Little Personalities...Lots of stuff I've been meaning to blog about.

She's getting ready to pray. :) She folds her hands immediately when I put her in the high chair.
Last night I was holding Luke when we prayed at our small group (Taylor was in bed) and it was so cute to see him watch especially the guys and he folded his hands like they did while we prayed. :)

...Any day mommy....

Are we praying NOW?

I ask...where's your brother, where's your sissy?

He can't keep his little paws off Taylor's hair, mine either. He loves playing with it.

LOL

Doing really well with the spoons and even better with the forks I tried at lunch today. They like stabbing food. :) Easier I suppose.

Luke likes to look at himself in the spoon. :)

She's cheating. :)

So yesterday I switched LT's bibs by accident. I put Taylor's on Luke and he started screaming...I was clueless and ignored him as I put Luke's bib on Taylor and she started screaming...so I realize what I did and was thinking.....ARE YOU SERIOUS? So I switch them and they look at each other and giggle. I told Nick and he didn't believe me so he tried it as he got them ready for dinner. (I heard the screaming from the kitchen) He got the same results. lol Then I again by accident put a pink bowl in front of Luke and Taylor screamed....apparently that is HER bowl. WOW...didn't see the possessive thing coming. They share almost everything but those few things that are boy and girl colored.....they've noticed who's is who's.

Then the sippy cup stand off. Luke had Taylor's sippy and Taylor had Luke's. They stood across from each other to exchange sippies. Both VERY careful to make sure the the hand off happened at the exact same time so that the other wouldn't run off with both sippies. They made the switch, said thank you and ran off all happy. :)

Then they started pretending to be in a VERY heated conversation. Standing across from one another they were yelling back and forth with their arms flying around and heads moving with intensity...this also ended in giggling. They have the little attitude look and everything. Nick says this is from me....NAH. :)

In the morning as they are reading their parenting magazines and I'm getting ready, they enjoy brushing their teeth and insist on having some lip balm and lotion when I put mine on. They smack their lips and rub their hands together and feel very important. The baby magazines are still a hit. They love looking at them and seeing all the babies.

I've got to get on video how they run to me when I say it's time to get a bath. Luke's face especially lights up, his eyes get big and I get a HUGE grin.

I've been getting random kisses from both of them. Luke gives me slobbery wet ones and makes a big smacking sound. They both blow kisses too which is adorable. Taylor likes eskimo kisses still and gives little soft ones.

Taylor has been really into stacking everything. Books, stuffed animals, toys. I went in to pray over her last night and she was covered with her bears, bunnies and books. She put them all on her belly. They both love stacking and knocking down soft blocks.

They are starting to be little helpers. When I get them ready t o go somewhere I ask the one I'm not changing to get things for me. Go get Luke's shoes, Go get Luke's jacket. They are getting very good about it and very proud to help.

Lambie and Bunny have become VERY important lately. Luke loves his lambie and he chews on his ears and cuddles him at night. Taylor is obsessed with her Bunny blanket. The way she says Bunny is adorable and she gets the biggest grin on when you hand it to her and she squeezes it tight often laying on top of it to sleep. I've really tried to keep it in her crib because she goes nuts if she sees it and doesn't want to put it down for lunch. Luke also has learned that by taking the bunny or her baby and flaunting it in front of her by hugging them and saying BAY BAY and BUN NAY......she LOSES it! He enjoys this which is so brother-like. :)

They have been getting better and better at feeding themselves with spoons. Scrambled eggs, cheese chunks and grapes seem to work best out of a bowl for them. Luke insists on helping with his oatmeal in the morning. It's a work out to keep a hold of the spoon. He means serious business.

When they hear the door they get so excited and say DADDY! It's the cutest thing.

Luke continues to be very sensitive to certain things. He doesn't like big colorful characters of any kind. He is very afraid of shiny balloons. Certain people he decides he's not okay about. The ball popper toy they got last Christmas he just about a month ago started slowly getting closer to it and now he plays with it. Every once in a while it freaks him out...but that took him almost a year to warm up to. Taylor on the other hand......lets the hair blow in her hair, up her shirt, and giggles thinking it's great. She could care less about chasing the balls, she loves the air blowing on her. Luke loves the balls and would chase them and hand them to her to put back in because he wouldn't get close to it. :) The Cars logo on his back pack...didn't like it. When I look at it the eyes are kinda an angry face...but all I know is he knows what he does and does not like.

Some of the things that are coming out of my mouth lately...

