Counting My Blessings

I'm pretty blessed. I've been doing "30 Days of Thanksgiving" for my Facebook posts all month (today's the last day!) and it has truly made me turn my gratitude meter UP. I was even thankful for my dog one day...now I know a lot of furparents who love their pets like their children. I even know some people who care more for their dogs than their own flesh and blood. But, that is not me. I like having pets, I think there is definitely a purpose and reason people love animals. Like, maybe because God put us humans in charge of them. We name, watch, and generally steward them - usually from afar. But, I think getting our dog was a little bit of a mistake. It's like having a perpetual toddler that you can't actually take with you when you leave the house. Plus, the black dog hair everywhere is a pain frustration. However, there is no denying the comfort of that big black body sleeping beneath my feet in the evening and the "high alert" status he goes on at night. Protector of the house!

I hope to continue this atmosphere of gratitude and well-being as we enter the Advent season. Keeping my eyes and, by extension, our children's eyes set on the heart and person of Jesus Christ will definitely help. I'm thrilled to be preparing to take the journey of Jesus from Angelic Proclamation to His flight to Egypt. Talk about an Advent-ure! I'm thinking about getting a small tree to feature the children's special ornaments they're going to be making from Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands this month. I definitely need to prepare the special calendar with each day's focus to explore. I hope you will all go on the journey with us. Amanda is offering her incredible e-book for only $4.99 and it is full of great ideas, beautiful crafts your kids can actually make, and moments you'll always treasure. Consider joining the fun on the Tinsel Facebook page too! http://facebook.com/truthinthetinsel
We're working on our special "custom" advent calendar right now; we'll (of course) use our Lego one too. ;)

What special preparations are you making for Christmas?

Fun Mom Prayer

One of the reasons I started blogging was because of all the encouragement and community I found through other mom bloggers. I visit some favorites and get a few in my email. Occasionally, I follow the bread-crumb trail of wonder to new kindred spirits. Yesterday, a link to this prayer from Stacy of MOD Squad was provided in my email. It spoke directly to my heart, and I know it will touch yours too! So, here goes, the Fun Mom Prayer...

Cecelia, Me, and Keliah having fun together!

Dear Lord,
I’m the rule maker.
The one who makes them wash their hands 100x’s 
and eat their green beans.
I am their teacher.
I say “NO”, a lot.
And sometimes, that is the right thing to say.
But what I really want to be, is the one who captures their hearts and turns them to You.
Who I really want to be, is a mom who has time to make cookies, play Yahtzee, and catch lightning bugs in a jar.
What I want to say more is, “Yes! Let’s have an adventure today.”
And put aside my chores, my have to’s, my grown up things and enjoy this precious time I have with them.
Because tomorrow, they will be grown.
And I will not have a chance to do these things with them.
I’m not sure where this is in Your Word exactly, but I know you are a God who loves relationship.
And You did make it a point to let the children come to you. {Matthew 19:14}
So, would you make me, this mom, a fun mom?
Let my children remember me:
Smiling. Chasing. Dreaming. And having fun with them.
Amen.

My Hope is in YOU!

Source: etsy.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Proud Momma Moments...

On Sunday, big changes were announced for the Children's Equipping Center at OHOP. Of course, I already knew about them because I was almost finished with the CEC newsletter coming out this week. ;)  There was a great moment when the talking was over and they showed a quick promo video put together during the week. Jessica, CEC's interim director, really wanted to show what we're growing here. The fastest way to show that is by letting the kid's do what they do best - PRAY! Friday mornings Nick teaches a group of kids 9 and up music and the Harp and Bowl model of the prayer room, after class they do a full intercession watch in the prayer room. Recently, a friend and I began a short class to equip the younger kids to participate as well. The older kids have done a great job and have grown immensely over the past 2 years; they are patient and kind to the little ones too. The "newbies" are so excited to participate in the prayer room. They are blossoming with the Joy of the Lord! Many of these kids got together for the filming of a short version of what we do on Fridays. This is the resulting video – props to Luke Schepler who did an amazing job with this!

