Fairy Land

We have had a gorgeous weather week here.  Temperatures in the 60's, sun, fresh air, and plenty of outside play time.

Lydia has been very busy making fairy houses, and even directing others to make a fairy town.  While the other kids are busy running and shouting she has been laser focused on her fairy land.  Oh my, how I love that girl.  

March 13, 2014

I have two goals for Lent:  

1.  Give up Facebook.  

     This has been pretty easy.  I don't feel like I'm missing any critical information, and really most of my time on Facebook was just zoning out time when I could be focusing my attention on something more important.  

2.  Read through the entire New Testament.

     Ok, instead of reading through it I am listening to it.  The Truth and Life app has a dramatized audio version of the New Testament I'm using.  It is engaging, and easy to listen to.  They even have a 40 days through the New Testament playlist that will keep your place for you, and break it down by days. I am loving going quickly through the New Testament, getting the big picture and hearing stories I've heard over and over in a new way.

I remember the first time I participated in all the prepatory liturgical days leading up to Easter.  I grew up in a church that did not observe Maundy Thurday or Good Friday.  It was just "He arose!" without the acknowledgement that He died.  When we lived in Ankeny and went to Westkirk, we attended the Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday services.  The sadness and darkness of those services made Easter Sunday a true celebration of depth and emotion.  The lead up and walking with Christ through those days made it all more real.  The memory of the joy and tears on that Easter is a treasured memory.  

Now I am encountering Lent.  Lent is about spiritual discipline, preparation, and training our affections to love what we ought.  It is acknowledging our sin, and the new life we receive only through Christ.  Just as Jesus prepared for his earthly ministry by 40 days of preparation and retreat, we use Lent in the same way.    

Strategic Air and Space Museum Field Trip

Best tantrum to date for the Jules

Julia gave a magnificent performance earlier this week in her quest to prove that she has an iron will.

As I was downstairs getting lunch ready, she was upstairs practicing how to put lipstick on.  (Side note:  how do they know what goes where?  If I catch her with my eye liner, she is trying to get it on her eye lid.  If she has lipstick it is somewhat close to her mouth.)  By the time word got down to Mommy that there was trouble brewing, there was lipstick all over her face, hair, clothes, and my bathroom.  It was a fine exhibition.  This picture is proof of the terror, after it was cleaned up.  

I took her to her bedroom to change her clothes.  Heaven forbid!  Oh no, this was not acceptable to her one year old mind.  She started screaming, kicking, flailing about.  She did not want clean clothes on, her face cleaned, or her hair without the lipstick.  I took this as a personal challenge of my wrestling abilities.  I got her all cleaned up, but she was still freaking out.  So, I did what any rational mother would do and left her on the floor of her bedroom screaming.  

When I came back a few minutes later, she was still screaming.  But instead of on the floor, she was climbing her changing table in hopes of retrieving those dirty clothes!  Put them back on!  I worked hard to make that big mess!  Get me up there to reverse this tragedy!  Mommy cannot win!

Oh yes, dear child.  Never give up.  I scooped her up and dropped her in her crib to cry, scream, and kick some more.  After about 15 minutes she was done.  But she still wimpered for a while after she had a good Mommy snuggle and calmed down. This was not our first or last battle, but it was a good one.  

March 11, 2014

I'm dusting myself off and climbing back on the horse.

So, amid life happenings, the main two consistent activities over the last month....

• We're trying really hard to get school done by late April, before baby comes or Mommy hits a brick wall.  This means doubling on math and writing lessons, and not letting a day slip by with any excuse to omit these lessons.  We obviously fell behind last semester with me on the couch or over the toilet most of the days, but are making up lost time now.  
• Speaking of, I've been growing a baby.  The movements have definitely changed from fluttery kicks to baby parts stretching out.  I'm visiting my doctor every two weeks.  My bedtime snack is a couple of Tums.