed with picking the perfect gift for our Valentine, Caleigh had been perusing the store & carefully choosing exactly what she wanted so she could tell her Daddy the right thing.

Does life get better than this????

Reality Check

It's official . . . I am a spiritual wimp! "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Well, my iron was sharpened by my husband last night. It's a long, involved story, but well worth the lesson, so read on . . .

Jason's job involves a lot of traveling in the company car. Yesterday, he stopped by Jiffy Lube to have his oil changed. Now, most waiting rooms I've been in have their TV set to CNN (or some other continuous news program), but this particular one was set to the History Channel. And the program of choice for Jason's viewing pleasure was all about torture . . . & as we all know, torture was & still is (in some countries) a favorite way for many rulers to try to silence the message of Christianity. So, last night, on the way home from church, he educated me about the different forms of torture. He told me about the Iron Maiden ~ a person-shaped casket, made of iron, & lined with spikes. But what was so notable (& horrible) about the Iron Maiden was that all of the spikes were strategically placed so as to inflict the most pain without actually killing the person trapped inside (such as spikes through the eyeballs, etc.). Then I learned about the bronze bull that a person would be placed in & as the bull was heated by a fire underneath, the person inside would be cooked alive. There would be an opening in the mouth of the bull because the screams coming from inside would give the illusion that the bull was bellowing. Jason also informed me that during the Spanish Inquisition, it was very popular for religious "criminals" to have to watch someone else being tortured, knowing that they themselves would be next. And this is how the rest of our conversation went:

Me ~ No, what would be worse would be one of us having to watch the other be tortured.

Jason ~ No, what would be worse would be like those Christians in the old days . . . if the parent didn't recant, their child would be tortured.


And then my heart just fell into the pit of my stomach. Here I am, whining & complaining that I'm giving up my house . . . all for the cause of Christ. Gee, how noble of me. I'm giving up my house . . . not because my family is being run out of town for claiming the name of Christ, but because He has something else, something better, in mind for us. I'm giving up 4 walls, 1 roof, warm nights, & fond memories for 4 different walls, 1 different roof, the same warm nights, & more fond memories. My children are loved & safe, & will continue to eat healthy, play hard, & be tucked in between their flannel sheets with the snowmen on them at the end of a long, fabulously fun day . . . with no thought about pain, torture, or death.

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight."

The Waters & The Flames

It was a tough phone call. And although the conversation was filled with well wishes, future plans, & courteous laughter, it was still a tough phone call. I spoke with our realtor yesterday. He very wisely advised me that he thinks it's too early to put our house on the market ~ if it were for sale now, someone would snatch it up & want to close on it in April or May . . . Good News!!!! But still a tough phone call . . . allow me to explain. Even though I was thrilled that this seasoned professional thinks that selling our home will be a snap, it pushed me one step closer to the reality of selling our home.

On a cold day (like yesterday) when our widows are leaking arctic air like a sieve & I have to write out the astronomical check for the oil company, I think to myself, "Praise the Lord, this is our last winter in this drafty old house." But then at night, I tuck my girls into their beds in bedrooms tailor-made for them & I hate to imagine anyone painting over Caleigh's flower garden or Peyton's polka dots.

Our pastor often uses the term "spiritual schizophrenia" ~ knowing what you should do & not doing it or knowing what you shouldn't do & doing it anyway. And sometimes that's how I feel ~ I remember when we started house-hunting, Jason & I dreamed of a house with a fireplace & a bay window. And, lo & behold, when we walked into this house for the very first time, there was a fireplace & a bay window! But then I remind myself that the 4 walls that hold my family are not as important as the family being held.

Today's devotional passage:

Fear not, for I have redeemed
you;
I have summoned you by name;
you are Mine.
When you pass through the
waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the
rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you
ablaze.
For I am the LORD, our God,
the Holy One of Israel, your
Savior.

Since you are precious and
honored in My sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your
life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with
you.

Crisis in the Bathroom!

So, I'm in the bathroom, picking clothes up off the floor, when my hand bumps the basket that holds the girls' bath stuff, & I hear something clatter to the floor. And I think to myself, "Did I just lose an earring? Because surely that would be the only thing that would clatter in such a manner, right?!?" I turn on the light & much to my horror & dismay, there on the floor is the diamond from my engagement ring, complete with prongs still attached!! So then I looked at my hand . . . the ring itself was still there. I wasn't aware that chlorine erodes platinum (or so they said at the jeweler's) -- the crown of my ring had snapped right off!!!!

