In the last few weeks I've received various emails regarding the rising gas prices. All of them full of strategies on how we can force the gas companies to lower their prices. I'm wondering why there is no uproar regarding what the effects of our gas consumption has on our environment, but only what effects our gas consumption has on our wallet? We have plotted plan after plan, to get these gas prices to go down, so that we can continue to use copious amounts of gas without it emptying our pockets. Are there not other options? Car-pooling, taking the bus, walking more and generally using less gas are all reasonable and feasable solutions, but unfortunately we all seem unwilling to sacrifice our standard of living.

My life these days in point form....

- I had my last two wisdom teeth pulled a couple of weeks ago. I had to go back to the dentist a week later because of a 'dry socket'. He put some clove mixture in the hole that tasted so gross that I took it out as soon as I got home. My hubby gave me heck for driving all the way to the dentist for nothing.

- I threw my back out on Wednesday. It was so bad that I was crying and popping T-3's. It's such a blessing having a massage therapist in your extended family (my brother-in-laws sister). I guess my back just had it, too many strains and it just gave out.

- Our basement is finished! There are still many 'little' things that need to be done (ie: baseboards, window frames...), but it was finished enough to get our tv and computer back down here. It is so awesome having my living room back, and having my bay window wide open again.

- My baby is getting more and more skilled at his new trick. He'll crawl to the other side of the room in no time at all. My hubby lowered his crib this morning, just in case he decided to learn to stand up without telling us.

- I've been loving the weather, and I've been loving walking around my new community. Thanks to my walking buddies (my sis and Carol) for making it so much fun, and thanks to my big lug of a son for adding that extra 1000 lbs in my Baby Bjorn when I'm looking for that extra workout.

- I won $25 on a scratch and win bingo ticket!

- God is good all the time!

My thoughts today...

Am I in the business of building bridges,

or am I employed by the demolition crew who burns them down?

See yourself as your Heavenly Father sees you...

Washing you is not a chore, but a joy...

The dirt left behind in the water goes unnoticed...

Only the pure and simple beauty of His child, as we become clean.

I picked up this tag from Erin! I altered it a wee bit......enjoy!


1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
I suppose I would've been another kind of stupid to plan a pregnancy at 16! Haha....so no.
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
No : (
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
I was mortified!
4. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
16!
5. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
My period wasn't coming so I went to the doctor (by myself!)
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
I walked to my friends house (who wasn't home!) so I spilled the beans to his mom, then jumped on the phone with my sister who rushed to get me right away.
8. DID YOU FIND OUT THE SEX?
Yes.
9. DUE DATE?
Dec. 15th 2000
10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
Taco Time hot sauce and cherry popsicles.
11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
Probably the fact that I was 16 and unmarried.
12. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
Girl
13. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
A million... well, 50, but same thing.
14. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
No.
15. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
About 10 hours.
16. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
My mommy and sister.
17. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
My mom and sis (who was my AWESOME birthing coach)
18. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural.
19. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Of course, I'm no super human. I had an epidural but all it really did was numb my legs, which made it harder for me to push.
20. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
7 lbs 5 oz.
21. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?
Dec. 16th! One day past my due date! Phew!
22. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Jonah Page.
23. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
She is 6 years old! Wow does time fly.....

Ok, so now that you've read all about my unplanned teen pregnancy... now you can be blessed to see God's faithfulness in my second pregnancy!

1. WAS YOUR SECOND PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Absolutely!
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Absolutely!
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
I was scared, excited, overwhelmed and overjoyed.
4. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
22
5. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
I took a home pregnancy test in my bathroom, and awaited the results with my hubby.
6. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
Our parents.
7. DID YOU FIND OUT THE SEX?
No way! and it was the most exciting surprise ever!
8. DUE DATE?
September 23rd 2004.
9. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
Not really.
10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
Fruit and Milk.
11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
My sore back.
12. WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND CHILD'S SEX?
Boy!
13. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
A million... well 45, but same thing.
14. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
I had severe lower back/tail-bone/SI joint pain from conception until delivery.
15. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
5 1/2 hours.
16. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
My hubby!
17. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
My hubby (who was my AWESOME birthing coach) and my sis (who was my video taper!)
18. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural
19. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Of course, I'm still no super human. But again, my epidural didn't work at all! I wish I would'nt have gotten it, then at least I'd be able to say I did it drug-free.
20. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
7 lbs. 3 oz.
21. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?
September 19th! (Yay for 4 days early!)
22. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Daniel David.
23. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
He's 8 months!! Wow does time fly.....

What a blessing it is to look back and see God's hands on my life. What a blessing it is to be a mom of two! What a blessing it is to share a testimony that fairy tales come true, and that there was a prince out there just for me! It's been encouraging to reflect on where I've been and where the Lord has brought me and my growing family. Be blessed today, God is not finished with us!!

My little man is crawling!!!

To: YOU

Date: TODAY

From: GOD

Subject: YOURSELF

Reference: LIFE

This is God.

Today I will be handling all of your problems for you.

I do not need your help.

Have a nice day. I love you,

~God~

HAPPY MOMMY'S DAY

To our mommy's:

May we remember the unconditional love they've shown us through the years, and that even in the hard times, our mother's have helped shape us into who we are today. Flaws and all, our mother's are amazing women, who did the very best they could, and loved us in everyway they knew how.

