Changing Winds

So the night before last was possibly the worst wind storm that I have had the pleasure of experiencing. Sustaining winds up to 50 mph, pouring rain, no power, trees down ALL OVER the place.

It was so bad that not only was there a tree fallen over blocking the entrance to campus, but another tree blocking the road that goes up the hill (by Retreat House for those familiar with GCTS campus) and another tree uprooted further up the hill.

It was one of those times that you realize that God IS powerful NOW and that His power is not limited to rain/snow showers and sunshine.

Besides the fallen trees, there were other storm casualties, (some of which a few parents I know might be pleased to see due to tick problems in the spring and summer months):

Relationships

Tonight at the dinner table, discussing Kermit the Frog's friends...

Steph: Miss Piggy is a good friend too, but... it's complicated.

"9" month check-up at almost 11 months

So we are still getting caught up on appointments from when Gracie and I were in Washington. Today she had her check-up. Here is the info:

Head circumference - 17 1/2 inches which is in the 42% for her age (11 months not 9)
Weight - 17 lbs 6 oz which is in the 8th% for her age
Height - 29 1/2 inches which is in the 80th% for her age

Nope not a typo. She really is 8th and 80th. Our skinny tall littlest girl.
The doctor didn't seem too concerned. He said that she is probably trying to find her happy medium and now is a low time.
Also she has been teething like mad the last couple of weeks, and so has refused to eat on many occasions because it just hurt too much. Hopefully she will get a teething break soon and be able to bring up her weight a bit.

Vitamins, Yuck

So I am a bad pill/vitamin taker. I hate them, and so I often "forget" to take them. The girls on the other hand LOVE their vitamins. Of course it doesn't hurt that theirs are the gummy bear shaped-chewy-fruit flavored treats that they get to have with breakfast every morning without hesitation from parental units. Mine are not so exciting.

I had a long stint recently of "forgetting" to have my vitamins. Last night I realized that I also haven't been taking in too much milk and really should get some extra vitamins for the calcium as well as some of the other vitamins I am lacking since it is winter time in New England and the produce isn't as good as one would prefer produce to be. So this morning I broke down and pulled the dusty bottles of vitamins from the cupboard and set out my magic pills, along with handing the girls their gummy bears. Here is the conversation that followed:

Lizzie: Mommy, they look like rocks!
Ellie: Yeah, hahaha, they look like white and brown rocks!
Mommy: Yeah, I guess my vitamins do look like rocks.
Ellie: What do they do?
Mommy: What do you mean?
Ellie: What color do they turn?
Mommy: Why do you think mommy takes them?
Ellie: To turn things colors.
Mommy: So you think that mommy puts these in my mouth and then they change colors?
Ellie: Yeah.
(I begin forcing down my first rock)
Ellie: What color is it?
(I open my mouth to show her that I have swallowed the first one)
Lizzie: It is gone. You swallowed it?
(both girls are now looking at me disgusted and confused)
Mommy: yep.


I think that my girls now believe that I swallow rocks for fun.

The vitamin companies really need to make adult vitamins in gummy bear form. I would rather take a handful of gummy bears, than the 2-4 rocks I am suppose to swallow.

Bedtime Theology

The girls love to find any reason to stay up just a bit longer. Recently they have taken to asking question about spiritual things just as we are leaving their room for the night.

Here are some Allen's and my favorites:

Ellie, age 3 "Jesus died on the cross and so did God and then they rose again, right?"

Lizzie, age 4 1/2 "Does the Holy Spirit live in heaven too, because He is God right and God lives in heaven?"

Ellie "Jesus was stuck in the tomb, right?"

How are You?

It is a strange question. Strange because it holds so many different meanings that cannot always be determined by tone or facial expression. The meaning is found in the soul of a person asking and may never be known by the person being asked.

There are those that ask "How are you?" and truly only want a one word response so they can continue on with their busy lives, without having to really interact with the people in the world they live in.

There are those that ask "How are you?" because they must. It is a cultural norm. They HAVE to ask, or they would be seen as rude, but they too only seek to have a quick encounter with the person they are asking. They don't want to be effected or changed by the response, but validated in seeing themselves as caring and polite.

There are those that ask "How are you?" and they truly would love to hear how you are, but not a lengthy explanation, just enough to feel they know a taste of who you are and what you are going through.

Finally there are the seemingly rare breed of person who ask "How are you?" fully prepared for the truth and for however long a conversation it may require to truly understand how the person REALLY is, deep down inside. They are willing to be late, to cancel plans, to put everything down, just to hear "how you are."

If you are like me you are a different person depending on the timing, person and situation. But should we vary?

As a Christian I am called to "love one another". How can I accomplish that fully, if I don't know others. If I don't take the time to hear all of what they are willing to share. Sometimes that will require me to share, but often times, it will require my silence. And through that silent listening voice, I might be able to better communicate Christ's love. SO many times I miss that piece. I want so desperately to fix the problems of those I have finally taken the time to hear, and I stop listening.

Dear LORD,
Help me to listen to those around me. Help me to love others through my ears, not just my words. My tongue is powerful even more when it is still. May I be still this week, in order to listen to those you loved first, so that I can love them better than I have been.



James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry...

Snow Dogs

We haven't been able to play in the snow much, but here are some shots from a few weeks ago when the snow was just too powdery for a snow man (hence the snow doggy :-)

Snow angels

Our little snow dog

It is so exhausting playing in the snow

Little Red Riding Hood

This is yet another outfit that my Grandmother made for me when I was little. It is a heavy dress coat with a bonnet.

The picture of Gracie looks so much like my sister! Too funny.

Build-A-Bear Without the Bear

For Christmas the girls were blessed to receive money from Auntie Neda and Papa for Build-A-Bear. Papa also gave Lizzie and Ellie some super cute outfits for the animals yet to be purchased.

Allen takes the girls on dates periodically, so this was the perfect opportunity for a fun date for each of the girls. One by one (over the course of a week) the girls each got to go with Daddy down to build-a-bear to pick their special animal to take home.

Here are the much loved choices:

Gracie sleeps with her puppy every night (and the lady at build-a-bear assured Allen that it is machine washable :-)

Ellie was adamant that she wanted a frog, hence Froggy

Lizzie picked out a moose, that she has named Holly

Thanks Papa and Neda!

All the Children of the World

Dan and Auntie Nono gave the girls a number of great gifts for Christmas. This was one of them. It is a puzzle of various kids from all over the world. I couldn't resist putting Gracie on it for a photo op.