Updates and Just a whole bunch of stuff

I know I said I wasn't going to be blogging the rest of this month, but the children are both asleep and I just feel like writing.

This time off has been pretty great though.

PEYTON

Peyton is finally sleeping in her own room, in her own crib. I can't tell you how wonderful that is. I love my daughter more than words can express but a word of advice. Don't let children sleep in the bed with you and your husband. And when I say that I mean don't let them sleep there every night. Those rare occasions (movie night, sick child, scared child) fine. But as an everyday habit I don't recommend it at all. When we have more children this will be one of those areas where I lived and learned. I tried to do different because I thought maybe I moved Nathan out too quickly and I never let him sleep with us at night (I napped with him when Sam was at work) but I didn't let him sleep with us. But letting Peyton sleep with us just had too many drawbacks, so I'm glad she's in her room. She's getting better sleep and so are we.

NEXT MONTH

I know my plan was to blog everyday about black history events, but that was just too big of a goal and I just won't have time. I've already researched and written quite a few things but it'll be more like just two to three facts a week and I'm still looking forward to that.

MY SPIRITUAL WALK

I know why they call the Bible the "Living Word" I decided to read through the Bible this year again and it's been great so far. Even though I read it often and read through it before, I ALWAYS find something there that I didn't notice before. I'm enjoying growing closer to God and just learning everyday. I'm in Exodus now and reading about how the Israelites saved manna even though God told them not to (except for the 6Th day because of the Sabbath being the next day). Their disobedience amazes me. Wow I'm thinking they saw the evidence of God so clearly with all the plagues in Egypt and then the red sea parting in their face! How in the world can they continue to be so dumb.

Then a reality check came. I can't tell you how many times in my life God has shown himself to me. How many situations He rescued me from and I (like the Israelites) continue on the same disobedient track. It just struck me as amazing.

READING

With Peyton sleeping in her room now I have more time to sit up and read, and I've been reading some great books:

THROUGH THE STORM: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World By: Lynne Spears

Ok I'm so not on the Britney Spears kick I was on earlier, that actually came and went but I was surprised to find this book by her mother in the Christian section so out of curiosity I got it. And you know what it was really good. Her mother is a Christian and she was very candid in it about the mistakes she made as a mother and what her family has gone through. She even said that she would've taught her children to have a relationship with Christ because Britney and her older son Brian left the faith and she feels she didn't teach them how to have a relationship with Christ she took them to church etc. but she didn't teach them about spending time alone with the Lord and reading the Bible etc.

And she made fame look like the worst thing in the world (although that wasn't her intent). She was upfront about how she lost control of Britney when she started making more money etc. It was just a really good book and it just showed a mother's heart. Deep down I think her mother really wanted what's best for her children but just made a lot of mistakes a long the way. It was surprisingly good.

The Duggars 20 and Counting: Raising One of America's Largest Families-How they Do It: By: Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar

I can't put this book down. I got it from the library on Friday and already I'm almost done with it. This is such an amazing family, I'd love to meet them actually. Their faith in God is undeniable and inspiring. While I'm not about to go out and have 19 children like them, I really do agree with a lot of what they're saying. They explain why they have a big family and how they manage their family. Also why they dress the way they do etc. And it's such a pleasant book to read. It's full of pictures and recipes and they've incorporated questions and answers.

I read the reviews on it and some people complained about the book saying things like:

"Just because she doesn't want to take birth control doesn't mean everyone shouldn't" and "Well good for them they can homeschool, everyone doesn't have to" You know what amazes me. The book is only telling people what they did. It's in no way shape or form trying to persuade people to live like them at all. They just wrote it because many people are curious about they way they live so they thought they'd tell their story and that's all it is, it's not accusing at all. I just wonder why people feel the need to get so defensive. It's a really great book.

Why Christian Kids Rebel: Trading Heartache for Hope - By: Tim Kimmel

This is another amazing book I got from the library. I can't seem to stop reading it. So many christian children are leaving the faith and this author is shedding insight into why. So many families are doing the "right thing" by taking their children to church and getting involved in ministry and making sure their children grow up in ministry. So why after all this are they still leaving the faith? Which is something that intrigues me.

This is also close to my heart because I mentioned that I really want Nathan and Peyton to love Jesus Christ with their entire being, over anything. So this book has been eye opening to me. It's good to see why some children leave to do preventative measures. The author was a youth minister who saw a lot and he lets you know that a lot of what he's saying is going to step on your toes as parents. He's not just pointing the fingers at our children but at us. And all ready there's some things that I've been doing that may not be beneficial. So it's just another great book that I recommend.

NATHAN

My little man is doing great. We're having a really really rough winter this year and we've already been sick so even though he's involved in stuff he doesn't always get to go because the weather may be bad or again we're sick etc. So we've been spending a ton of time at home. And that can be pretty hard to keep him entertained.

Those of you who know me know that I'm not a huge TV watcher. I do watch occasionally and rent movies but I have a strict rule about the television. I don't allow one in my living area or my children's rooms. Sam and I have one in our room and we recently put one in the basement. I used to let Nathan watch Elmo but was dissatisfied with some of the content and to be honest with you the children's Christian shows are dropping the ball to me. I have to give it to Elmo at least he really talked to the children. I was considering letting him watch it again but just screening it better but found out that Mr. Noodles brother (Mr. Noodle) was an open homosexual that died of AIDS (which is extremely sad). So I decided to just nix Elmo and try to find Christian shows but none of those hold his attention. And I'm not too broken up about it cause I don't like him watching TV that much anyway.

So I was searching for ways to entertain and get him engaged and found a wonderful website with TONS of activity suggestions. It's http://www.savvysource.com/activities/browse_1a_1-2_years_activities and I just love it. I write in two activities on the whiteboard to do with him everyday and so far he loves it and so do I and Peyton joins in and it's been making our days go by faster and he's getting engaged and so is Peyton, so thus far we're not really getting the "winter blues."

HEALTH

I recently decided to start losing weight again. So I've been eating right and decided to work out as well. I rented a really nice hip hop dance workout video and thought it'd be fun to do it with Nathan. BIG MISTAKE. It was fun I guess but I didn't get the work out that I wanted. Nathan thought it was a good idea to make a tunnel out of my legs and he proceeded to go in and out while I was trying to work out (as you can guess that made it impossible to do anything).

Nathan's also very prone to nosebleeds and ended up bumping his nose on my leg and the flow started. So I ended up sitting on the coach watching the video while tending to Nathans nose. In case you're wondering where Peyton was, she was on the floor the entire time trying to figure out what Nathan and I were doing. Not the work out I was expecting, but hey I got to enjoy the time with my children and create yet another memory :-)

SAM

Still sexy as ever! I would include a few pics of him but I don't want any of you to start sinning by "coveting" him :-) See Exodus 20:17