The big 3.0!!

hey all, it's been too long. I've suddenly become very busy with life, adding another business to my list of things that rob me of quality time with God and family. But, as I'm only into the 2nd week of this, I'm learning to balance. Been reading the "Love Dare" book from the "Fireproof" movie. Both good items i would recommend to any couple. I've been challenged to make my husband "holy". You ask, "how can you MAKE your husband 'blameless, perfect, without sin'?" But that is not the requirement, because i could never accomplish that task. The definition of holy that i need to work toward is holding him in such high regard as to be "set apart for a purpose", to treat him as a sacred part of my life. In doing so, I honor God and please Him.

So...back to the title of this post. "The Big 3.0"

Rachel baby is now a 3 year old. Though always my baby. We had some friends over for a small party which she anticipated impatiently all day. Today was the first full day she has worn the big girl undies (would she be embarrassed in 12 years by my sharing that?) When opening each gift she would say "Yes!" like she just solved the last stage of a Rubik's cube. She also thinks the entire house is her personal playland and mom is the jungle gym at the center of it.

Oh, how these days fly by so fast. Now if only her potty training would skyrocket.

Oops! I did it again...

i can't believe how time flies and i realize it's been half a year since i posted. Since i told everyone in our Christmas letter to check us out on this blog, i better start keeping up with it! we just spent christmas in VA with Derreck's brother and family. It was the first time the girls have met their cousins, and we had fun. Glad to be home and done with driving though. This is the first year I've been happy to take down Christmas decorations, usually i want to drag it out as long as possible and enjoy the decor and lighted trees, all ten of them. I think this year was more hectic, with just moving into the house on Nov. 3rd, getting settled back into the church, then decorating, doing the various Christmas events, and then leaving for Virginia. It was harder to keep the children focused on the saving gift of God's Son, let alone keep MY focus on Him. I think we are all looking forward to a fresh start, those new year's resolutions to be better than last year at various things. I don't like to make resolutions. Or should i say, I make resolutions every day, not just on New Year's. Each day i want to be a more selfless wife, a more patient mother, a better cook, a smarter Scripture reader, a faster runner, and to accomplish all my daily tasks with a feeling of achievement at the end of the day.

WOW!

Not only is that the theme for our summer camp season, but it's what i thought when i realized i haven't posted in 3 months. (And what i say to these photos of my man leading the worship time at chapel) So, it's the eve of the eve of the eve of our 11th anniversary, and i just HAD to include these photos of D. getting down (or should i say UP) He's so much fun to watch. He has a passion for leading music, not as much as for preaching, but it certainly shows. I LOVE that he is still a kid at heart. I got him an electric drum set for our anniversary. He got to play it for senior high camp and was back in his element. (When we moved from the church to camp ministry, we left his old Pearl set since they used it every week, and at the time we had no reason for one) But now that he has one again, he remembers how much fun he had playing. Our living room is quite full with my bass, the amp, and his drums. We need an extra room to jam. We don't get much practice time (me especially) since we have two drama queens demanding our attention, but i continue to hope and dream. I got to rock with my friend Tasha after senior high camp last week, she played D.'s set and i attempted to sing and play at the same time. Getting better, still a long road. But it was great fun. Well, drama queen #1 wants to know if paint comes out of carpet and #2 just got up from a nap that never was. Gotta go be a mom.... cya

Am I Getting Old or is it just You?!?!

So, why can't I come to grips with the fact that I have a 6 year old daughter? I guess it's not so much about me feeling old, because with that birthday I skipped (Derreck plays right along with my little lie, and will tell you the age I WANT told) I'm still quite young. It's just the idea that she won't stop at 6, and seems to be gaining momentum as she approaches tweenhood. I know it's no new concept. Children have been growing up way too fast for centuries, I'm just now seeing the reality that every other parent has warned me of.
So, what are the big things in my 6 year old's life?... High School Musical is trying to engulf her life, as much as D. and I fight it back. She is stepping away from her princesses and into rockstar mode. She wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up and I think she'd do quite well at it, but she has many other professions rolling around in her mind. Don't try to entice her with Hannah Montana, she says she doesn't like her. She seems to still love anything oriental, and I don't think it's just because of our little missionary friend (**though we love you and still pray for you every night**). She would wear an oriental dress everyday if we had one. But she has to settle with the closetful of "fancy Nancy" styles, and can put together quite an ensemble. The jury is still out on whether she likes school. She has been asking for about a week to be home schooled again next year. She can give about 7 reasons why, but I'd say only 3 are good ones. She still doesn't like writing, but has taken off on reading, and likes to read to herself at bedtime (when not listening to her CD player with various pop rock worship songs *at least she's filling her head with glorifying music) She is the greatest big sister I have ever seen, and does a great job of "babysitting" lil sis. She shows her caring heart, not only with Rachel, but when she says things like "mom, can I take some of my savings and give it to the soldiers" or "let's remember to pray for gramma Dottie's brothers tonight, they aren't feeling well". Amidst all these heartfelt "stepford child" moments, she still manages to disobey mom, mostly in just plain not listening when she has her own agenda to fill. But overall, she is the greatest 6 year old I could ever ask for. And she is my beauty.