I'm so blessed to have my mom.

To us mommy's:

May we be encouraged in our destiny as shapers and sharpeners of little arrows, and filled with grace to walk out one of the most important jobs, that quite often goes overlooked and unnoticed.

I'm so blessed to be a mom.

The kids: all excited and ready for Kokums surprise bday party.

Sarah: no idea....

My little family.

Baby's first trip to the Forestry Farm.



Baby's first sunburn.

Baby's first Hummer.

Happy-go-lucky, story of his life up until now.



Elishah Pishah.

No comment.

walking towards the vision, and being faithful in the little things.

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

Matthew 25:23

I love to dream. I could sit here all day and dream, of who I want to be and where I want to go. God gives me glimpses of His heart, and it humbles me to realize that His dreams for me and my family are far greater than my mind could fathom.
A number of weeks ago, God broke my heart for my daughters dad and step-mom. I ached for our relationship to be healed, and for my daughter to be released from my fear and doubt into her destiny as a prophet to bring the word of the Lord to the Ninevah God has placed in her life. God gave my husband and I a picture of what things could really look like, if we lay down our pride, and walk in love and mercy. The dream is huge! But I'm reminded that there are many small steps we need to take to get there, God will not bring the dream to us, we need to walk towards the dream. These steps won't be easy, they will require a daily attitude check, patience and determination to see the Lord's kingdom come. Some things will need to be sacrificed for the greater dream.
Many of us are captivated by our dream, but are unwilling to walk out the little steps that are required of us to walk towards our dream. We sit idle, and lose hope, thinking that reaching our dream is impossible. How could I expect to see my dreams of financial stability and prosperity if I'm unwilling to walk in wisdom and maturity with the money I have now? How could I expect to see my dreams of making a difference in my neighborhood, if I'm unwilling or too lazy build any relationships with my neighbors? How could I expect to see my dreams of getting into my pre-pregnancy pants if I'm unwilling to say no to that chocolate bar, bag of chips, or second helping? I can't!
We must walk towards our God-given dream. He will not bring it to us, He would not be a good Father if He did. The steps we need to take to get closer to our dream will require dying to our flesh and pride and sacrificing short term satisfaction.
I want to walk towards my dream while I'm awake, instead of just dreaming while I sleep. I want to share in my master's happiness.

Nin needs...

Was tagged by Christy,
Google your name followed by "needs" and see what pops up!

1. Nin needs boat repairs
(Well good thing I found that one out!)

2. Nin needs updating
(Sure do, I'm back off to salon very soon!)

3. Nin needs help
(Definately, I can't walk this road on my own)

4. Nin needs help
(Yes I know, I'm so humble)

5. Nin needs to find a date
(Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, still wear it)

6. Nin needs lots of repeating
(Haha, the story of my poor hubby's life)

7. Nin needs no introduction
(lol)

8. Nin needs a range of different plants for color
(Tried that, killed the plants, got some more, killed them too)

9. Nin needs retirement
(I'm a ways from that, and that's a good thing)

and last but not least

10. Nin has everything she needs
(Finally the truth comes out!)

To Kill a Mockingbird....I mean Robin

Saturday morning, 7:45 am....
Bang....bang.......bang.....
What the heck man.
Hubby rolls out of bed, to find a robin, flying into our window, over, and over, and over.
He comes back to bed.
Hubby: You know what that noise is Nin?
Nin (groggy): Yeah, it's a dumb bird, I've heard a few birds fly into our window before, it'll go away.
Bang......bang.......bang.......
What the heck man.
So we get up, have our coffee and sit in our living room, amused at this robin repeatitively banging into our window. We throw things at the window, and watch it fly away, only to come back a few minutes later, and, bang.....bang......bang.....
We think: What a funny bird.

Sunday morning, 6:30 am....
Bang......bang......bang.....
What the heck man!
Hubby rolls out of bed, and in his half asleep state, tapes 6 pieces of paper to our window, thinking now the bird can see, it's a window, not the tree that it sees in the reflection. He comes back to bed....
Bang....bang....bang....
We lay there, with our pillows over our heads.
We think: What a dumb bird.

Monday morning, 5:45 am....
Bang......bang......bang......
What the flipping heck man!!
Nin: Go and do something.
Hubby: ugh....
Hubby rolls out of bed, closes our curtains.
Bang....bang.....bang....
Hubby goes outside and tapes paper on the outside of the window.
Bang.....bang....bang.....
Hubby comes back to bed, and closes our bedroom door.
We lay there, with pillows over our heads.
We think: What a @!**#@! stupid bird.

Monday afternoon, we conspire what we think will be a solution. My daughter and I draw and color a big picture of an owl, and hang it on our window.
"Peck" as my daughter has now named him, doesn't seem to be phased.
Bang......bang......bang......
Monday evening, hubby and I conspire what we think will be another solution. We hang a big blue bed sheet on the outside of our window, and tape the owl on the sheet. Feeling a little embarassed, as our neighbors watch us cover the outside of our window with a bed sheet, we feel a sense of hope.

Tuesday morning, 7:30 am....
Bang......bang.....bang......bang.....
What the @#$**$*^%%#^*&&!&!!!!!!!????? man!!!
Out of ideas, I call Petland, and explain there is a psycho robin that wants to drive me and my family insane, is there anyone who can come and kill it for me?
Petland lady: Uh sorry, no....




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