How a Week Can Change You

It's been an amazing, humbling, saddening, maddening, joy-ride week. There were several times within the past week and a half that I've been hungry to get on here and have a little self-therapy and share. I'm finally forcing myself to step out of my head and get it all typed up. Although, it may take a few posts to do so.
First off, let me say that I am missing Nick like CRAZY right now. He flew out to Nebraska on Tuesday quite suddenly because of a death in the family. I will get to that. I hate when he is gone because I tend to cocoon until he gets home. I wrap myself up in the kids and too much Netflix surfing and recognizing the mess I'm living in. I haven't even been communicating much online because my heart is kind of unraveled and I feel undone. Plus, I don't sleep well when he's not in bed with me. This is why I rarely complain about him hogging the bed. I am just BETTER when he is around me. How wonderful to be married to a man that loves, cherishes, and champions me! I am truly blessed.
On Monday, I got a voicemail from my mother-in-law, Connie. Not sure why my phone didn't ring, but I listened to her prayer request for her step-daughter Janice who was in the hospital with pneumonia and already had hepatitis. Now, the relationships in this family are somewhat confusing from the outside. Connie is Nick's mom, she married Bill almost 29 years ago after he'd been married and divorced twice before. They didn't have any children together, but Bill had 2 children with each of his other wives. A son and daughter (Janice) in the first marriage, and 2 daughters in the second. The 2 girls from Bill's second marriage are very close in age to Nick and they spent a lot of weekends and vacations together. Bill's first wife remarried and they lived in the Kansas City area; his son ended up living with Nick, Connie and Bill for a short time in his teens and Janice came to visit for a while too, but they were largely out of the picture. Now, it's sad to say, but I have been married to Nick for 15 and a half years and I never met Janice nor any of her 3 kids. I did meet Bill's son, Lenny, once as well as his daughter. This has gotten kind of drawn out, but it's important to get a glimpse of the family dynamics. Janice spent time in and out of prison during her adult life. Her 2 sons also have been in and out of jail (the older one is in now.) Janice was actually serving time for the past few months and got sick in prison. Her daughter, Skye, was staying with Janice's stepdad because her own father is out of the picture now. Nick had met Skye before because he went to see Janice when she was still with Skye's dad. When Janice was sent to prison this last time, Nick was on the phone with Bill telling him we were willing to take Skye in and make her part of our family. No one really listened. Then, Janice got sick, Bill rushed down to Kansas City to see her because they didn't know how long she would last. I found out not long after that when Bill got the call she had already flat-lined once and been brought back. By the time he got there, she was already brain-dead. Her systems started shutting down, her younger son (barely 20) was faced with making a serious decision, but she passed not too much later. We were praying, we had many people at OHOP and in the mid-west praying for her. Janice was only 41 years old. Skye is only 9.
Just 2 years ago, Janice's brother Lenny died at about the same age - quite suddenly. Then, their mom died a few months later. Bill did not handle the death of his son well, he was just starting to open up and talk about it in December when Nick was visiting them. Connie's mom, Marcella, has been living with them for the past few years and has become completely dependent on them for her care. Nick felt compelled to fly up as soon as he could to help his family. He knew that his mom should be with Bill for the funeral service, so he thought at the least he can stay with his Grandma. However, Nick had Skye on his heart from the beginning of all this. We prayed about all driving up, but it takes at least 2 days to drive and we were not prepared to make the trip at all. (Now we're going to have to make a plan because all of our grandparents are getting near the end.) We prayed for Grandpa Bill and Great and Grandma Connie and Skye. We prayed traveling mercies over Nick and that God would use him. We're still praying.
Janice's stepdad is now trying to get official custody of Skye. He didn't want to have a service for Janice, Bill made the arrangements. It seems that no one takes Nick seriously when he says that we are more than willing to bring Skye into our family. It's not a good situation there. However, Nick's uncle and aunt are coming to stay with his Grandma while he goes to the funeral in Kansas City with his parents. He will have an opportunity to see Skye and her grandfather. I was praying for her and God showed me how He had been taking people out of her life for a purpose. She is precious to Him and He has a plan for her. Whether she is with us or not, I will not stop praying for Skye.
All of this has been sobering and humbling. I have been impressed upon within the past month to understand the fear of the Lord. He loves and forgives, our repentance is accepted. But, we can't stop fearing the Lord. There is power and authority there. More on this tomorrow.
 
