Eleri's Latest video

Please excuse the state of my floor, I have since polished and cleaned it!:) In the first video, Eleri is signing "yard", and then "eat" and then "more". She is really good at using signs. She can sign front yard, back yard, more, all done, bath, dog, milk, cereal, water, drink, eat, please, thank you, sorry, poop/potty, diaper...and maybe a few more I can't think of right now. She really says with clarity "ball" and "dog" and communicates very effectively.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Mali's latest video

This is a video of Mali at ballet. She is doing so great and learning so much. I love her teacher and the Doxa program. I'm not sure you can hear the music, but it is David Crowder's "He Loves Us". I love that she is learning to worship Jesus through dance.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Hoppy Easter

Neighbors

We are blessed to have some wonderful neighbors...Bill and Loretta Lawrence who live across the street from us. They love to love on our girls and visit with us. We try to make it across the street for visits. This morning, Miss Loretta and Pop (Bill) let us come over and take pictures of the girls with their daffodils. We are thankful for our surrogate great grandparents! Miss Loretta actually knows my Grandma Laverne too, which is pretty neat, and knows my dad as Tommy! This is a picture of Eleri and "Pop"

Answered Prayer

Over the Christmas break, Mali made the decision to ask Jesus into her heart. She was very adamant and genuine about this decision. At the same time, she started asking when she could get baptized. Eric, Mali and I met with one of the children's ministers at our church and decided to just give it some more time to make sure Mali was really sure of what she was doing. I ended up telling Mali that when the Holy Spirit told her in her heart to be baptized then that was when it was time. Mali was asking me frequently when she was going to get baptized, but we were just waiting. Last Sunday, Mali told me that her heart was telling her to be baptized. This was a lot harder than I had anticipated. Eric and I still were not sure what to do. Last night we talked some and then this morning I spent a lot of time just praying and asking God for wisdom. When we got to church, there was a handout in the bulletin about a church-wide baptism service. I smiled a little wondering if that was an answer. But then the SERMON was on baptism!!! God definitely gave us wisdom, clarity and specifically answered my prayers. He is certainly a personal God that cares about each one of our prayers! Eric filled out the baptism card for Mali and we got to tell her that it she will get to be baptized on April 11, 2010.

• Romans 6:

• 1.
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?

• 2.
• By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

• 3.
• Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

• 4.
• We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

• 5.
• If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

• 6.
• For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--

• 7.
• because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Going on an Egg Hunt

This morning, Mali had an Easter egg hunt party at a friend from her ballet class. It was so fun to see Mali have such fun and to be so excited for the party. It is a COLD day with blowing wind like crazy. Eric asked me if the egg hunt was indoors and I commented that surely it was....but it wasn't...brrr! Fun nonetheless! And Mali did get the mother load. After a discussion on the way home of how she would eat one each day and proudly announcing it to her daddy, I found SEVERAL empty wrappers in her room after I put Eleri down for her nap. The candy is now in a secure location.

Daddy Time

The girls have enjoyed some extra daddy time the last two weeks since soccer has ended. Yeah for more daddy time to enjoy!

Client 1

Subjective: Client appears today for her regular session. She is expressing anger at her mother as her primary motivator for treatment today.

Objective: Client presents today with euthymic mood and congruent affect. Her posture is relaxed. Her appearance is some what disheveled and she is dressed in mismatched clothing.

Assessment: Client's drawing appears to be an expression of anger. Client identified her mother as the subject of the drawing. Client may feel anger towards her mother. The black coloring may indicate extreme feelings of anger, as well as the marking out of her mother. Although Client's anger appears to indicate extreme feelings of anger, client's decision to express her anger is such a manner appears to be a healthy coping mechanism.

Plan: Encourage client to continue to express anger in healthy and appropriate ways.

Okay...so this is a total joke. The client is Mali and the other day Mali drew this picture of me, then proceeded to "x" me out in black crayon. It made me think, how would I evaluate a client's drawing like this? So that is what I did. However, my real therapy notes are much better than this one and I typically don't have a screaming 13 month old that refuses to take a nap in the background. I thought that one day we will look back and laugh at this. Really, I had her to go to her room for throwing a fit, she ran out of her room, grabbed crayon and paper, ran back to her room, drew this and "x" me out. Eric and I laughed. And although it is sort of humorous, I did explain to her that it wasn't nice. As a therapist though, I do believe that it is a good coping skill and a healthy and appropriate way for her to express her feelings of anger. I'm glad she isn't bottling them up, and unfortunately I probably let her get away with a lot because I value her expressing her emotions rather than keeping them in or being passive aggressive. Oh to be a therapists daughter.

