Yes, I know I've been slacking on posting these...but, due to popular demand...I am bringing it back!
I memorized this verse early on in the year...but the Lord has reminded me that perhaps I need to meditate on it some more and truly "grasp" what his definition of success is.
I absolutely love being a stay at home mom, but I am a goal/list oriented person...and my children don't give me progress reports throughout the year...so I truly need to internalize this.
Colossians 3:23-34
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Come on people!
I have spent A LOT of hours the past two weeks disputing charges with some of our bill companies:
Now, I am always careful to read over every bill we get...but still, it makes me wonder how many false charges get paid by people all the time?
Kinda scary, huh.
- Verizon charged us for several long distance calls that we never made
- The electric company charged us for 2 security lights that I had disconnected over 2 months ago
- AT&T charged us for seven 411 calls made from my cell phone last month...that we never made!
- The doctors office "forgot" to submit a bill to the insurance company...and just sent it straight to us.
- Direct TV charged us 2x's for the same pay-per-view movie.
Now, I am always careful to read over every bill we get...but still, it makes me wonder how many false charges get paid by people all the time?
Kinda scary, huh.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
always wear clean underwear...
Because you never know when you bend over to put your son on the ground when your pants are just going to explode off of you...
Yes, this happened at church this morning.
And, no, I don't keep an extra pair of pants on me...so the I had to "sneak" out of there before I revealed more than I needed to...to more people than I already did.
And, I have NO IDEA why this happened...they weren't tight on me?
Geesh, how embarrassing!
Yes, this happened at church this morning.
And, no, I don't keep an extra pair of pants on me...so the I had to "sneak" out of there before I revealed more than I needed to...to more people than I already did.
And, I have NO IDEA why this happened...they weren't tight on me?
Geesh, how embarrassing!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Satisficer vs. Maximizer
I found an interesting article in my October edition of Real Simple...
According to writer Gretchen Rubin there are two types of decision makers:
Satisficers make a decision once their criteria are met. When they find the hotel or pasta sauce that has the qualities they want, they're satisfied.
Maximizers want to make the best possible decision. Even if they see a bicycle or a backpack that meets their requirements, they can't make a decision until they've examined every option.
I think I am a satisficer for the majority of my decisions.
Although, if you get me in a fabric store I tend to get a little anxious and have to literally look at every bolt and row...just to make sure that there isn't another fabric that would work better. Or, picking out plants...yikes!
What about you? Are you a satisficer or a maximizer?
According to writer Gretchen Rubin there are two types of decision makers:
Satisficers make a decision once their criteria are met. When they find the hotel or pasta sauce that has the qualities they want, they're satisfied.
Maximizers want to make the best possible decision. Even if they see a bicycle or a backpack that meets their requirements, they can't make a decision until they've examined every option.
I think I am a satisficer for the majority of my decisions.
Although, if you get me in a fabric store I tend to get a little anxious and have to literally look at every bolt and row...just to make sure that there isn't another fabric that would work better. Or, picking out plants...yikes!
What about you? Are you a satisficer or a maximizer?
Be Happy!
Ella is in a funny stage right now where if she senses even the slightest bit that either me or Jeremiah is upset she asks us if we are happy.
I can unknowingly sigh or have a frown on my face and she will ask me...Mommy, you happy?
I always answer with a yes.
Sometimes I have to explain to her that, "Mommy is frustrated because you seem to be having a really hard time remembering to obey this morning", or, "Mommy is sad because __________". I have then been trying to follow that up with saying that even if Mommy is frustrated or sad, that doesn't mean I am not happy. Mommy is always happy because I know that God loves me!
We'll get to the happy vs. joy explanation when she is a little older =)
I want it to sink in, even at her early age of two, that true happiness is not tied to her circumstances...but, is rather found in a relationship with her creator.
I am grateful for her questions of my happiness because 1) She is aware of and sensitive to my feelings (a very rare moment in an egocentric toddlers life!) 2) It causes me to remember the simple yet life-changing fact that I am loved by God.
Yes, Ella...Mommy is definitely happy.