• STOP HITTING YOUR SISTER!
• GIVE THE BUNNY (or baby) TO YOUR SISSY!
  
• GET YOUR HANDS OUT OF YOUR PANTS!...lol....to Taylor
• NOOO!
• UT UT UT (and they repeat this)
  
• OUT OF YOUR MOUTH (to Taylor) or EWW....DON'T LICK THAT!
• BE NICE!!!!

I tried making a list of all the words they are now using.

Taylor
Mama, now Mommy
Dada, now Daddy
More
Please (peez)
Thank You (tank ew)
Ut oh
Ow (ouch)
Owl
Kitty Cat
Pup Dog
Ali (our dogs name)
Meow
Moo
Cow
Neigh
Baa baa
Woof woof
Bear (BEE-AIR)
Baby (BEE-BEE)
Belly
Boogie lol
Juice
Eye
Nose
Buh Byes
Hi
One
Two
Three (tee)
Nigh Night
Ball
Let's Pray
Amen (May-Men)
Book
Bible
Toes
Shoes
Bunny
Up (upt)
Out
Brother (brover)
Diaper
Hop hop
Go Go Go(Go Dog Go)
Flower
Bowl
Apple
E I E I O
All Done
Bee
Roar (like a lion)
No no no
Ut ut ut
Bless You
Monkey (MON-key)
Tractor
Heiny
Pappy
It's a Baby!
Oh Baby!
Boots
Hat
Jacket
Boo!
Boo Boo (when she gets hurt)
Potty
Yummy yummy
Mmmmm
Cup
Brush
Choo Choo (when they hear the train)
Shhhhhh
Shhhhh (airplane sound when they hear or see an airplane)
Boogie
Stop It!
Monkey
Ashes Ashes
Patty Cake Patty Cake
Poopy

Luke
Mama, now Mommy
Dada, now Daddy
More
Please (peez)
Thank You (tank ew)
Ut oh
Ow (ouch)
Owl
Dog
Ali (our dogs name)
Meow
Moo
Cow
Neigh
Baa baa
Woof woof
Bear (BEE-AIR)
Baby (BAY-BAY)
Juice
Eye
Nose
Buh Byes
Hi
One
Two
Nigh Night
Ball
Let's Pray
Amen (May-Men)
Book
Bible
Toes
Shoes
Up (upt)
Out
Brother (brover)
Hop hop
Go Go Go(Go Dog Go)
Flower
Bowl
Apple
E I E I O
All Done
Bee
Roar (like a lion)
No no no
Ut ut ut
Bless You
Monkey (MON-key)
Tractor
Boots
Hat
Boo!
Boo Boo (when he gets hurt)
Pee pee
Yummy yummy
Mmmmm
Shhhhhh
Shhhhh (airplane sound when they hear or see an airplane)
Monkey
Ashes Ashes
Patty Cake Patty Cake

Randoms

Luke walking around with the back pack as a purse saying bye byes! :)

They love dragging these around. Luke was afraid of the Cars logo at first and preferred Taylor's Tinkerbell.....now he's changed his mind. :)

Barking at the neighbors dog.

Miss Taylor stacks everything. She stacking everything in her crib then climbs it. I have to be careful about that now. :)

Typical lunch.

Playing piano with Jacob.

This is at our friends Daryll and Zoe's house and their girls always love sharing their toys with LT, This is Luke showing Nancy. :)

Head, shoulders, knees and toes...Taylor cracks me up at snack...she's a muncher.

Luckily for me, Nancy gave me another potty. This should help out A LOT. Especially for possessive potty Taylor.

So Taylor wants her sunglasses on...so I put them on and she's all proud.....then Luke looks at her and SCREAMS! He DID NOT like them at all.

His crying then made Taylor upset, as it usually does.

Luke NOT keeping his feet to himself and Taylor cracking up!

This is them saying they are "all done"

Getting a shot of them together, by myself is next to impossible these days.

This is when it wasn't so cold at the park.

Luke did NOT like not being able to see his hands. :)

He insisted on having the chair INSIDE the pack and play for devotion time. :)

Believing at Christmas

So as I'm reading John and learning all about BELIEVING in Jesus...and how important that is. I'm not satisfied to just say..."Sure I believe in him." I want more. I want to believe more. I want my faith to increase. I want him to teach me more about him and about life. I want him to fill every void in me. I want him to help me make every decision. As I've been reading John and praying these prayers for more. I can't help but to feel convicted about my lack of focus on Jesus as Christmas approaches. We get so wrapped up in tradition, gifts, decorating, etc. We end up getting stressed out and worn down. I think this is the last thing God intended for the day of his son's birth. He gave us the gift of his son so we could be free and so we know how much we are loved by the one who created us.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I want to be in awe of what God has done for me. I want to take it in and believe it.