Sentimentality

Not sure that is a word...but if it is...I'm feeling it!;) And what spurred this on? Thinking about this...

I loved Nancy Drew and read as many and maybe even all of the books that I could. Seeing this cover thrills me and reminds me of such simplicty of curling up with these books and reading and reading and reading! Life was just as hard then, in different ways, but these books are such a great memory. These books fueled my love of reading, my ability to spell and learn new words, my desire to learn, and my desire to solve problems. I loved guessing the ending, and prided myself on figuring it out before too many clues were given. And, I've realized that even though I'm not a detective or any thing else brilliant..I do like to solve problems...other people's problems as a counselor. ;) These books also remind me of special times curled up with my dad at the cabin, reading beside him and asking him the meaning of words. I remember summers and spring breaks curled up in my dad's truck/Bravada finishing books while he worked out at the pig farm. Or moments retelling the story with such excitement to my mom. I so look forward to the day when my girls will pull out their very first Nancy Drew. I so hope they love reading like I do!

And, adding to my sentimentality...does ANYONE read this blog? I'd love some love with a comment or two on any of my recent posts...just so I feeled loved or read!;)

Just to get a minute

Yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL day (especially in comparison to today) and being the mother of TWO, I sooo needed just a minute so while Mali was at preschool Eleri got to do this:

so I could do this
but then she did THIS and then THIS
and she was pretty proud of herself

Cu-tie-pa-too-tie

I can FINALLY put Eleri's hair up! Mali had her first pigtails at about 6 months and her first up-do at about four months...so yesterday was an exciting day! And, she looked just adorable...until about 3 o'clock when she pulled it out and returned to looking like a heathen child.

The End

I’m now officially 30. There is really NO denying it or avoiding it or stopping time. I’ve decided I better just embrace it. I’ve loved my 20’s. My 20’s brought so much change in my life, tremendous change, and as in the previous post TREMENDOUS pruning. God has used so many events in my 20s to change me and make me more like Him. At times it has been horribly painful and at other times unimaginably joyful. My teens had been squandered and I had rejected the inheritance of my heavenly Father, but my 20’s brought reconciliation and so much growth. God showed me his tremendous love for me and has carried me through these years so lovingly and graciously. Maybe this is why I hate to see them go, but I’m guessing that means there is even more of God’s love to come my way and I can’t even begin to imagine what HE will do. I’ve had several friends already turn 30 and have read through their blog posts summarizing their 20s, so I thought that I would summarize my 20s with my “names” during my 20s.
20-Brie White-this was my last full year as Brie White. I had a hard time leaving this name behind because it had been my identity for so long, especially growing up with another Bry in Ouray.
20-Brie White Gomez-jokingly. Stephanie Chaumont just thought it was hilarious to refer to me as this when I became engaged. Something about the combo of White and the Mexican last name. I graduated from my undergrad with the name Brianna White on my diploma.
21-Mrs. Brie Gomez-I got married. It took a while to adjust to the name change but I was so excited to marry Eric and be his wife.
22-Mrs. Gomez-my girls at New Directions could never understand how I was a Gomez. But I really believe that having Gomez as my last night bridged the ethnic gaps I encountered in my counseling internship and definitely gave me a leg up with these hardhearted girls. I loved my internship and becoming a therapist.
23-Brie-I started an amazing job at Buckner as a therapist and was simply Brie…called that way by my clients and my wonderful co-workers. I graduate from Graduate school with the name Brianna Gomez.
Coach Gomez’s wife-Eric started coaching and I became a Coach’s wife. I love being a Coach's wife, even when it is hard. I'm honored to be the one that gets to stand beside him and support him as he coaches.
24-Mommy-The sweetest name EVER!!! I had no idea how special and wonderful this name would sound. I’ve spent the rest of my 20s getting more and more acquainted with this name and enjoying it's sound even more. Those sweet sweet moments of hearing "mamamama" for the first time is a treasure in my heart.
25-Mali’s mom-as Mali grew, I grew into the identity of Mali’s mom. I’ve LOVED it! Also, Miss Brie. As we gained Mommy friends we taught our children to refer to each other as Miss Beth, Miss Brie, Miss Stephanie, and Miss Melissa.
26-27-Ummm, I can’t really think of new ones for these years, but a continuation of Coach Gomez’s wife and Mali’s mommy. Brandon’s sister-when he came home from Nepal we got to spend more and more time together, as I introduced him to people or he introduced me to people, my name was "Brandon's sister".
28-Again, Coach Gomez’s wife as we moved to Amarillo and got to know a new coaching staff, kids and parents. Megan’s sister-as we met their friends and they took us under their wing when we moved here. Miss Brie- to my client that I was privileged to work with for nearly two years. Sister in law-Jordan married and I was a sister in law.
29-Mommy AGAIN!!!!:) I’m now Eleri’s mommy too and a mommy to all girls. Aunt Brie-Jordan and Chrissy had Jove and I became Aunt Brie. I'm also Aunt Brie to their other children Shayna, Austin and Robert. Sister-in-law to be-Brandon got engaged and I so look forward to having a new sister in law...Liza.

