I can hope to be like this one day!

I have been really in to the Duggar family lately. I am just amazed by the mother's (Michelle) attitude and her parenting skills. Also, their obedience to God. I am wanting to get their book, but I found this on their website. I am so happy that TLC is publicizing such an incredible family!

1. Always use soft words, even when you don’t feel well.
2. Always display kind actions and joyful attitudes, even if you have been mistreated. Have the right response by quickly forgiving others in your heart even before they ask.
3. Always be enthusiastic and look for opportunities to praise others' character.
4. Always deflect praise and be grateful to God and others for the ways they have benefited your life.
5. Always use manners and be respectful of others and their belongings.
6. Always do what is right, even when others may not, or when no one is looking.
7. Thank God for how He made you, for what He has given you and everything He allows you to go through. (Romans 8:28)
8. Don’t mock or put others down. Develop compassion and pray for others.
9. Never argue, complain, or blame. Quickly admit when you have done wrong and ask for forgiveness (even if you were only 10% at fault). Don't wait till you’re caught. Be sure your sins will find you out. He who covers his sin will not prosper, but he that confesses and forsakes it shall find mercy.
10. Have a tough accountability/prayer partner to daily share your heart with and to keep you in line (your parents, spouse). The power of sin is in secrecy.
11. Be attentive and look for ways to serve others with sincere motives and no thought of self-gain.
12. Think pure thoughts (Philippians 4:8, Romans 13:14).
13. Always give a good report of others. Don't gossip! Never tale-bear unless physical harm will come to someone. (Use Matthew 18.)
14. Never raise a hand to hit.
15. Never raise a foot to kick.
16. Never raise an object to throw.
17. Never raise a voice to yell.
18. Never raise an eye to scowl.
19. Use one toy/activity at a time. Share!
20. Do your best to keep your surroundings neat, clean and organized.
21. Never let the sun go down on your wrath. (Don’t go to bed angry or guilty)
22. (My favorite!) Amendment J.O.Y.
    Put Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.

First deep breath in so long!!

So I had my 12 week appointment today & it went very well. She couldn't find the heartbeat w/the Doppler so they did a bedside u/s again and I got to see the little miracle for the 3rd time. The one baby that didn't make it is finally gone so I can finally BREATHE! The baby looked awesome & I'm finally not very sick at all (sooo wasn't the case with Brayden) and I feel like I took my 1st deep breath in months.


March 13th is the day we get to find out what it is :oD It's going to take forever I know!

Another blog...

So this is a day I wasn't looking forward to, but I do understand a lot of people are happy. This isn't going to be so much about Obama ("him"). It's going to be about the media & uninformed people("them").
You all know how I feel about Obama, so I'll just leave it at that. I'm finding myself getting really extremely irritated with a few things. The last week EVERY channel has talked about their coverage and what celebrities were going to be there. Is this the Oscars or something?! Why would you even talk about what celebs are coming when it comes to real issues in this country--especially our president?! I understand Hollywood is probably about 99% liberal, but come on. Do you need to put it in our faces, like we care? If this was John McCain (or any other republican), there would not be this hoopla going on.
Sure, he's the 1st "black" president. I find that funny as well b/c he's just identifing with his black-ness b/c he knows what it will do good for him. Granted, it's more PEOPLE making a big deal, not him as much. One of my biggest issues is all the black people that all the sudden care about voting/the president. No, I'm not saying blacks didn't vote before, but the amount that came out this year makes it SOOO obvious that they're only voting for Obama b/c he's "black." They're just so in awe of him and want "change" that I don't think they even thought twice about why they were voting for him!! Oh, and b/c they feel like they can "relate" to him. I don't think any of us plain Joe's can relate to ANYONE who is a president. I think this is the one topic that gets me so dumbfounded. I don't hear anything but this inauguration other than it's history. I do NOT care about that....I care about this country and how the next 4 (God forbid, 8) years will go.
I just feel VERY insecure about the next few years b/c he has no proof of how he can handle any of this. I don't agree with him, but it's really about no confidence in him. This country just feels to me that their eyes are glazed over. WHY do you think he'll bring change, HOW? Why are you "so inspired" by him - b/c he's black?? Why do you think he's so amazing. Until someone can give me SOME kind of answer with substance, I can't change how I feel.

...Then comes the bath....

He is too funny...he's so serious about his cups! :o) I haven't been taking many pictures lately--why, I don't know!-- but I got dinner & the bath this day!

Messy boy! January 2009

I took Brayden's shirt off and let me go to town with some yogurt. Who knew he had a spoon and was actually "using" it! lolTryin' to look all grown up or something!

Blog I wrote on Myspace

Thought I'd share on here for people who don't have myspace :o)
January 8th, 2009

We are starting a new lesson with my Bible Study, and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to begin it. It's called Parenting with Purpose & Grace. Doesn't that just sound wonderful?? We start the 1st lesson this week, but today we heard a little wisdom for about an hour on Intentional Parenting.
One of the things that stood out to me was Jennifer (the speaker) asked us what our default mode was. When Brayden does something I am either completely patient or completely frustrated. Now that he's totally a two year old, it's more frustration these days because he doesn't listen to anything and everything is about how to hit or kick me and screaming. I think it was a blessing to hear this speech because it's been a struggle the last few weeks for me. I have been getting so desperate and feeling like there's nothing I can do with him but I learned God gave us our kids according to who we are.That got me thinking......he did! I can't even begin to tell you how many times I hear that Brayden is a "sissy" or I make him like that. I know my son, and I know that loud noises scare him, strange people are not his friends, and that he IS a momma's boy. I don't take him up to people and say, "be scared Brayden!" That's just his personality at this point. I simply comfort my child when he's upset. Doing so, does not "make" him sensitive. So what if he is anyway? I for once, felt like I was doing the right thing. Hearing these things over and over from everyone has really been bothering me thinking I was doing something wrong. I'm not. I was given Brayden because of the way he is. God knows I as well am an emotional and sensitive person, and I can understand how he feels & be there for him. I know Brayden better than anyone else, and because of that, I can give him grace like God gives to his children.

"The root of intentional parenting is knowing God." I believe you can't be the best parent you can be without God. It's a tough job and to not have that spiritual connection, I think is a handicap when it comes to parenting. I couldn't do without Him. Maybe that's just me...I don't know...

Reflect on this....Deuteronomy 32: 46-47

46He said to them, "Take to heart all these words I am giving as a warning to you today, so that you may command your children to carefully follow all the words of this law. 47 For they are not meaningless words to you but they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

I guess I don't really know how to express myself on "paper" like normal, but the bottom line is, I'm sooo excited for this study. It could not have come at a better time for me!!

Ice & Snow - December 2008

Had to share some of our pictures :o)

Eating the snow, and realizing it was "COLD!"

Stupid branches that fell. Chris' windshield. :o(
The COOLEST picture!

Just like Momma!!

I love this picture! He had some toy and this is him mimicking me taking a picture! :o)
I was laughing so hard....Not sure why he tilts to the side to do it though! haha

*My camera is held up to my eye*

Not keeping up!!

I'll tell you why!!

Brayden does not ever look at the camera! I can't tell you the last time I got
a decent picture. Plus I've been lazy taking pictures knowing I have so many
photo shoots to edit. I haven't even touched my Christmas pictures. I hope once I move the computer downstairs, it will help! Let's hope!
Anyway...he's a cute picture of Brayden on Christmas morning. He fell in to this box like this and just chilled out for a bit :o)