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ John 14:27,28

Praying for a Miracle

Five days ago, my best friend from Jr. High put an urgent message on my Facebook page. "Do you know what's happened to Rachel Stotler? I don't know but all I know is we need to pray HARD for her!!! RIGHT NOW!!!!" That started a quick frantic search of Facebook to find out what was happening. I followed a link to the Omaha World-Herald newspaper article that recounted a bad car accident on icy roads that led to my friend Rachel (Stotler) Clasemann to being admitted to Creighton Hospital in Omaha. I friend requested her husband, Jon, who I'd only met at their wedding about 11 years ago and sent him a message. He was kind enough to get back to me the same day, after I'd read his journal on the Caring Bridge site set up for Rachel.

She is 35-years-old, a physical therapist, and mommy to 2 little boys: Nathan and Jacob. They are too young to be visitors at the ICU where their mom is in a coma. She is recovering from a severe brain injury. So severe, in fact, that 2 parts of her skull had to be removed to relieve the pressure from the swelling in her brain. There have been some good developments in the past few days, but we are dwelling in the needed-miracle area here.

Please join me in prayer for my friend of 23 years, Rachel Clasemann. Also, pray for peace, strength, and joy for Jon and their sons, and Rachel's parents. I know Jesus has this situation in the palm of His pierced hand. I continue to lay my fear and anguish for her at the foot of the cross. I am believing for complete, miraculous restoration! She will not only wake up, but be fully healed in the name of Jesus!

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
   I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
   I will be with him in trouble,
   I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him

   and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16

Alex's Lemonade Stand- Canuso Kids Kick Cancer!

So, this is the story of how I got involved with Alex's Lemonade Stand foundation.
I get the American Greeting emails (not exactly sure why I'm on their list, but it's fun to look over sometimes) and they had a little advertisement at the bottom. Strawberry Shortcake supports Alex's Lemonade Stand.

 

I clicked on the ad to find out that Strawberry Shortcake was donating $50 toward the foundation for every person who signed up to do a stand during September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. I thought, well, I can definitely sign up! Last fall, our 10-year-old cousin Coleman fought and won his battle with lymphoma. We prayed as a family for him, got a lot of OHOPers praying for him, a lot of my wonderful blog readers were interceding for him as well! We lifted him up in the Children's Prayer Watch and were rewarded with his complete healing! Our sale was done in honor of him, and it really made it personal for us. The kids and I ended up doing 2 sales at OHOP: 1 before the monthly Awaken the Bride conference, and the other today just after service. We managed to raise just over $100! Praise God! The kids were very excited, despite their goal of $500 not being reached. If you would like to make a donation toward this goal, go to our page: http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/69151 

At any rate, we had a great time doing this and it made us feel great too! We'll probably make it an annual tradition for our family. I put together a little video from the footage Nick took of our sale last Friday. Hope you enjoy it!

Signs & Wonders Children's Conference

This weekend was the 4th annual Signs & Wonders conference at the Orlando House of Prayer. Since I volunteer with the Children's Equipping Center at OHOP, I was blessed to take my 2 big girls - Cecelia & Keliah - for the weekend. It was an incredible time of training the children up to walk in obedience, POWER, and authority! This morning at OHOP's Sunday service, the children attending the conference got a chance to pray for the sick. Those first 2 girls in the picture are my daughters, the Prayer Warriors!
I've already heard confirmation of a healing that took place today, praise Jesus!
Thank you, Lenny LaGuardia for pouring into this generation; it was a great prayer boot camp!