I remember that this praise song was sort of my motto for the beginning of my 20's at least. I'm not sure that I achieved it, but it is still my desire and I do know that I have followed HARD after Jesus!

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me on magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You

To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your dicsiple in your truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you, my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after you
To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your disciple in the truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you

Lord to know and follow hard after you
And to grow as your disciple in your truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you

Today during worship at church, I was wondering what praise song would be my motto for my 30s. These are the words of one of the praise songs today, so maybe this is it! I have failed in my twenties, thousands of times, and I will fail in my 30s thousands of times but I do know that God's mercy remains and that it is all ultimately for His glory. And my 20s taught me that!
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out
Here is also a picture of Eleri and I in my first picture in my 30s (I look SOO old). Mali was refusing to take a picture with us! I'm so thankful for ALL that God has done and given me in my 20s...it has been a special decade...maybe that's why I hate to see the end.


(This turned into a super long post...I guess that is what happens when you get to blog on your birthday while the house is quiet...and yes if you read my earlier post, that means Eleri finally went to sleep).

Sara’s Wedding

We spent Friday and Saturday participating in Sara Giles’ wedding. Sara is a special special friend. I absolutely adore her and not only because we share the same birthday (she is MUCH younger). Sara and I met one year on Mission Trip and our friendship has continued through laughing in Randy Anderson’s Lifestyle class to meeting each week in our guest room doing a bible study and watching my big fat belly grow with sweet Mali inside. Sara then left for two years as a teacher in Guatemala. It has been thrilling to see Sara wait for God’s best and watch Him bring her together with Wes Goldwater. We had a fun time at the wedding. I’m SOOOO thankful for all the daddy duties Eric took on with Eleri so that Mali and I could be a part of the wedding. I was thrilled to be a bridesmaid and Mali was a flower girl with Naomi Jones’ little girl, Lainey. We got to enjoy the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner and then beautiful wedding and reception at the Watson Building in Lubbock. Sara was a beautiful bride and so sweet (as usual). We had lots of laughs, a few crisis and even a few tears as we all prayed over Sara and her marriage to Wes. It was a pretty cold day for all of us in our strapless dresses, but memories were made. Some of which were blow drying Sara’s wedding dress to get out the wrinkles, tripping the breaker and not being able to locate the breaker box, the flower girls applying Sara’s makeup to themselves while we were attending to Sara downstairs, the flower girls watching their petals blow up from the air vents on the floor, Eleri and Everrit dancing, and just spending time with friends. It was such an honor to be a part of!
And of course, we got to spend some time with the Dallas family. They joined us Friday afternoon to swim at our hotel. Beth and I actually got some talking in too!

St. Patrick's Day

I really didn't capture much on St. Patrick's Day. But we worked in the yard, all wore green, made strawberry muffins and ate strawberries. I also learned a little bit about the spiritual meaning of St. Patrick's Day.

"Daily Prayer" of St Patrick:
St. Patrick's Breastplate
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

