9 for 9

9 Things I want for 2009:

1. Finish the "Love Dare" project
2. Actually read the entire bible - cover to cover
3. Support and love my husband every way that I can
4. Be present everyday for Ryland's big and small milestones
5. Stay on top of house work
6. Iron my husbands clothes for work
7. Grow a vegetable garden
8. Bake a fresh loaf of bread every week
9. Lose 15 pounds (or have another baby and not worry about those 15 pounds until 2010, lol)

Walking with her dump truck and Aunt Tal

Merry Christmas!

Leaves!

Stocking Sunday

The BlogFrog

This is a great website! It connects your blog to others that are linked to either your blog or ones that you are linked to. Its a great connecting site and there is SO much more! Go there! Check it out!

theblogfrog.com

Some Pictures

Look at those teeth!!! And what you can't see is that the two right next to the tops ones have already broken through! Crazy! (don't look at me.... my hair is still wet! :) )

Lazy afternoons at the jumper. This is Ryland and her best friend / neighbor, Zach. They spend most afternoons together playing. (Or should I say "parallel playing", Laura!?!)

Lost Blog Roll!!!

OH NO! When I updated my layout I seemed to have lost my blog roll!!!! Please help me! I can't remember every one's URL and need you to comment to this post so that I can add you to my blog roll again!

Thanks!!!

New Look

OK, so sometimes, I'm all about change. I find that if I change things up then I get more interested in them. For example, when I am sick of my living space I know that if I move the furniture around or change the pictures on the wall then.... bam.... its like a new space again. This is defiantly an inherited trait (disorder) thanks to my mom! I remember just about every school break we would rearrange different rooms of the house or just a few cabinets in the kitchen and it always seemed to work.

So, I'm trying it here. I figured, maybe if I give my blog a make-over then I will be more interested in it and start blogging more.

Short and Sweet

Ha, ha, OK, I will post something for goodness sake! :) Sorry, I've been kind of in a dry spell and haven't been getting on the computer much anymore, but I will get better at it. This one is going to be short, but a good one! I just found the coolest site:

retailmenot.com

You can go here and type in any store you are going to shop at. Then a list of potential coupons comes up. I just bought a Christmas present for a certain someone and got free shipping because of this site!

I will post pictures from Thanksgiving and an update later on, just wanted to share this with you!

Small Fryday Contest

Hello world, my name is Small Fry and I am one the four beautiful children that MckMama and Prince Charming are lovingly and fearful raising. And yes, we are all ages 4 and under!!! Our newst brother just got here three weeks ago and I just can't seem to keep my hands off him! By the way.... he's our little MckMiracle and you should come see his sweet face over at My Charming Kids Blog!

There is a contest going on on one of my favorite blogs and this post is my entry in that contest. You have a few minuets to spare you should really click over to this fabulous blog! It will make you cry, laugh, think, share and be thankful!

Opinions

This struck me today like a bolt of lightning. I have not had arguments, per say, with anyone about these issues.... but I do come home to Kyle and say, "So-and-so thinks this about __________, isn't that ridiculous" or in my head think "these people are crazy" when they start in on something that I "totally" disagree with. But, like my feelings on birth control have changed (dramatically) this past month, so can any of my other many opinions at any moment and this blog just really reminded me that it is OK, but to not push them on anyone else, and to remember what it is we SHOULD be passionate about! Way to go Girl Talk!

"Epidural vs. Natural Child Birth. College vs. No College. Breast-feeding vs. Bottle Feeding. Courtship vs. Dating. Child Immunizations vs. Homeopathic Medicine. Home Schooling vs. Private or Public Schooling. Birth Control vs. No Birth Control. Organic Food vs. Processed Food.
Have an opinion, anyone?

If you’re a woman and you’re alive, at least one of these words probably triggered a visceral response. You instinctively reached into your mental files for the appropriate legal brief, fully prepared to argue for the prosecution or the defense.

Mention a topic such as this and—cue the super-hero music please—we morph into “Super-Lawyer-Woman,” ready to save the world from the risks of formula or the perils of public school or the dangers of processed food. All in a days work.

And we tend to travel in packs. Wherever we are or wherever we go in life, we find these kindred spirits—women who feel as strongly about our cause as we do—and we become fast friends. Pity the poor woman whose opinion differs from ours, or worse yet, hasn't formed an opinion. She doesn’t stand a chance against “Super-Lawyer-Women.”

But as comical as this image may be, it really isn’t funny.

Because it’s all too true. We as women are inclined to adopt a pet issue and express our opinion far too forcefully, sending other women running for cover. I’m sure I’m guilty, even more than I realize.

As D.A. Carson observes:

“So many Christians today identify themselves with some ‘single issue’ (a concept drawn from politics) other than the cross, other than the gospel. It is not that they deny the gospel. If pressed, they will emphatically endorse it. But their point of self-identification, the focus of their minds and hearts, what occupies their interest and energy is something else” (The Cross and Christian Ministry, p. 63).