Blessings,

Dixie

Definition...

What defines you?
Is it your job.... your clothes... maybe your relationships?
Are you defined by the place you live or what you do for fun? What music you listen to or how many "friends" you have?
I am troubled by this question.
What defines me?
I suppose a big part of it is the people I love and the ones who love me. It's not about perception or looks. Not anymore.
I've struggled with my desire to do more, to be more, to have an identity other than Mommy, or even Wife.
I've found my answers in Psalm 127, a scripture that continues to define me.

¹ Unless the LORD builds the house,
         They labor in vain who build it;
         Unless the LORD guards the city,
         The watchman stays awake in vain.
 ² It is vain for you to rise up early,
         To sit up late,
         To eat the bread of sorrows;
         For so He gives His beloved sleep.
        
 ³ Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
         The fruit of the womb is a reward.
 ⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
         So are the children of one’s youth.
 ⁵ Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
         They shall not be ashamed,
         But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

He calls me His beloved. I am a builder, a watchman, a warrior. I have been rewarded richly by the Lord with children. I am happy.

Something short and sweet...

I am so blessed that God trusted me with these 7 children. I just pray that He continues to speak to me about how He wants them raised! Please Lord, give me ears to hear Your whispers as I walk this noisy path!


My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Thankful Thursday

Today, I am thankful that I got to participate in intercession for the Exodus Cry set - an end to Human Trafficking & modern slavery!

I'm thankful that my kids are healthy and pretty well behaved.
I'm thankful to be on the worship team tomorrow for the Awaken the Bride service at OHOP.
I am supremely thankful that God is always faithfull, even when I'm not. He is a good, good Father!

I am thankful to have a husband who works so hard to serve God and glorify Him.

3 New "Babies"

I better start this story at the beginning.

Pretty girl Fina hanging out at home.

About 3 years ago, Nick got a parakeet. He'd wanted a bird for a long time, and after researching, he decided that a parakeet would make a good intro bird. It was his 32nd birthday present. He named it Forte, fed him, held him, carried him around on his shoulder, even taught him how to fly. Then Forte thought it was hilarious to fly and dive into my hair while I was busy in the kitchen. Everyone loved him. About half a year later, there was an accident and Forte died in Nick's hands. It was very sad and Nick was devastated. The kids put together their Christmas money and got Daddy a new parakeet a few months later. His name was Solo, we think he was too old when we got him, because he would not leave his cage unless forced and never bonded to any of us. He just died about 6 months ago. I think only Carlo missed him. Sad, but true. But, Nick was still longing for a bird friend. He took to visiting the sun conures at the local PetSmart. One of them is pretty snotty and jealous, the other more friendly and fun, but under the "thumb" of his partner. Nick wanted to bring him home, but the bird and large cage we would need were about $1000. YIKES!
After we got our tax return a couple months ago, Nick started looking at craigslist ads for a feathered friend and ended up taking our 4 oldest kids to the Bird Hut, a local pet store with every kind of bird. They had the opportunity to play with several kinds of parrots there, they even had a sun conure, but it was a little scarlet lady who stole Nick's heart. She snuggled right up to Nick and was gentle with the excited fingers of our children. I was recruited for a visit, and after talking about finances and other concerns, we brought her home at the end of the week. Fina is a female eclectus, still quite young, and has totally bonded to Nick - even enjoying outings to Starbucks and the outside tables at OHOP. She is just starting to chatter and likes to whistle when she hears music or the vacuum. We picked the name "Fina" because it means "the Lord provides" - and there were several prophetic references to birds in the week we got her and in weeks following.