I can unknowingly sigh or have a frown on my face and she will ask me...Mommy, you happy?
I always answer with a yes.
Sometimes I have to explain to her that, "Mommy is frustrated because you seem to be having a really hard time remembering to obey this morning", or, "Mommy is sad because __________". I have then been trying to follow that up with saying that even if Mommy is frustrated or sad, that doesn't mean I am not happy. Mommy is always happy because I know that God loves me!
We'll get to the happy vs. joy explanation when she is a little older =)
I want it to sink in, even at her early age of two, that true happiness is not tied to her circumstances...but, is rather found in a relationship with her creator.
I am grateful for her questions of my happiness because 1) She is aware of and sensitive to my feelings (a very rare moment in an egocentric toddlers life!) 2) It causes me to remember the simple yet life-changing fact that I am loved by God.
Yes, Ella...Mommy is definitely happy.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
A confession...
Ezra wore his first pair of big boy jeans yesterday...
And, yes, I admit...
I kinda teared up because he just looks so big now.
And, yes, I admit...
I kinda teared up because he just looks so big now.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Another farm discovery...
One of my favorite books as a teenager (remember Cheney Duval, Briana and Molly?) mentioned a certain type of grapes, called muscadines.
I always had this image in my head of what they looked like and tasted like...
When we moved to the farm we knew we had a grape arbor in the backyard, but didn't know what kind. This spring and summer we have watched and watched them...but they didn't look like any we had ever seen before.
We finally got a chance to ask the original owners of the house...and they told us they were muscadines.
They are perfectly ripe now...and the kids (especially Ella) absolutely love eating them. You don't eat the skins...you just kind of "pop" the insides into your mouth.
I always had this image in my head of what they looked like and tasted like...
When we moved to the farm we knew we had a grape arbor in the backyard, but didn't know what kind. This spring and summer we have watched and watched them...but they didn't look like any we had ever seen before.
We finally got a chance to ask the original owners of the house...and they told us they were muscadines.
They are perfectly ripe now...and the kids (especially Ella) absolutely love eating them. You don't eat the skins...you just kind of "pop" the insides into your mouth.
Why?
Did "they" think it was a good idea to invent blue raspberry flavored ibuprofen?
And why...did "they" think it needed to be colored neon blue?
And why...didn't "they" make it non-staining?
And why...did "they" think it needed to be colored neon blue?
And why...didn't "they" make it non-staining?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Office...
No, not the television show...
My new favorite room of our house!
My $8 goodwill find...
It's so ugly, it's cute =)
My new favorite room of our house!
Before:
After:
My $8 goodwill find...
It's so ugly, it's cute =)
Monday, September 22, 2008
You might be frugal if...
You have at least 6 extra tubes (that you got for free!) of toothpaste stockpiled...
Yet, you still squeeze every little last drop out of the tube =)
Yet, you still squeeze every little last drop out of the tube =)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Simple pleasures...
- Taking a Sunday afternoon nap with the game on in the background
- Watching Ezra have a blast climbing on/in/over an old suitcase
- Finding the perfect chair to match my office orange corduroy sofa at the goodwill...for only $8 dollars!
- Drinking hot chocolate topped off with whipped cream
- Snuggling with my sweet but normally un-cuddly Ella after her nap
Saturday, September 20, 2008
I could do this...
Handle three kids, that is.
We've had Ella's best buddy from Grey Stone here all weekend. Kerri and Ella are the same age and couldn't be more opposite in personalities...but they get along great!
I think Kerri brings out the acrobat in Ella.
Ella brings out the artist in Kerri.
Jeremiah and I decided tonight that adding another child into the mix really wasn't such a big deal. Maybe people really are telling me the truth when they say that it is easier adjusting to having the third child verses adjusting to the first and second one.
Those of you that have more than two...care to give your opinion?
Don't get too excited grandparents...we're not making any changes to our family size just yet =)
We've had Ella's best buddy from Grey Stone here all weekend. Kerri and Ella are the same age and couldn't be more opposite in personalities...but they get along great!