The fact is that all of the aforementioned topics fall into a category Scripture labels “disputable matters” (Romans 14:1, NIV): an issue that is not central to our faith or a prerequisite for fellowship in the gospel. And this entire chapter of Romans insists that we are not to “pass judgment” on these kind of matters, or, as the ESV puts it, “quarrel over opinions.” Rather, we are to “welcome” or “accept” one another (v. 1), and pursue “what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (v. 19). Why? Because the person who disagrees with us is, “one for whom Christ died” (v. 15). "

Just when I think it is all going well...

Just as I am feeling like I have things under control and we have a really good schedule going.... boom.... the train crashes and it is a major de-railing!

Last night everything was going accordingly. Playtime after dinner, story time with dad, and bed time by 9:30pm. Then.... the train crashed! Ryland for some reason woke up at 12:30am and that was no big deal. I rocked her and nursed her a little (she is now biting with her top teeth and we are not having such a good time with that) and she feel back to sleep. I put her in her crib and bing... wide awake. We played this game for about 3 hours!!! Finally at 3:30ish I gave up and called for backup!

Kyle went in and it took him about 25 mins and he got her to sleep and in her crib soundly. Only to find that 15 mins later she was up again! So I fought with her for a little long and then I just gave up.... we got up and went to the living room at about 4:45 and I turned on the TV and made a pot of coffee. She played and ate breakfast at 5:30 and was ready to go for the day. Not me.... I had gotten a total of 40 mins of sleep and now the sun is coming up..... what has happened to my little world!

6:15am she is beginning to look at little tired, I take one more stab at it and she actually falls asleep and stays asleep for about two hours! But, when 8am rolls around and she is awake again I am dead. I have never had a hang over, but I'm sure this was worse!

Kyle graciously called into work and said he would be running late and he got up with her, played with her and put her back to sleep around 10am. So, she finally woke up at 11:30 and I felt much better. I got almost 5 hours in, so who can complain right!?!

She is now down for another nap.... who knows how long this one will last, I have thrown the schedule out the window for today!

Poem, written by Kyle

I found this poem that Kyle wrote sometime while we were dating. Man, how could I not fall completely in love with this man!

Sitting alone, my heart whisked upon her, and like a star from heaven she fell into my life.

A love that healed more passion then the world around, captivated my soul.

Her eyes beheld the love of all the angels, and her soul the likeness of Christ.

Her hands are like the touch of fire, that burned my inner being.

Her gentleness envelopes me, and a warmth captures my heart like nothing ever before.

Offering to be a candle in my darkest nights, she shelters me from the angry world around.

She is the blessing that heaven bestowed on me, and the desire that floods my heart.

Her ears listen to my hearts cry, and she comforts me when the pain is unbearable.

She reaches in and fills the void, that once left my life longing.

Her presence causes me to be oblivious to the sound of anothers voice.

Her voice soothes the tears that once kept me chained.

She is my fair maiden, and she is God's plan for my life.

On top of things

Alright, I don't want to speak too soon, but I really feel "on top of things" this week. OK, there have been days in the past 10 months that I have "felt on top of things" but those days just never seem to turn into weeks. And right now I can say for the past two weeks I have actually stayed on top of all my house work and was actually dresses and put together before noon every day! I am not really sure where to pin point the change, but there are a few things that I have changed that help me to not feel so overwhelmed:

1. We cleaned out our closets two weekends ago, and for some reason it seems easier to keep my house clean with the closets organized. Its amazing when everything really does have a place to go.
2. I am taking long, hot, candle lite showers at night after Ryland goes to sleep. First, this completely relaxes me and second, it allows me to just do my hair and make-up in the morning. Most days taking a shower was so overwhelming to me. I hated to try and figure out what to do with Ryland and I also hated wasting a nap time to do it.
3. I am waking up when Kyle does in the morning. I used to sleep in as long as I could and that was just plain laziness. Actually waking up before 8am is really nice because I feel like I have a whole day, not just a few hours of sunlight.
4. I do a load of laundry a day. This really helps me stay on top of it and it is a whole lot easier to put away in small amounts!
5. TURN OFF THE TV!!!!! I have officially turned the TV off until Kyle comes home. Well, Ryland watches a little in the morning with breakfast and then its off. This is great for me... I am no longer sucked in and I feel so much more productive! If you know me at all, you know this was a hard one for me, but I love it now that I have done it!
6. Playtime outside! Ryland and I play with our neighbors, Laura (the mom) and Zach the baby in the pumpkin pictures almost every day. The sunlight and fresh air really do wonderful things for all of us!
7. Reading my bible. OK, this probably shouldn't be #7 on the list, but I am just going in order of my thoughts, not priorities. :) I have been spending an hour every morning in Rylands room. We turn on worship music, she plays on the floor and I read my bible. I LOVE this hour and I feel so fed right now, its a great spot to be.
8. I spend a lot of time thinking about ways I can bless Kyle. I can easily get consumed with Ryland and housekeeping that I forget my husband in the mix. So, I have come up with a list of ways to let him know I am thinking about him. But I would LOVE some more things to add to the list! Do you have any suggestions?