Now the hubby & I, being true examples of "men are from Mars, women are from Venus," had 2 very different reactions to the incident. I immediately cried out, "OH, NO!!!!!!!!!" and the tears began to roll. He, however, very calmly walked into the bathroom, assessed the situation, & said, "Well, praise the Lord, you didn't lose the diamond." And although my practical side could see that he had a very good point -- at least it happened at home & not when I was out & about running errands -- my sentimental side was crying out, "But it's my ENGAGEMENT RING!!!! (sob) I LOVE this ring!!! (sob, sob) You PROPOSED to me with this ring!!! (sob, sob, sob)"

The good news is that we took the ring to the jeweler's last night & left thinking that it would cost at least $100 to have repaired. When they called me today, they decided to only charge $50. And it will be ready to be picked up on . . . Valentine's Day.



****Potty Training Update: Caleigh is doing a FANTASTIC job. We haven't had more than 1 accident per day all week. And most days, she doesn't have any accidents at all!!! Of course, the incentive that MomMom is going to buy her more outfits for her Snap & Style doll doesn't hurt!!

Great Adventure Praise

What a wonderful surprise! I went to the mailbox today & there was a letter from PBU . . . I breathed a quick prayer, "Please, Lord, let this be something good." And it was!!!

Most of you know that Jason attended Automotive Training Center for 18 months & graduated with highest honors & a specialized degree. However, ATC did not become an accredited institution until after Jason graduated. So we knew that going to PBU would pretty much be starting from scratch.

And then I read the letter . . . they assessed Jason's transcripts & not only does he not need to take "Freshman Seminar" (not too big of a deal, since it is not a class for credit), but he also does not need to take a professional elective (3 credits) during his 7th semester!!!!! It may not seem like much, but that's roughly $1296 that we do NOT have to pay!!! And it's 3 credit hours that Jason does not have to devote to study & away from the family!!!


Yea, God!!

Ahhhh . . . isn't it funny how sitting down to have some quiet time with the Lord can be like taking a nice deep breath of fresh air.

Just moments ago, I finished blogging about illness & potty training & tiredness . . . & just being, in general, tapped out. I put the girls down for their naps & picked up my Bible (the 1st chance I had had all day) & there it was. It wasn't that the devotional itself was particularly apropos, but the passage of Scripture was awesome.

Why to you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my
God"?

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can
fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the
weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and
fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like
eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:27-31

Yea, God!!!

Tahiti -- One Way Please!!

It's been 3 weeks . . . 3 long, arduous weeks . . . 21 seems-like-an-eternity days . . . since I've been outside this house for any reason other than church or errands!! And I think I'm starting to lose my mind!

It began as colds (5 days), which grew into ear infections (5 more days), which grew into ear infections that were not responding to antibiotics (7 more days) . . . okay, Christine -- you say -- check your math because that's only 17 days . . . oh, did I mention we're potty training (4 more days) -- I now spend the better part of my day chained to a plastic potty.

Then add to the mix that I'm exercising. Yes, you read that sentence correctly . . . I, Christine (aka "please pass the chocolate") am exercising. I now look back fondly on the days when I could eat whatever I wanted without a second thought. A blissful, guilt-free existence. But those were the pre-children days. Not only does one's body not go back to what it used to be, but apparently one's metabolism also goes on hiatus. No one told me that. I used to be able to eat an Oreo (or 2 . . . or 10) & not feel it, see it, or even remember it. Now all I have to do is sniff the Oreo & my thighs begin to swell.

So I've foolishly been brainwashed by the theory that the more one exercises, the more energy one has. And I have to be honest with you . . . I'M NOT FEELING IT!!! Although there is a great satisfaction after I'm finished my stint on the treadmill, I'm not so sure that "satisfaction" is converting itself into "energy."

So not only am I housebound, but now I'm tired (read "cranky"). But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Valentine's Day is right around the corner & I'm sure we won't be celebrating the entire holiday at home . . . will we?!?!

Amazing God

Growing up in the church, you better believe I learned those 3 famous attributes of God: omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient. So why am I surprised, as I sit down to do my devotions, that He gives me exactly what I need to hear. Here is what I read today:

Matthew 6:25-34


Right on Time


Sometimes you're sure about what God wants you to do, but movements seems slow & hard.


When we were called into the senior pastorate from youth ministry, there were about 6 months when Bill ran his own business. We didn't have a large savings account, & when clients were late paying their bills, we were between a rock & a hard place. I put a list of "needs" on the refrigerator: grocery items, electric bill, gas for the car, etc. Each day I'd pray, "Give us each day our daily bread." I realized that I expected God to provide ahead of time, instead of day by day. I was secure only if I could see money in the bank.


While I believe the Proverbs clearly teaches that the wise save for a rainy day, sometimes life's storms last longer than the savings. I began to pray, "Lord, help me not feel the need, until it is a need." And "God, give me faith to believe You will provide right on time." Some days I prayed, "Just let me go one more day & trust Your provision." I prayed verses like Ps. 37:25: "I was young & now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread." And if things felt really tight, "Lord, help me make it one more hour, with my focus on You, not the need!"


