Sunday, December 27, 2009

All Things Work Together for Good

When we got in the car to go to church this morning, we discovered that our car was having major problems. It was still drivable, but the heater, radio, and basically everything else was disabled. So we drove to church in our frigid car and pulled into a parking spot, only to discover that the car would not turn off! Every time T tried to put the car in park, there was a horrible, loud grinding noise, and he couldn't pull the keys out, either. So the kids and I went into church, and some guys came over to help T. To make a long story short, T drove the car back home and pulled out some fuses to get the car to stop. So now we need to get the car towed and repaired.

BUT, the good thing is, it turns out that one of the men who helped T this morning is in charge of our church's moving team, which we didn't even know existed. So he said he'll put out the word and recruit some guys to help us move this Saturday!

Also, some kind friends from church are letting us borrow one of their cars until we can get ours fixed. They packed up their whole family and drove from their house, which is half an hour away, just to deliver the car to us tonight.

When I was a child, I heard stories about George Müller, the orphanage director who prayed fervently and trusted God to provide--and He did, in amazing ways. I wanted to be that close to God and have that kind of faith, but I didn't know how to go about it. In the almost-five years that T and I have been married, I've had to exercise a lot of faith in God's ability to take care of us. At first it was hard for me--very hard. I cried a lot during our first year together when T didn't have a steady job and we didn't even own a car. But every time a situation came up where I honestly didn't know how we were going to make it, God blessed us abundantly, often through our caring church family. And each time it became a little easier for me to trust God, because I felt a little closer to Him and I remembered what He had done for us in times past. I'm not saying I have faith anywhere near George Müller's, but I realized today that I'm truly not worried about this car situation or the expenses of our upcoming move, and that is a "God thing." He has changed me in the last five years. Strangely, I always feel closer to Him when life is not perfect and I'm more aware of my need for Him--not just for His provision, but for Him.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

A Picture

Today when I was looking through old pictures trying to find the photos I took of our new house (we're moving in less than two weeks!), I ran across this one of Cupcake when she was seven months old. I miss the roly-poly, almost-bald Cupcake, but I'm delighted in the sweet, fun toddler she is now at a year-and-a-half.

 


Anyway, about the house, it is a small 3-bedroom house with only one bathroom, but it has front and back yards and a garage. The backyard has several raised garden beds, so I am looking forward to growing some of our own food this next spring and summer. There are also lots of flowers. I can't wait to see everything in full bloom! Now that we will have a house of our own and not be in quite such close proximity with the neighbors as we are now in our apartment, we are also considering a home birth for when our baby is born around July 4.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Keepin' It Real

Another household rule I never knew I would have to make:

"If you get pee on a tissue, don't put it back in the tissue box."

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Best Buds

D.L.F. was still chattering away almost two hours after we put him in bed tonight, so finally I went in to check on him.

"I am playing my third game of Uno with Baseball Guy!" D.L.F. exclaimed proudly.

"Oh, you guys are playing Uno?" I said casually, trying to suppress a laugh.

D.L.F. pantomimed dealing out a few more cards and then said, "There! Now we're finished."

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

It's Real!

I heard the baby's heartbeat today. That makes this pregnancy seem so much more real. There really is a baby growing inside me! My midwife said it is almost certainly not twins, or my uterus would be bigger. I will probably have an ultrasound in about two more months, at which point we should be able to discover if Baby is a boy or girl.

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Breakfast of Champions

D.L.F., while playing with a small toy motorcycle: "This motorcycle is not big yet."

"Oh," I said. "Is it going to grow?"

D.L.F. nodded.

"Do you have to feed it special motorcycle food to help it grow?" I asked.

"Yes," D.L.F. said.

"Oh. What kind of food do motorcycles like to eat to grow big and strong?"

D.L.F.: "I think...oatmeal."

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I am starting a list of house rules that I never knew I would have to make until I heard myself saying them to my children. Today's is: "Don't chew on the toilet seat."

Monday, December 07, 2009

Nap Time Entertainment

I'm not sure if D.L.F. slept at all at nap time today, but at least he was happy and fairly quiet the whole time. When I came into his room to get him up, he had lined up all his stuffed animals and told me, "I read a story to all my friends and relations!"

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Reiteration

::loud scream::

Me: "What's wrong, [D.L.F.]?"

D.L.F.: "[Cupcake] was doing something bad to me!"

Me: "What was she doing?"

D.L.F.: "She was not doing something good to me!"

Me: "What was she doing?"

D.L.F.: "She was trying to take a toy away from me."