One of my favorite quotes from Max Lucado is this:

Jesus humbled Himself. He went from commanding angels to sleeping in straw. From holding stars to clutching Mary’s finger. The palm that held the universe took the nail of a soldier—Why? Because that’s what love does.

So how do we celebrate Jesus on Christmas? I'd love to hear some ideas. We started reading the story of Jesus birth and will keep doing that every year with our kids first thing Christmas morning. Some families volunteer in soup kitchens, some invite the lonely over to spend Christmas with them. What does Christmas look like when we keep our focus on Jesus?

Our church this year has an amazing opportunity to reach out to it's community. On Christmas Eve we're inviting everyone for a free Christmas Event. It's at a beautiful theater in the city. This event is meant to reach people who wouldn't step foot in a church, the unloved, unwelcome and show them the love of Jesus. My initial instinct was to dress up and enjoy the show, because well, that's what you do on Christmas Eve, right? Then, I think...would a homeless or poor person feel comfortable walking into a place where everyone is dressed up fancy? Is this about me or them? Am I so stuck on tradition that I've lost the real true meaning of Christmas?

What about Santa?
I know this is a touchy topic among christians. Has Santa become an idol associated with Christmas for our kids? Have gifts become what we worship? Are your children asking you about Jesus or Santa? Do you put more effort into creating a fantasy that isn't real than teaching them the truth of how much God loves them? If you're doing both, why would they believe you about Jesus being real if you lied to them about Santa? There's a ton of stuff out there about Santa being from the devil, how rearranging the words spell Satan....etc etc. I don't know about all that. Frankly, I don't really care to research his origin or any more about him. All I know is this. Anything that takes our focus off of God, something we worship more than him, is an idol. God's clear about not worshipping idols. So for me, that's enough.


These two questions I can't get past:

How can I tell my kids to believe in Santa, and then expect them to believe me when I tell them about Jesus?

Should I teach my children to ask Santa for material things or to pray to Jesus for everything?

Children truly believe without doubt. They have pure hearts. Jesus said we are to be like them.

Matthew 18:3
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus is talking about their faith. Their ability to believe. As parents I think we've got to protect that and cherish it and learn from them.

Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Are we hindering our children by our unbelief?

I've heard testimonies about children healing people in parts of Africa and other countries. They are able to heal because of their faith. They believe that Jesus can heal the deaf and blind. It is with that faith that God works through them. Why don't we see miracles? We don't believe God can do it. We don't even think we need him. Imagine what would happen if we believed?

I don't know it all. Far from it. I pray everyday, actually several times a day, for God to teach me how to raise Luke and Taylor. I pray that he teaches me as I am able to learn so my relationship with them would honor him in every way. I have a TON to learn. God works on me everyday. I KNOW I need his help. I can't possibly do anything right without him. I make mistakes, but his mercies are new every morning and I start over. I'm not writing this to judge anyone, I'm just sharing what God is sharing with me. I encourage you to pray and read your bible and ask God to reveal what he wants to teach you about this Christmas? Be open to what he may teach you and share it. Read John and underline every time you see the word believe. Meditate on his word.

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

A friend of mine posted this little story and it ties in perfectly....

This morning I heard a story on the radio of a woman who was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable. And after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year. Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.

Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot."

From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, "Don't worry we already crucified him." For the rest of the trip down the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word. If we all did it, just think of how different this whole world would be.

Rite Aid

Soda
Sale $9.99 for 4-12pack boxes
Flyer Coupon
Regularly 4.99 each
$2.50 each

HP ink
Black and Color
Regularly 61.98 each
$8.00 Rebate
$26.99 each

Fusion Razor
Sale: $9.00
Coupon: $4.00
Rebate: $5.00
Originally $11.99
FREE!

