They are now truly big girls

About a month and a half ago we began putting this yucky tasting polish on Anna & Maggie's thumbs to discourage their deep-seated habit of thumb sucking. We also let them choose a gift that they could have after they hadn't sucked their thumbs for a solid month. As you can see by the smiling faces, they were very happy to become non-thumb-sucking-big-girls-with-fun-new-toys!

Elaine Updates

The past couple of weeks have been crazy for so many reasons... but one of the biggest is that Elaine celebrated her 1/2 birthday, got her 1st and 2nd tooth, started solids, and although she isn't crawling on her knees, she can army crawl with the best of soldiers! She is still the sweetest & most smiley baby, but she really wants to get around! Also, her favorite sound these days is "dada."

Never in January

I have soooo soooo many things to post about, but I need pictures! Soon, I hope! Until then I'd love to direct you to this method of reading through the Bible that Noel Piper encourages: Never in January. I just started this and I am searching for everything related to the joy of the Lord. It's very exciting!

DBC Short Term Team

Here's a picture of the team (except Cheryl) that came in to help put on the Women's Retreat & Kid's Camp. Thank you guys so much for your endless serving!

Kid's Camp

On Friday Night & Saturday part of the DBC team, the missionary dads & other church members had a Kid's Camp to help out the dads who were taking care of kiddos while their wives were at the Women's Retreat. Thank you Wes for not only taking care of our children, but many others also! Thanks to all the coordinators & helpers.

Sunday was Children's Day

Here in Mexico they celebrate Children's Day. Our church had a Noah's Ark themed evangelistic service to celebrate the day.

Group Shot from Sunday

Here's a picture w/ the team from DBC as well as most of us Monterrey missionaries.

Recommended Books on Marriage & Parenting

sebo - used book store
Originally uploaded by bluevelvetbr.

Well awhile back I told Kimberly that I would get her a list of recommended books on Marriage & Parenting. Sorry that I haven't done it before now Kimberly... but finally, here it is... This is defintely not a complete list (I've had 4 kids in less than 6 years, so I don't have the brain power to remember all that I've read, nor have I had enough time to read all the wonderful books out there). Please post any great books that you've read also! For really great reading check out Amber's blog... She is always reading great stuff! Thanks for sharing your books with us Amber!

I don't necessarily agree with every single point of these books. I just really enjoy seeing other people's faith applied in their families. I love the uniqueness of each home! May we all live out the WORD in our homes.

These are in no particular order, and I'm sorry, but I didn't link them.

Marriage:
Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson
Sacred Marriage by Gary L. Thomas
The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
On the Other Side of the Garden by Virginia Ruth Fugate
Creative Counterpart by Linda Dillow
Intimate Issues by Linda Dillow
Fruit of Her Hands by Nancy Wilson
Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper

Parenting:
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp
Mission of Motherhood & Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson
Raising Children to Adore God by Patrick Kavanaugh
Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman
Teach Them Diligently & The Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo
Standing on the Promises by Douglas Wilson
Sacred Parenting by Gary L. Thomas

Photos from Women's Retreat Forthcoming

Last weekend I was blessed with attending our church's 1st ever Women's Retreat. It was a sweet time of fellowship & encouragement. About a year ago most of the women here said that there was no way they could be gone from there homes overnight. They are very serious about their homemaking duties! Since then, Phuong & Placy from our team and some other stellar ladies from the church organized a wonderful overnight retreat with a team from DBC serving at the retreat & hosting a Kid's Camp to help out the dad's caring for children. It was a great picture of the Lord using the Body to bless the Body! I didn't take any pictures, but everyone else did... so I'll borrow some & get them posted!

What is she saying?

Here's a little sample of what I get to hear all day long. Claire has ALOT to say, I'm just not sure what it is. If anyone knows what she's saying, post it!



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What's In a Name?

Yesterday Maggie announced that she didn't like her name "Maggie Eileen" and that she wanted to change it. When I asked her what she wanted to change it to she said "whatever Anna chooses." So Anna renamed Maggie and herself (just for the dance show they were going to perform for me, she said). Maggie is now "Gold Flower" and Anna is "Gold Indian."

Other fun names the girls have come up with:
Pink Puppy Pink
Fluff n' Pup
Anna wanted to name Claire: Callie, Lily or Rudolph

Texas Tornado

This past week we had to take our van to Texas for some repairs. We were blessed that the repairs turned out to be minor and relatively inexpensive. And though our time in town was very brief, we got to enjoy Easter celebrations with our families! (We miss you so much already!) On the way home we stayed overnight w/ Jason & Jenny in Austin & visited their church Austin Stone Community Church. It was such a delight to have childcare for all the girls & sing praises to our Risen King in english (led by such a great worship leader too - Andy Melvin). All the pics are taken at Jason & Jenny's darling home (and with their awesome camera). And the cute dog is Dora. My girls LOVE LOVE their dogs! Thanks again guys for letting us crash at your place & for letting the girls enjoy your sweet pets!