 Keliah with Skittles

Now, we have a friend at OHOP, Charlotte, who has an amazing ministry of provision in Africa http://www.possibilitiesministries.com/ - and it looks like God is sending her there personally in the coming months. She made the decision to come on staff full-time at OHOP until she is sent to Burundi to minister. That meant she wanted to live closer to the missions base and needed to cut living costs, to opportunity to move in with another OHOP family fulfilled her needs, but she couldn't bring her 2 birds. She approached us about taking in her African Grey Parrot, Storm, and her Macaw, Skittles. Nick was ready to say yes and kind of asked me as a formality. In fairness, when she asked us months ago about the possibility of taking them when she went to Africa and we'd agreed. That was before we'd adopted Fina, of course. Anyway, we have 3 birdy babies in the house.
Now, Storm and Macaw are, I think, about 3 years old so they have more boldness than Fina right now. Storm is super smart, as an African Grey, and a pretty vast vocabulary already not to mention all the other noises he makes. He has different whistles, imitates a knock at the door and the barking of a dog following (Charlotte's dog), the whines at the door of our own dog Indy, and has already perfected the high-pitched screams of Sabina in a temper. YAY. However, he had acquired a bad parrot habit of over-preening. Whether out of nerves, boredom, or other causes we're not sure, but he was pretty plucked-over when we got him. Through the advice of a vet, and our own attention, his pretty feathers are starting to fill out again. I'll be so happy when he has a proper tail and wings again! Skittles is a rainbow colored Macaw with all the loud squawking of his breed which can be trying at times - but he loves the kids! I think he's really just a kid himself and wants to play all the time. He can say "Hello" and dance, he kind of says "step up." He likes to be ticked under the wings and ride around on our shoulders.

 Sabina and Luca with Storm "kissing"

It's been a little crazy around here getting into the flow of caring for so many little ones, but the kids have stepped up to help with the responsibility - especially Cecelia. I tell ya, there is never a dull moment around here.

A Moment of Reflection...

On our recent trip to St. Augustine, partly to celebrate my husband, Nick's birthday, we stopped in the Greek Orthodox shrine. It's so beautiful, and has an interesting history recorded there from the earliest years of settlement in the area. We have a Catholic background, and the idea of prayer candles really spoke to our children. Nick paid for a candle, we all laid fingers on it (all 9 of us) and offered up prayers to God for our family. Then, the wick was gently tipped into the flame of another candle before Keliah planted it as firmly as she could in the sand. It was a beautiful moment.
Those candles are only representing the prayers going forth to the throne room, but I thought it was a special reminder that the flame from someone's heart can spark the prayer from another's. Just as our prayers for the children battling cancer can spread to the community, sending warmth and support to the families contending for the life and health of their children.
Please take a moment to pray for them, take a few minutes to visit the other blogs participating in the 2nd Annual Tuesday Blog Party. Thank God for the health of your own children, and remember the moms who are spending this Mother's Day weekend with their children in hospital beds. You can help with your small flame. Thank you.

Back in the Saddle Again...

It's time I got serious about something.
Time to quit hemming and hawing.
Time to get off the fence and ride that horse! Metaphorically speaking, of course.

It's definitely time for me to quit fighting my life, let God take the lead, and take the easy yoke He has for me. Time to grow up. I am after all 30something with 7 children growing up way too fast.

I am taking up the commandment to "love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."
There isn't anything else worth doing. With Him, all things are possible, without...not so much.
I'm standing with Him. I'm LOVING Him! Can you feel it?

Not quite sure...

I tried to post on Saturday, but I'm not quite sure about how this is interfacing with my new imac. I was having a hard time finding a photo for 6 Word Saturday. Frustrated, and pressured by a attention-seeking husband, I gave up and moved on to more important things.

It's so tough to find a husband these days - especially one who is an awesome daddy to 7 kids.

Anyway, I hope to remedy the situation soon. I love to have a photo to accompany my posts. My children are adorable and entertaining, to say the least. Again, I'll have to cut this short because my time and attention are needed elsewhere. We're going to have to have a talk on "kindness." Especially with our words. I'm tired of yelling, and I'm not quite sure how to handle the madness in the house.

Oh, well, His mercies are new EVERY morning!

