Summer

Well it's been awhile. It's warm outside finally and things have been crazy around here. Spring cleaning, sick boy, husband with a bum ankle and trying to enjoy the outdoors has kept us on our toes.
As a new Christian sometimes I feel myself backsliding. I know everyone has probably had those struggles at times. I could feel my sailor mouth coming back a couple times and anyone who has known me for a long time knows I had quite the potty mouth. When you have had a potty mouth for so long sometimes you don't even realize you are doing it until it is too late. That would be me. I did great there for awhile and then I started catching myself doing it again. I missed church 2 weeks in a row due to being out doing something with the family. It gets warm outside and your routine gets all screwed up. I wasn't reading my Bible as much, not praying. Some true backsliding. I attended a Tent of Meeting at church on Monday and did some serious self inventory. I feel better now and am getting back on track. Needed a swift kick in the butt. Next week is Vacation Bible School where I am a group leader so that will be great. I am excited.
I want to thank everyone who is so supportive. Especially Brenda, hearing you tell me that you are proud of me brought tears to my eyes. Love you. My MOPS girls you are all wonderful. Regina you are truly the best, always trying to make sure I am staying on track.

PSALM 31: 1-5

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.

Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.

Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.

Into your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.

Long Time

Okay I know it's been a little while. I have been slacking. So I guess a little bit of updating is in order.
**There are no longer any diapers or nighttime shorts being used. Little Michael is now sleeping through the night and going all day without any accidents. I have been waiting for my first accident while we are out in public but even then he does really well. He lets us know. So we are doing great. That sure saves a lot of money, not having to buy all those diapers. It actually feels weird to go to the store and not have to spend $30 on a box of diapers every two weeks.
**Michael finally got his motorcycle done. For those who don't know Michael has a 2002 Yamaha Warrior street bike and he took it apart and sanded it and repainted it Flat Black. It looks great. It was his first time so it was quite a challenge. Lots of swear words coming out of that garage there for awhile. But just in time for summer it is all done and it looks great, now we can get ready for our BBQ's and uncover the pool table.
**A couple weeks ago my little brother Dylan gave us a scare when he wrecked his dirt bike at the Dunes in Moses Lake. He ended up in the hospital overnight with a bruised lung and was bleeding from his ear. He is alright now but man he gave us a scare. Makes being this far away extremely difficult sometimes.
**All the classes are over at church for the summer so it's been a little quieter around here but I miss it already. Our MOPS groups still meets in the summer at different parks around town so that will be fun. I am still volunteering in the office at the church and I really enjoy it. The week of June 9th - 13th is Vacation Bible School and I have decided to volunteer for that too. Should be fun. I will have 5 kids in my group and my niece Brittany will be one of them. I'm looking forward to it. Little Michael gets to go too. Little Michael has been praying at night. He is so cute. He sits on his bed with his legs crossed, his hands folded together and he rests his chin on his hands, closes his eyes and says Thank you Jesus for mommy and daddy and my family. Amen. It is so cute he nods his head when he says Amen. I have tried other prayers with him but he likes to say that one. I sing Jesus Love Me to him all the time. It's so cute when he tries to sing it because he says "Jesus love me, in the sky" and that's all he says. So cute. He loves to sing, I think he is mixing Jesus Love Me and Twinkle Little Star.
**It is finally warming up, now if the wind would stop blowing it would be great. Time to get ready to go Hooligan fishing. We have been going for walks in the evening with Little Michael so he can ride his bike. He loves it. We take him to the park and he makes me nervous. He climbs up on everything and has no fear. He surprises me every day with the things he is learning. We got him a little T-Ball set and play in the backyard with him and for 3 years old he really surprises us that he really loves it. He can actually throw the ball in the air with one hand and hit it with the bat. The first time he did that Michael and I just looked at each other, we didn't even know what to say. Neither one of us taught him that. Can't wait for him to get into sports when he's older.
**We hope all is well with everyone. We just got family pictures done over Mother's Day weekend finally. We'll send them out when we get them back. Take care and we love you.

Potty Training Boot Camp

A little update about what is going on around here.
Something that happened this last week...
Wednesday night after church Little Michael said the cutest thing. We were driving home and he was showing me the coloring page he did of Baby Moses and he said "Mommy, I Like Jesus!!!" Oh man I teared up. So I told him, "That's good Babe because Jesus loves you too." He giggled and said, "yeah". That made my week.

MICHAEL IS POTTY TRAINED!!! WHEW HEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry got a little excited there. So in the last 3 weeks there have been some changes around here. So I decided after Michael's 3rd birthday that I was going to do some potty training boot camp. He was showing some interest but only once in awhile. So after the 1st his daddy went out of town for a week for work so I figured that would be a great time to do it. So keeping a long story short the hubby was out of town working 2 weeks out of the last 3 so I told Little Michael no more diapers except for during church or at night when he was sleeping. After a few accidents (thank goodness for hardwood floors and no carpet in this house) and a few days of just about being so frustrated I wanted to give up and let him wear diapers...we are potty trained. It has been almost a week with no accidents and waking up in the morning with even dry diapers. No more diapers at church and during naps, and we are in night time shorts during the night and still waking up dry. This was definitely a prayer that was answered quicker than I expected. We are so proud of him and he is proud of himself, it's so cool to see him all excited and proud of himself when he gets rewards for no accidents.

I have started volunteering at the church front desk once a week. I really like it. Classes are almost over during the week and we are all looking forward to getting outside this summer. It has been pretty nice the last few days but it will be even better when all the snow is gone and the back yard isn't a wet yucky mess. Michael got to ride one of the motorcycles the last couple days so he is happy and can't wait for the summer.
We hope everyone else is finally getting some good weather too.
Love ya.

A Christlike Life

**A Christlike life is a message of hope to a searching world. (Read Psalm 90)

How we live our lives as followers of Christ is our "note" to the world!

What would you write in a farewell note if you only had hours to live? I would want to write a note to each of my immediate family members and tell them how important they are to me but then when I think about it; why do I need to wait until I think it is my last words? I should make it my mission to write to them all every once in awhile to tell them anyway. You never know if you would get those last few moments to do it if something ever did happen. I think we should always let the people around us know how much they mean to us and how much we appreciate them.

To Do List From God

I ran my life in search of worldly things;
My time and will were firmly in control.
I thought I had no need for what God brings;
I gave no heed to murmurs from my soul. “You’re planning, doing all the time,” it said,
“But something else is missing deep inside.
Your mind is whirling, but your heart is dead,
So turn to God and let go of your pride.” I did, and God said, “Here’s My plan for you:
Give your life to Me, and just let go.
Have faith and pray, and read the Bible through,
And you’ll have blessings more than you can know.” So simple, yet it brings me perfect peace,
Living life for God the way I should.
Direction, purpose, fullness and release—
Life with God is very, very good.

By Joanna Fuchs