The Toothfairy's Invitation

Anna is almost 6 & is losing & getting teeth like crazy these days. She recently made a birthday party invitation for the toothfairy. This is what it says:

To: The Tooth Fairy
From: Anna
I hope you can come to my 6 year old birthday party on May 18th. Bring a gift, but not a bag of teeth. But maybe a tooth fairy game, a dollar or a Mermaidia doll.
Love, Anna

Galatians 6:9

I was honored at being asked to share the devotion at Jen's baby shower... and also quite nervous. It's been a long time since I've been asked to teach anyone over 5 yrs. of age anything. And it was to be in Spanish. But thankfully it turned out okay. I did totally speed through it, and my pronunciation went out the window... but it was sweet time to share where I'm at and to encourage all the women to give thanks to God for wherever they are in life.

I focused on such a comforting verse: Galatians 6:9

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not grow weary.

Sadly I oftentimes lose heart in doing good and grow weary. It's so easy for me to grumble & complain (at least inwardly), but I thank the Lord that He gently reminds me of His promise to produce a harvest in His timing. I think that the biggest harvest to be reaped will probably be in my own heart as He continues to show me the multitude of rights that I hold on to instead of Him and the selfishness that eclipes "doing good." I thank Him for his abounding patience, and for his mercy in giving me four little blessings to teach me such lessons.

(the picture is Jen & I at her shower... isn't she the CUTEST expecting mother!!)

Baby Showers Here are Awesome

This past Saturday, the church we are involved with threw a shower to honor Jennifer Brown (on our team) and the upcoming birth of Austin . Everytime I go to a baby shower thrown by the women of our church I am blown away. Showers here are so focused on fellowship and celebration and the Lord. During this shower we sang hymns, played Bible charades, had a devotion and enjoyed a full meal together. We also played baby-related games & had cake, but I love how they honor mommy's by reminding them of their sweet Father's love.

New posts coming soon...

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, but I'm recovering from strep... so although I feel pretty good now, everything else in disorder. So hopefully it won't be too much longer!

Until then, here's an older pic of Anna, Maggie & Claire.

Elaine Catherine

Elaine is the baby of the family. She is just about 4 1/2 months old, so what she can do is pretty limited (which is an extreme blessing right now-- see previous post). But she has the sweetest personality you can imagine. She's is almost always smiling! She loves people and puts up with quite a bit from her big sisters. She is very ticklish and will giggle almost anytime you repeatedly kiss her chubby cheeks.

Claire Elizabeth

Better known as Claire Bear in our home, Claire is 18 months old and is what you would call "busy." She is constantly in, on, or pouring out everything. She doesn't like to be held for very long. And she is now in the early stages of talking and can say quite a few things - some spanish, but mostly english. She learned very early on how to say "I want" from her big sisters. Much of her day is spent saying:
I-uhnt (I want) agua, down, outside, books, etc.
I-uhnt watch Mahna-Mahna (early Muppet show skit that ROCKS)
I-uhnt to click it (meaning the mouse computer)
She is very silly and knows it! One of my very favorite things about her is how much she loves kissing Elaine. If you say "where's Elaine?" she immediately puckers her lips to kiss the baby!

Middle of the Night Story

Okay, I was going to begin this little tale with some disclaimers, but I think it'll speak for itself. If you lose all respect for me as a mother, I will totally understand... But Suzanne insisted that I share the story.

So it was little after midnight last night. I leaped out of bed as I heard my oldest daughter screaming "Mommy, HELP!!!... MOMMY, MOMMY!!!!" in extreme terror, from what seemed like a far away place... As I am bolting downstairs I realize that she is in the downstairs bathroom with the door closed. She is still screaming just as fearfully, and I start yelling to her to calm down and tell me what is the matter. I yell this to her a couple of times before I get to the bathroom door. Just as I am opening the door, I see Anna standing up on the sink (not the potty) screaming "THERE'S A RA----." I immediately do what any barefoot mother who has seen a cat-sized rat in her garage before... I closed the door back. I slammed the door shut and ran and got up on a chair... Isn't that horrible??!!!. My poor baby was shut in a room with a rat. And I didn't go rescue her! Luckily Wes had made it downstairs by then and as I sort of explained what was going on, he grabbed a hammer and was about to open the door when we hear Anna yell, "IT'S A ROACH, LIKE THAT WAS OUTSIDE." We then realized that it was probably a water bug which commonly come out of the drains this time of year. We went in and were actually unable to find the evil perpetrator... But we did find Anna who was still a little shaken. I'm not sure if she was most shaken by the bug or by the mommy who left her alone with the bug. But we reassured that it was okay, and got her tucked back into bed.

Maggie Eileen

Maggie is 4 years old going on 30. She is very intelligent & is wonderfully quick witted. She is always asking great questions and really wants to understand things. She is very energetic and a little sensitive. When she's happy, she's really happy, and when she's upset, she's really upset! She loves to make others laugh, especially her sisters. Most of her interests are the same as Anna's, but she is definitely her own person. She loves dressing up, usually in a bathing suit (even in the winter). And she is my biggest helper. She is always asking to help cook, clean and take care of the babies. And when I let her, she very sweetly says, "thank you mommy for letting me help you."