Pruning

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away ; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches ; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing . "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love ; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:1-
During BSF this semester, we have been studying John and just recently studied John 15. We talked and learned about how God prunes us. I’ve heard and studied this passage before, but the Bible really is “new every morning” and this time I really got it. This was a huge eye opener to me and my prayer has been that God would help me to see the moments that He is using to prune me. We learned that the pruning that Jesus is talking about sometimes refers to areas that seem good in us. Even though these “parts” may be good qualities and not necessarily unhealthy ones (such as bad language, anger, etc.) they still get pruned away so that we can look just like our Lord. One character trait of mine that seems good to be is my independence but I can see how He has pruned this away over time. I’ve also tried to be aware of how Eleri not sleeping or taking her naps well has helped in this pruning process (not that she is screaming at the top of her lungs in her crib right now refusing to take her nap on my birthday or anything;)). At this moment or season of life, I can’t exactly see the fruit of the pruning, but I know its happening, or that I at least have the choice of allowing God’s pruning away to shape me to look more like Him. I’m trying to be aware of it, and sort of embrace the daily difficulties of babies not sleeping, dishes not being put up, fits, tantrums, disrespect from my big girl…all as ways that I can choose to react in ways that please God and bring Him honor and take on His characteristics. Certainly not always easy, but knowing that all these minor trials have purpose certainly makes the endurance part easier! Thank you Jesus for pruning me in this past decade.

Spring Break is never a Break

Our Spring Break has been filled with another yard project. Eric had a few soccer games over the break and graduate school homework, but mainly focused on a backyard project. We spent lots of family time outside. Eleri LOVES being outside and signs “yard” all day even when it is cold and she can’t understand that we just can’t go outside. Eric had Warren (have I ever mentioned that this is Eric's man crush???;)) at Coulter Gardens draw out some plans for our backyard. So, we spent time digging and pulling up the grass, spreading Back to Earth, and planting the few plants and tree that were in at Coulter Gardens. This also meant lots of time playing with Shank in the backyard. And, I have to say, after some attention and shock collar, Shank is doing a great job with the girls. (He was also neutered so that could be contributing). We’ve had a blast being outside, besides the sunburns for my fair skinned girls, and the moments of inattention stuck in the swing! I'm surprised at how much life is different for the second born. I allowed and dressed Eleri appropriately for play in the mud at 13 months old...and she loved it...and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I can really see how this can contribute to the second born's personality. I don't have a picture of the finished garden because it is currently covered in snow...crazy Panhandle weather!!!

Little Miss Personality

This could really describe BOTH of our girls, but for the sake of this post, it describes Mali. Mali is really writing and spelling very well and LOVES to do so. The other day, she got paper and a pen, sat down in a chair and instructed me to come talk to her. She "wrote" out a list of what I need to do better, then it was Eleri's turn, and later that night, Eric's turn. I had the thought, "has she seen me in session?" or I'm also wondering if it was her playing out of her evaluation by her pre-k teacher. Anyway, it was really funny. I think she started out asking me, "what do you need to do better in your marriage?" Seriously???? Yikes, little girl, yikes!:) I had to capture it on camera too! (the other picture is of Mali's preparations for a girls' night, but has to do with her writing/spelling ability!:))

My Day

Beth recently wrote this post, and encouraged me to do the same.

My schedule (on good days, the past two days have been bad days, i.e. Eleri waking at 5:37am and then 5:45am today)

6:45am-Wake up, drink coffee and work on my bible study and quiet time. Get dressed if I have time.
7:30-8:00-Girls wake up. I cuddle with them both on the couch for a little bit. Change Eleri’s diaper.
8:30-make breakfast. Feed Eleri yogurt/oatmeal and “encourage” Mali to come eat.
After breakfast and by 9:00am-Eleri dressed, Mali encouraged to get dressed/brush hair/brush teeth. Leave the girls to play “together” while I go get dressed.
9:15ish-do some sort of chore. Cleaning up after breakfast, unloading dishwasher if Eleri isn’t around to climb on it, or starting laundry. Go to Wal-mart on Days we need to.
On THURSDAY-Rush to BSF (Bible Study) until 11am.
10:00-attempts to play/read/spend time with girls and simultaneously clean/pick up. Check mail and maybe spend time outside if the weather is nice like it has been lately.
11:00-lunch time. Get lunch made for girls and eat myself. Enjoy a nice, big glass of Dr. Pepper (or rather Dr. Thunder).
11:50-Tuesday, Weds, Thursday get girls rounded up and in the car.
12:00-leave the house to take Mali to preschool.
12:10-12:15-drop Mali off at preschool. Sometimes take Eric his lunch he has forgotten.
SOMETIMES Eleri falls asleep in the car…this is a problem because she ends up not taking a good enough nap. So….
1-2pm- I clean the house and pick up if Eleri naps. If she doesn’t nap, I spend time trying to play with her and multitasking. We might even spend time outside.
2:45-get Eleri in the car to go to preschool.
3:10-pick up Mali!!!! Come home and give the girls a snack. Spend some time talking to Eric if he happens to come home between school and practice.
3:45-About two days a week, a babysitter will come and I will go see a client until 4:45pm. Also, if Eric has in town games we go to these at 4:00 once a week.
5:00-start making dinner.
5:30-eat dinner. We eat SOOOO early, Eleri would really eat at 4:30 if I would let her.
6:00-right after dinner, I take the girls straight to the bath. I let them play for a while in the bath. After bath, we lotion, dress and brush teeth.
6:30-7:30ish-playing and having fun as a family. If the girls are playing together I might go clean up the kitchen.
7:30-7:45-rock Eleri to sleep.
8:00-Spend time with Mali cuddling on the couch or helping her pick up her room.
8:30-Read books to Mali and then it is Mali’s bedtime.
8:45-9:00-clean up the kitchen. I “shine my sink” and start the dishwasher if I need to. Sweep and mop.
9:00-9:30-work out with the Wii
9:30-I shower. After I shower, Eric and I do our “Night Light” devotional. Then I go to bed as soon as I can…maybe by 10 or 10:30!