Crest Toothpaste
Originally $3.49
Sale: 2.49
Rebate: $1.50
Coupon: $1.00 off
Rite Aid Coupon: $1.00 off Oral Care
MADE A DOLLAR! :)

Complete Contact Solution
Originally $9.99
Sale: 7.99
Rebate: $7.99
Coupon $1.00 off
MADE A DOLLAR! :)

Crest Whitestrips
I've never bought these because they are EXPENSIVE but I got a deal so I thought I'd give them a try. :)
Originally $39.99 seriously? youch!
Sale: $32.99
Rebate: $10.00
Coupon $5.00 off
$17.99
(more than 50% off)

Vaseline Infusion Lotion
I got this free before and really like it so I was willing to pay some for it.
Coupon: $1.00
Rebate: $2.00
Originally $6.99
$3.99

Crest Scope Mouthwash
Sale: $2.49
Coupon: $1.00
Rebate: $2.49
Originally $3.49
MADE A DOLLAR! :)

TOTAL Originally $154.39
after Coupons, Sales and Rebates ($5 off $15 purchase and for spending $100, I'll get $20 back as a rebate) My rebates alone were 54.49 just on this purchase. :)
Paid $63.32
(that's about what I'd pay for just the ink at staples)
Saved $91.07

You know what irritates me though...I could have saved more. If I would have printed out more $5 off $15 coupons...most cashiers take as many as you have. Errr....I'll know next time.

Believe

What does it mean to believe?

I'm reading John now for my devotion time and it really stuck out to me how many times Jesus talks about believing in him. I decided to do a little study on the word believe to see what I could learn. I encourage you to read john and underline ever time you come across the word believe.

Believe who Jesus says he is...

He claimed to be one with the father, the Son of God...our Savior...the Messiah...the Christ...you have the choice to either look at his life and words and believe his claim of who he is or choose to think he was a liar and a lunatic. He left no gray area for us, he either is who he claimed or he isn't, we either believe him or we reject him.

Believing there is a God is not enough.

Jesus makes it clear that you must BELIEVE in him.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 4:21, 25-26
Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

=========================================================

Believe in him for eternal life: (Look how much scripture there is with the word believe in regards to our salvation...how could we miss that we have to believe in him.)

John 1:7
He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.

John 1:12
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 3:15
that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:18
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

John 5:24
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

John 6:29
Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 6:40
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

John 6:47
I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

John 7:38
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

John 7:39
By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

John 8:24
I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."

John 9:35
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;

John 11:26
and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

John 11:40
Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

John 12:44
Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.

John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

John 14:11
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.

John 20:29
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

John 20:31
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Acts 10:43
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Acts 13:39
Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

Acts 15:11
We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Acts 16:31
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."

Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 3:22
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

Romans 10:4
Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:10
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Galatians 3:22
But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

1 Timothy 1:16
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

1 John 5:5
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Matthew 10:32
"All those who stand before others and say they believe in me, I will say before my Father in heaven that they belong to me.


Hebrews 3:19
So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

=========================================================

Believe him for Healing...

Matthew 9:27-29
When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied

Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"

When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they replied.

Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored.

Matthew 9:22
Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.

Mark 5:34
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Mark 10:52
"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Luke 8:48
Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

Luke 18:42
Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you."

=========================================================

What do we do when we are struggling to believe?

Ask God to help you with your doubt.

Mark 9:23
Immediately the father cried out, "I do believe! Help me to believe more!"

Jesus Heals a Sick Boy
A man answered, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has an evil spirit in him that stops him from talking. When the spirit attacks him, it throws him on the ground. Then my son foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes very stiff. I asked your followers to force the evil spirit out, but they couldn't."

Jesus answered, "You people have no faith. How long must I stay with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."

So the followers brought him to Jesus. As soon as the evil spirit saw Jesus, it made the boy lose control of himself, and he fell down and rolled on the ground, foaming at the mouth.

Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has this been happening?"

The father answered, "Since he was very young. The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything for him, please have pity on us and help us."

Jesus said to the father, "You said, 'If you can!' All things are possible for the one who believes."

Immediately the father cried out, "I do believe! Help me to believe more!"

When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he ordered the evil spirit, saying, "You spirit that makes people unable to hear or speak, I command you to come out of this boy and never enter him again!"

The evil spirit screamed and caused the boy to fall on the ground again. Then the spirit came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and many people said, "He is dead!" But Jesus took hold of the boy's hand and helped him to stand up.

When Jesus went into the house, his followers began asking him privately, "Why couldn't we force that evil spirit out?"

Jesus answered, "That kind of spirit can only be forced out by prayer."

=========================================================

Believe him to answer Prayer...

Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Mark 9:23
"Everything is possible for him who believes."

=========================================================

Believing to receive wisdom...

James 1:5-6
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

What amazing things the Lord gives us if we'd just BELIEVE.
Wisdom, Healing, Blessing, Forgiveness, Peace, Eternal Life...

What's holding you back from BELIEVING?