Newest Update on Baby Hope

So, you know my niece Hope (7 months) was born without an ear canal in her right ear. She is adorable and cuddly and smart. I haven't seen her since she was a couple weeks old, but I get the updates on my sister's blog Dear Blank, and in our long 2 hour phone calls that are infrequent because we both have little ones that make talking so long almost impossible. (Especially on my end.) I have pressed in with prayer for her little ear, I have put out numerous prayer requests on Hope's behalf, I have believed in miracles. It looks like the miracle is in progress. The specialists finally got to do the echo test on her. Here is Holly's report (taken from her blog entry on January 20th):

Hope had her bone conduction hearing test today. We didn’t have to endure the worrisome fasting, the ultra-early morning drive across town, the scary general anesthetic or the endless hours of waiting, all of which colored our previous ABR attempt (thank God).

Instead we drove five minutes to the Research Hospital on our side of town. Hope nursed until an hour before her appointment. Granted, she did have to choke down some vile-tasting chloral hydrate (screaming her head off the whole time), but that was the worst of it. We were in the room with her while she had the ABR, and once it was done, we were pretty much okay to leave. Just had to hang around for a half-hour after she woke up for a little safety monitoring.

(BTW, babies waking up from sedation are hilarious. Hope was full of grins, but totally loopy. Like an incredibly cheerful drunk.)

Anyway. The results were good. Her right ear is functional, pretty much at the exact same level as her left. So, good. Yay.

But the test couldn’t answer my next question: does she hear with that ear? The inner ear can hear (is capable of hearing), but do the sound waves reach her inner ear?

We don’t know. I thought we would. And we don’t.

I know Who knows. Her Great Daddy who loves her and is so jealous over her. The Holy Spirit, who is doing a creative miracle in her ear. Her best friend, Jesus, in whose name I pray. My children continue to lift up their baby cousin each Saturday at the Children's Prayer Watch; they are still believing in the miraculous.

Also, when I talked to my sister before Christmas, she confessed that she and her mother-in-law have noticed a change in that little right ear. It is bigger. On the outside, you can hardly tell a difference between Hope's 2 ears anymore. It used to be much smaller than her left ear and have a squished appearance. The doctors mentioned future cosmetic surgery. I don't think that will be necessary, do you? I believe that God is working slowly in Hope's ear so that she doesn't experience any pain in this process. I believe, in the name of Jesus, that Hope will not need any surgery on her ear AT ALL and by the time she's old enough for school, she will be blessed with perfect hearing.

Thank you for joining your prayers with mine. They are as incense.

The Birthday Not-Party

I got the last minute invitations out.
People actually R.S.V.P.'d. We were excited; I was a little nervous. I wasn't feeling great, but got up enough energy to clean up and make cupcakes. Nick came home from the children's watch alone. I had stayed home with the 3 youngest to ready the house and make sure the youngest ones got a nap before the party. Where were the 4 older kids, including the birthday girl? They went home with friends straight from the prayer watch for lunch and play. Cool.
Nick was tired and sore. He ate lunch and rested while I continued preparations.
An hour later, he said, "I think you need to cancel the party."
He really was sick. Not a fever, but sapped of all energy, achy, cough and chest congestion.
"Are you sure?" He moaned from the couch. I called the guests. We rescheduled for next Saturday.
I called Keliah to let her know so she wouldn't be too disappointed when she got home, and they got to play there a while longer. That night, we had cupcakes and ice cream anyway and she got to unwrap presents from us and her grandparents.
Keliah seems okay with it. I think she's excited to have cupcakes again next Saturday.
So, a little more waiting for those party pics.
In the meantime, I'll post some pictures from that trip to the beach that kept getting postponed.
From a month and a half ago!!!

Sabina creating sandcastles

Rocky making snowy SandAngels

Playing by the Shore

Keliah holding a tiny perfect pink shell

The Crew wading to the Gulf

Still here... although Slightly Bruised.

I know it's been forever and a hundred, if not a thousand, things have happened.

But, that's the holidays, right?

Sabina - the big meanie!