Parent Teacher Conference

Yesterday, I had Mali's parent/teacher conference. It went really well. Mali is doing great in preschool and is right on track for kindergarten (even writing that gives me a lump in my throat). Her teacher did say that Mali is a teacher pleaser and wants to do the best on her projects, but is often distracted by wanting to get to start playing. She commented that Mali is not ever defiant but certainly has her opinions of how she should do things. I think the teacher said in about 10 different ways "Mali is strong willed". Mali is able to write all of her letters and needs to keep working on sight words, although she does know a few and is starting to notice God but said "Mommy God is only in the Bible because the Bible is Truth". We also need to work on a numbers a little more (my personal weakness). Mali's teacher did say that sometimes Mali rushes so that she can go play, but is able to do the work, it just might not look like it because she doesn't give her all of does not focus.

Book Review-The Flowering Cross

This is a book review of “The Flowering Cross” by Beth Ryan and illustrated by Renee Graef. The Flowering Cross is written in a parable like form, encouraging children through story to love their neighbor. Katie and Nolan are neighbors with the “Mean Old Jack” but inside of showing fear of him, Katie’s family shows “Mean Old Jack” love by caring for him and being kind to him. This family’s kindness eventually leads to “Mean Old Jack’s” decision to accept God’s love that has been given to him so undeservingly, just like the love of Katie’s family. Jack and Katie’s family celebrate Easter by placing beautiful flowers from Jack’s garden in a large cross at church as thanks to Jesus for dying on the cross. Mean Old Jack is “renamed” Papa Jack and becomes part of the family’s Easter Tradition, even building the family their very own cross to place flowers in. This book is well written and the story unfolds beautifully. My oldest daughter was immediately drawn to the beautiful cover and illustrations. As a parent, I enjoyed the Faith Imprints that were included at the bottom of some of the pages. The Faith Imprints are cues for parents to discuss with their child as they read the book, such as “share how Katie’s family loved their neighbor”.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Mali's Texas Program

Thursday night, Mali had her preschool Texas program. Mali did great and we were soooo proud of her!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Welcome to Spring

We are LOVING the warm weather! Mali, Eleri and I have taken walks in the wagon to the park. Mali has met a friend at the park to play. We have played at two different parks in one day! Although, I am on the lookout for a more toddler friendly park (i.e. no rocks to eat, wood chips to trip on, or structures to fall off of). Eleri has LOVED playing outside while Mali is at pre-k. Yesterday, Shank was gone loosing his manhood, so we played in the backyard. But quickly moved to the front yard because of the mass amount of dog poop UNDER the swing set!!:( Eleri loves exploring the yards!

I love this face

This is Eleri's "ooohh" face...like when she is excited or has discovered something. I love it and love that I was able to capture this on camera!

Paradox of Parenting

This is the paradox of parenting. These days things are so difficult and I feel like I'm going to barely make it through the day, but these days are so wonderful and it brings me so much joy to tuck my babies in to bed at night and I look forward to seeing them in the morning. Eleri is in the get-into-everything phase. I try and tell myself that she is learning, but I also tell myself now is not the time to give up Dr. Pepper. I shot these videos yesterday, after church. These are all the messes that Eleri made/got into in about 7 hours. And in the middle of cleaning all of these messes up, I also managed to make soup from scratch, get the laundry done, and drink a Dr. Pepper that my loving husband brought to me! I LOVE my girls and LOVE being a mommy and LOVE being a stay at home mom, but it is also sooo hard some days! Cleaning up messes can be very taxing! And truthfully, Dr. Pepper does not sustain me but God is who really sustains when the days are hard, the tears are frequent and the messes are plentiful.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Get her out of my room