I kept a journal of God's provision. The unexpected job that paid cash, the diaper rebate check that bought milk the day we ran out, etc. God provided what I needed right on time.

Amazing!!! Amazing!!! Amazing!!! A devotional tailor-made just for me!! For those of you who have been keeping in step with the "Great Adventure," you know that what the author wrote is especially close to my heart. Being a woman, I LOVE security! That's just the way we women are wired. It's not a bad thing . . . it just means that letting go & letting God is a bit more of a challenge. I completely identify with wanting the need met BEFORE it becomes a need. But sometimes it doesn't work that way . . . & that's okay. Because while I'm holding one small vague puzzle piece, God -- the Author & Perfecter of my faith -- sees the whole puzzle. He knows how every piece fits together. I may think I'm looking at a dark, ominous rain cloud; when, in reality, it is the center of a beautiful flower!

Potty Training & Answered Prayer

Before you get too disgusted with the title of this post, rest assured that for me, today, the two did not go hand-in-hand. Although we were able to keep a pair of Elmo panties dry for almost 2 hours, the next 2 pairs were wet within less than 20 minutes . . . (sigh) . . . we'll try again tomorrow.

A heartfelt thank you to those who have been praying for us as we continue on our "Great Adventure." Please continue to pray as we have had some specific needs arise. We will not be taking our waterbed with us (most apartments do not allow you to have a waterbed due to the weight -- not to mention that it's just too big). Although we have the frame for a full-size bed, we are in need of a box spring or mattress. Also, Jason will be trying to CLEP out of his freshman English comp. class. I have been tutoring him & we will let you all know when the date of the test is.

Please know that your prayers are making a difference. We've seen 2 answers to prayer in the past 2 weeks. For those who have been praying that the Lord will help us (ME!!) loosen our grip on our "stuff" -- last week, we cleaned out the playroom (one pile for yard sale, one pile for Goodwill) & we were able to wittle things down by about half. My sister has graciously agreed to provide a home for my piano while we are away (thanks, babe) & my mom will be providing a home for our recliner, as well as some storage space in her attic for various odds & ends (thanks, Mom). It's hard to see those things go (even if temporarily), but as a very wise woman (Sharon) once told me, "It's not your stuff, it's God's." For those who have been praying about our finances -- a wonderful opportunity has presented itself. I will be watching a beautiful 20 month old little girl for 3 months this spring. I am a firm believer that God always provides for ALL of our needs . . . but sometimes we are expecting the check to be in the mail . . . & although I've seen that happen before (to me, in fact), sometimes He expects us to get off of our duff & do our part!!! So Caleigh will have a little playmate & Jason & I will have a little extra income. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills -- 2nd cow . . . SOLD!!!

We have TEETH!!!

They are finally here! After months of waiting & checking & fussing & crying . . . 2 little white buds (okay, so I practically had to get my magnifying glass out to see them) have finally poked through!! I've been keeping an eye out for them, suspecting they were on their way. You fellow moms know the signs . . . cough, runny nose, itchy ears, irritability, sleeplessness -- even though 9 out of 10 pediatricians will swear to you that there are no side affects to cutting teeth! {Either they don't have any children of their own or their kids came out of the womb with a full set of pearly whites!} Anyway . . . this morning, I was offering Pey-Pey bits of banana on the tip of my finger when I suddenly scraped something sharp. Upon further investigation, there they were -- in all their glory!! Ahh, she's growing up so fast!! Next thing I know, she's been donning a cap & gown or a wedding dress or a maternity shirt . . . why, oh why, can't they stay like this forever!?!

Me & My Honey

Just wanted to post a pic of me & my honey. This is the picture that we took to put on our prayer card that we're going to be sending out by the end of the month. So, friends & family . . . be watching your mail!!!

Here to Stay!

The germs, that is. Caleigh finished 10 days worth of antibiotics on Saturday. This morning the runny nose, cough, & fever were worse than ever!! She spent the majority of the day on the couch watching about 97 episodes of "Dora the Explorer." We got in to see Dr. K. late this afternoon. And lo & behold -- 3 RAGING EAR INFECTIONS!!! One for Peyton & two for Caleigh!! Caleigh's been put on a stronger antibiotic & now we have a consult with an ENT specialist so we can have tubes put in her ears.

I know, I know -- simple procedure, out-patient basis, routine. Not when it's your 2-year-old!!!!! Just the thought of her in the hospital, having something stuck in her ear that God did not put there Himself makes me nervous!!!! But if this will help my little angel from going through more painful infections with high fevers . . . and if it saves me from 97 more episodes of Dora . . . it will be worth it!

Zest for Life

You know, I was just saying to someone yesterday that it's such a shame my girls don't love life just a little bit more!!!! As you can see, Peyton's a real ham! Those girls are happy the minute their feet hit the floor in the morning! They are truly a joy to be with.