Tonight, I was beaten up by Sabina, my 2-year-old baby girl. It's true! Well, beaten up is a slight exaggeration, but still. I am bruised and swollen. It's amazing the pain I go through with these little ones.
She was freshly in her ballerina princess blanket pajamas - because HELLO it's COLD here! - and she climbed up on my lap and immediately slammed her head back as hard as she possibly could. I screamed a bad word (sorry to admit) and shoved her off my lap over to the other side of the couch. She cried, and I tried not to. She's lucky I didn't reflexively smack her. Everyone ran in to see what happened to find me holding both hands over my right eye, breathing hard with tears seeping out. I'm ashamed to admit there were a couple sobs that escaped. I felt like a pre-schooler myself at that point.
It felt like my brow bone was possibly cracked. Her head hit my right brow, just missing my eye, and the cheekbone, and hit my ear as she bounced. Antonio brought me ice as Nick griped at everyone about using all the ziplock bags. Keliah sweetly asked if I wanted her to pray for me, and I couldn't even answer. I was still trying not to break down and was not feeling charitably toward the kids at the moment.
Do you know how many "war" injuries I've sustained in the mommy business? Usually it's minor bruises or, at the worst, a fat lip. More than once. More than twice. I've actually lost track of the trauma. Nick says, "they're always beating you up!"
Keliah prayed, everyone went to bed, and I held ice on my face while watching Julie and Julia and took some Tylenol. The swelling and bruising is minimal at this point, so Nick's not too worried about someone thinking he smacked me around. We'll see how it looks tomorrow.
Anyone out there have a parenting war story to tell? Injuries or scars to compare? I'd love some company to go with this misery.

Thankful Thursday - ALREADY?!

Yes, it's true, I've been so consumed with house, home, children, homeschooling, Christmas hoopla, etc. that another week has flown by and I haven't posted! I'm so ashamed! I have pics from the much talked about trip to the beach, a funny story about Carlo, and some griping about hormones to do... But, all that will have to wait, because today is Thankful Thursday, and I am giving God center stage.
He deserves it.

Today, I am thankful for the Joy He pours out on me. What a great gift!

I am thankful for the Peace He restores to my soul when I (finally) turn to Him in the midst of my rebellious, thunderous, fuming moods.

I am thankful for God's great and all-consuming Love.

Finally, I am thankful that Jesus, in His pure humility and love for us, came as a baby: a small bundle of flesh and blood and sweetness, cries and sighs, so that we could KNOW HIM! So He could sacrifice Himself. So He could spend eternity with us.

What wondrous Light. I am so filled with awe and love. Thank you Lord.

Scary Mommy

I have to admit this really struck a chord with me. Her definition is a little different than I first thought it would be. A little more like me. If you agree with my definition of "Scary Mommy", and therefore MYSELF, please comment!

• I teach them self-reliance by allowing them to make their own breakfast while I sleep in.

• I sometimes just let them "fight it out."

• Long, bone-crushing hugs are therapeutic.

• Forcing Encouraging my children to read isn't actually killing them.

• My 4 oldest kids have all changed diapers of the 3 youngest. Even the boys! I know, it could cause a revolution!

• I decided to homeschool all 7 of them. This means I'm actually teaching 5 kids this year. (Maybe more - do you think a 2-year-old can learn the multiplication tables?)

• I allow and even encourage my children to sing and pray ON the MICROPHONE at the prayer room!

• I sometimes cry after yelling at my children.

• I get a little irritated when they all crowd around me and talk at the same time.

• Time and conversation with my husband (their father) comes first!

• I went out today wearing sweats, t-shirt, scrunchie, flip-flops. No make-up. Fabulous sunglasses.

• I don't actually care if my 5-year-old still sucks his fingers when he goes to sleep, as long as he actually sleeps!

• My kids do chores. I know - it's a crazy concept. Even the littlest picks up toys. (Before joyfully tossing them around the room once more.)

• Lastly, and maybe the scariest mommy thing to do, I sing and dance in PUBLIC!

Hello, my name is Dixie, and I am a Scary Mommy.