This is Mali's "Eleri's getting my stuff" face. Oh sharing is hard! Today has been one of those trying days of teaching my girls to share. I had a great friend share wisdom with me on how to teach the girls to share (she has 6 kids so she should know, right?) Anyway, they allow each kid to have a shelf that is "theirs". Whatever fits on that little shelf is that child's special toy and they don't have to share that, but everything else must be shared. If someone else is playing with it, you can't take it away, but as soon as they are done playing with it, that toy is free game. I'm really trying to work on this and have modify it a little to accommodate our family. But the gist of it is, if Eleri/Mali is playing with it, you need to wait, if Eleri/Mali put it down and is not playing with it, you can play with it regardless of whose it is or whose room it is in. Today, I've been telling Mali over and over again that sharing is hard but it is a way that Jesus is making her look more like Him. He is "pruning" her so that she can bear good fruit!

Eleri is 13 months

13 things at 13 months:
1. Eleri LOVES her shoes. She will bring them to me and have me put them on her. She doesn't want to take them off. Guess they were a good birthday gift!:)
2. Eleri is sleeping through the night close to 12 hours at night!!!! (Really this should be #1). She goes to bed at about 7:45 and sleeps until 7:30 or 8 each day, with a rare early wake up.
3. Eleri likes her pacifier. She refers to it as may-may. I don't know why, but we respond. We are trying to wean her from it, some what. I've some how lost all the pacifiers and she is using a 3-6month one right now. I'm wondering if that's a sign its time to put an end to it. I leave them in her crib for nap/bedtime but some how they still find their way out.
4. Eleri is taking one nap a day. She is still in transition mode, but her afternoon nap was difficult to get her to take so I'm working on one nap a day. She is still whiney in the morning but usually makes it to about 12 or falls asleep in the car from taking Mali to preschool.
5. Eleri loves to eat! After watching the girls, my dad commented that Eric will need a second job just to pay for Eleri's food.
6. Eleri is a daddy's girl. Mommy's milk is gone and she is ALL daddy's. Eleri whines for Eric to hold her each morning before he leaves and often wants to sit in Daddy's lap when he comes home.
7. Eleri has had WAY too many head injuries in her short life. I made a trip to the ER with her the Saturday before we left for Vancouver because of a HUGE lump she got from falling into the door. She was fine, thankfully, but the bruise and small knot still remain. And, she gets knocked down and hit in the head by Mali frequently, as in multiple times today.
8. Eleri is ornery. She is a fireball! Eleri has pinched, slapped in the face, bit, and hit me more than I remember Mali doing at this age...or maybe I just am short on patience this time around. At any rate, she is not (YET anyway), a sweet, passive little baby girl.
9. Eleri loves to run and dance. She is too cute when she runs and dances to Mali's songs.
10. Eleri loves outside. Unfortunately the weather doesn't always cooperate with this one, but Eleri will whine to go outside. She rarely is allowed in the backyard, but has enjoyed walking to the mailbox with me, playing in the grass outside, and playing at the soccer field.
11. Eleri loves balls and to throw balls. Going so far as to throw the elegant, key limes that resembled balls at my friend's wedding shower.
12. Eleri rarely gets the one on one attention from me that I gave to Mali. I can probably count on my fingers the times we have read a book together. This breaks my heart. But I also know that God chose her to be second and He knew all this!:) I can see that she is still smart and inquisitive, and that she loves to examine "things" on her own.
13. That being said, Eleri does not like to be alone. Eleri would prefer to be playing in Mali's room over playing in her own room with her own toys. Eleri loves Mali, even when its not reciprocated! I can not easily leave Eleri in her room alone to go do something else, she will follow me or go into Mali's room.

Brandon's getting married

I haven't even blogged about the exciting news in our family...Brandon is getting married. Last Saturday, Brandon asked his girlfriend Liza to marry him! Liza said it was really nice and that they were walking in the park in Denver with snow falling! And, her ring is stunning! I'm looking forward to helping her as she plans the wedding (probably this summer and in Cuchara, CO at the chapel there!) Tomorrow I get to go wedding dress shopping with her, it should be fun! I don't have a picture of them together. I thought it was a little stalker-ish to download a picture of them together from Facebook!