Latest Trash Treasure

I've been saying for over a year that I wanted shelves for Judah's room to put all his toys on.  Time, expense, etc has put it on the "one day" list.  About a month ago I was heading to get Eli from school and noticed that someone had put a beat up small shelf on the side of the road for trash pick up.  As I've posted before I no longer have any shame when it comes to picking a treasure out of someones trash pile. 

I don't have a before picture because I honestly had little hope that it would turn out to be something worth showing off "after".  Yet, here it is!  Oh, and the paint was a random gallon that Kris had picked up at the store for $5 over a year ago.

Judah was happy to be able to find his toys.

I love the things that God does for me, especially when I never even thought to ask Him for them.  I am so loved!

Power of the Tongue

Luke has had a wart on the bottom of his foot for months now.  It was really big, but it didn't bother him.  Now me, it totally grossed out, but I'm a girl, and that is to be expected. 

Last week when we were looking at it I thought of the story in the Bible about the fig tree that Jesus cursed because it wasn't bearing any fruit.  In Mark 11, Jesus curses a fig tree because he was hungry, but when he came to the tree their wasn't any fruit on it.  He cursed the tree saying, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." (vs 14)  The next morning when he and his disciples came back by the tree they saw that it had dried up "from the roots." (vs 20)  Jesus teaches them in verse 23, "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says."

When Luke and I were checking out his wart I told him the story of the fig tree and said, "Luke, lets start cursing this wart every time we look at it and telling it to dry up at the roots and fall off your foot."  I told him it could be like an experiment (which he loved) and we could just see what happens.  He said, "Wouldn't that be cool if it just fell off?"

Last night I noticed he was picking at the wart, and he said it didn't hurt to do that, which was a new thing.  So he picked at it for a few minutes, and then he pulled the whole thing off!  Not just the top of it, but down to the root!  That sucker shriveled up and came off! 

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Psalm 18:21

I don't know about you, but I know I have a few more things in my life and family that I need to start cursing or blessing!

Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This

I can't remember why he woke up so miserable this day, but boy was he unhappy!

 Mama taking pictures of his crazy hair probably didn't help.

And his mood went from bad to worse.

But a good snack helps everything.



The End and The Beginning

The boys and I enjoyed our three weeks break from school and a schedule.  The first week was spent at home, catching chickens and such. 

Eli is the only one brave and quick enough to snatch them up when they wander in our yard.

I have made sure this doesn't concern the neighbors.  They assure me the chickens won't have a heart attack and that if they do, it's not a problem.  Fried chicken!

"Eli, please, please, please just let me get a decent picture of you!"

"Mama, I don't know what you want me to doooo!"

"Just smile and look cute!"

Christmas morning was fun.  A video of the boys running into the room in their underwear to check out the loot is coming eventually.

"Hey! I knew I was getting a bow and arrow!"

After lots of practicing at Grandma and Papa's house the night before, he knew exactly what to do Christmas morning.

Acchh!  Look at the cuteness!  Stop. Growing. Up. So. Fast! 

We spent New Year's evening at the lake.  It was a gorgeous sunset.

We actually caught several little fish.  And I am proud to say that I removed my first fish from the hook. It was absolutely disgusting.

Eli was getting creative with the angle of the camera.  Kris saw that I was putting this picture on here and he said, "People are going to think I always walk around without a shirt on."  Well if you got it, flaunt it.  That's all I'm sayin'.

Judah and Grandma snuggling and watching the sunset.

He was happy.

So was he....

Happy New Year!
 

Thanks, Grandaddy and Grandmama!

Dear Grandaddy and Grandmama,

We love the trampoline!  And we think Mama likes it too.  She keeps saying something about feeling happy and how crazy hair makes her smile.  Eli chipped a tooth on it today, but you can't even tell where.  He just handed the bit of tooth to Mama and kept playing.  Judah has figured out how to climb off without hurting himself.  Most of the time, anyway.  We're glad you gave us this for Christmas.  Love you!

Luke, Eli and Judah
(Mama and Daddy too)

P.S. Click on the picture to see it up closer.

Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl

I love fast paced thrillers and mysteries. But I don't like graphic descriptions that make my stomach hurt and give me nightmares. I was very pleased to find that Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl met both my criteria perfectly.

Heart of Ice is the third of three books in the Triple Threat series. The main characters are Allison, a Federal Prosecutor, Nicole Hedges, an FBI Special Agent, and Cassidy, a crime reporter. The three friends bring their special skills together to solve crimes in their hometown of Portland.

The villain in Heart of Ice is Elizabeth, a beauty queen who uses her charms to lure her victims in.  She deceives everyone she meets, uses them for her purposes and then disposes of them.  Literally. 

I enjoyed this book.  It was a quick read with a good story line.  The author gives the reader a chance to become familiar with the characters without giving too many details for the side story lines.  The three main characters are diverse enough to be interesting but have enough in common that it makes sense to the reader that they are friends.  The author created Elizabeth to be calculating and vicious.  The reader gets a clear picture of the way that Elizabeth's mind works.  But I appreciated the fact that while enough was implied to write the story well, graphic details weren't used.

I'm glad I had the chance to read this book.  I'm always looking for new authors to try, and I'll be looking up the other two books in this Triple Threat series.

This book was given to me by BookSneeze.  The opinions are mine all mine.