Caleigh is now at the age where she will repeat things that I say to her back to me at the most opportune moment. For example, in moments of disobedience (or selective hearing . . . whichever you prefer), I will often say to her, "What did Mommy just say?" The other day, while tidying up around the house, I was singing to myself, which apparently is NOT what Caleigh wanted to hear. So she told me to stop. Without thinking, I continued singing. She looked at me as serious as death & said, "What my just say?" (She still mixes up her pronouns.) It was so cute!!!!

PBU Update

For family & friends, or perhaps the curious passerby, here is the latest update on the Dickinson "Great Adventure." In Saturday's mail was Jason's 1st scholarship from PBU . . . $5000 per year for all 4 years. Jason will be required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average, as well as "commuter" status. Praise the Lord!!! He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (as my father always says), there's our 1st cow -- SOLD!!

Please continue to pray for our housing situation. We still do not know if we will be able to secure an apartment in the building owned by PBU. And even if we do, we are still unsure how it will be paid for. Jason has a gut-feeling that we will not be living in those apartments . . . that God has something else in mind. I'm not sure where we'll be living, but I know God will take care of it. We just need LOADS of wisdom because it's a little tough to sell a house when you don't know where you're going or when you need to be there :)

There is a passage of Scripture in Joshua that Jason & I have often referred to during this "Great Adventure":

Joshua 3:7-8 -- And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.'"

Joshua 3:15-17 -- Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away . . . the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground."

WOW!!! What we have always found fascinating about this passage is that the Lord did not stop the river first and then ask the priests to step in. The priests had to have the faith to step into a raging river first.

So here we are, standing at the river's edge. Where did I put those flippers?? Oh, wait, that's right . . . I'm not going to need them.

The Germs Have Invaded . . .

. . . and are taking up residence in my home!!! And the biggest victim of their nastiness -- poor, adorable, PITIFUL Caleigh!

Wednesday's night's ni-ni time proved most difficult. Starting at 9 o'clock, Caleigh woke up every 15 minutes crying for Daddy or Mommy. By 12:30 am, sleep was becoming a most precious commodity in our home. So, I spent the night with a feverish 2-year old flailing about in my waterbed.

We greeted the morning with a fever of 99 . . . by 11 o'clock we were up to 101.5 and so exhausted she was falling asleep in the middle of the livingroom floor . . . by 4 o'clock (& after a very restless nap) we were up to 103.1. I always wondered what age marked the I'm-sick-so-I'm-staying-in-bed era. And now I know. Caleigh is normally like clockwork -- up no later than 8 am, resistant to 2 pm naptime, in bed by 9 pm. But on Thursday, I took a phonecall from a friend around 10:30 am, and I noticed Caleigh was being unusually quiet -- there she was, curled up in Daddy's chair, fast asleep.

So, needless to say, we made a phonecall to the doctor's office & then got a second opinion from Aunt Sharon. And now, we are up to our eyeballs in Tylenol, Motrin, Benedryl, & Amoxicillan. Fortunately for me, she takes medicine like it's candy.

She seems to be back to her old self today. Her fever is down, her appetite is back, & she's insisting that every stuffed animal she owns needs a diaper. Ahh, good ol' Caleigh.

Resolutions

The new year is upon us. It seems like just yesterday I was making & breaking my 2006 resolutions. But, alas, hope springs eternal, so here goes . . .

This 2007 year, I resolve . . .

*to be more patient with my children
*to work on some household project 3 afternoons a week
*to read through the entire Bible chronologically
*to eat healthier (notice it does not say "healthy," just "healthier")
*to devote more time & energy to Morgan Marie Designs
*to remind myself everyday that life is more than just checkmarks on a To-Do list . . . that one day I'll blink & my girls will be all grown up & I'll wonder why I didn't laugh more, get down & play on the floor more, dance more, snuggle more, love more, be Mommy more . . .

So far things are going well . . . okay, so I've had to whisper, "Calm down, Christine. It's just Play-Doh" a few times . . . but yesterday some toys found their way into a bag marked for Goodwill (1 project), I pre-cooked all my meals for the month (2 projects), I did 4 loads of laundry (3 projects) . . . I'm up to Genesis 11 . . . I'm munching on honey wheat pretzels . . . I have 3 pages formatted for my new Morgan Marie Designs catalog coming out this spring . . . & I laughed until I almost cried when Caleigh made up a song pledging her eternal devotion to egg salad . . . I rolled on the floor while playing "This Is the Way the Ladies Ride" with Peyton . . . I danced at least 6 times to the theme song for "Dora the Explorer" . . . I nuzzled Pey-Pey's neck as she fell asleep . . . I diapered a stuffed monkey because he needed it to go to Rest Time . . . & as I sit here typing this blog I count my blessings: 1) Caleigh 2) Peyton 3) they belong to me.

Happy New Year!