I think Kerri brings out the acrobat in Ella.
Ella brings out the artist in Kerri.
Jeremiah and I decided tonight that adding another child into the mix really wasn't such a big deal. Maybe people really are telling me the truth when they say that it is easier adjusting to having the third child verses adjusting to the first and second one.
Those of you that have more than two...care to give your opinion?
Don't get too excited grandparents...we're not making any changes to our family size just yet =)
You are at risk...
Of losing coolness points if you walk around the house with an unaware diaper stuck to your bottom!
Shhh...don't tell anyone =)
Shhh...don't tell anyone =)
Friday, September 19, 2008
2 for 1
Ezra, being the popular sort of fellow that he is, had 2 "parties" for his 1st birthday.
The 1st took place with my family on our recent trip to Maryland.
He got to enjoy a birthday doughnut...with choclate icing and rainbow sprinkles, no less!
Yeah, he liked it =)
The 2nd took place at our house last night, where he enjoyed apple pie and ice-cream, topped off with some incredibly enjoyable whipped cream =)
The 1st took place with my family on our recent trip to Maryland.
He got to enjoy a birthday doughnut...with choclate icing and rainbow sprinkles, no less!
Yeah, he liked it =)
The 2nd took place at our house last night, where he enjoyed apple pie and ice-cream, topped off with some incredibly enjoyable whipped cream =)
And, while he did enjoy taking his way cool presents out of the bag...
In the end, the bag won out =)
An apple adventure
Yesterday was the most absolutely beautiful fall day!
A perfect day for an apple picking adventure with some of our best buds...
Reach!
Ezra enjoyed stealing Kayil's baby doll the whole time =)
Cana and Ella probably ate their body weight in apples...
Afterwards, with 4 big bags stuffed full of apples, we headed back to the house for a much needed nap for the little ones. Kelly and I worked on creating two apple pie masterpieces...which we all enjoyed after dinner. Yum!
A perfect day for an apple picking adventure with some of our best buds...
Heading out to the apple grove with four kids in tow...
Reach!
Ezra enjoyed stealing Kayil's baby doll the whole time =)
Cana and Ella probably ate their body weight in apples...
Afterwards, with 4 big bags stuffed full of apples, we headed back to the house for a much needed nap for the little ones. Kelly and I worked on creating two apple pie masterpieces...which we all enjoyed after dinner. Yum!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
September Adventure: Dinnertime
A lot of people ask me questions about my big family.
One of the top 5 questions usually involves food...
How does your Mom feed them all?
Well, here is a glimpse of dinnertime for my family (and a few friends and boyfriends thrown in for good measure!)
One of the top 5 questions usually involves food...
How does your Mom feed them all?
Well, here is a glimpse of dinnertime for my family (and a few friends and boyfriends thrown in for good measure!)
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
September Adventure: Fun with the Briggs Bunch
Warning: Picture Overload!
Fun on the trampoline and some swimming...
Double trouble...Mya and Ella!
Watching a movie with everyone...kinda hard to hear sometimes =)
Jeremiah got a hold of Isaac...poor guy =)
Ezra and his adoring crowd...
Flipping!
Fun on the trampoline and some swimming...
Double trouble...Mya and Ella!
Watching a movie with everyone...kinda hard to hear sometimes =)
Jeremiah got a hold of Isaac...poor guy =)
Ezra and his adoring crowd...
Flipping!
September Adventure: Fun with Grandad
We stayed the first night of our trip with my Grandad. He may be in his 80's, but he still knows how to have fun...
Giving the kids rides in his wheelchair and sharing a very special baby doll with Ella.
Of course, being the responsible parents that we are, we had to test the safety of the wheelchair before we would let the kids on it...
Giving the kids rides in his wheelchair and sharing a very special baby doll with Ella.
Of course, being the responsible parents that we are, we had to test the safety of the wheelchair before we would let the kids on it...
September Adventure: Road Trip
My viewpoint on the road, my steady driver and our trusty Saturn steed, new carseat positions, sticker fun, silly faces, and a sleeping baby...
