Vocab uses

I am behind on my blog. It has been two months since I last "checked" in. Much has happened.

Henry, my brother's son, turned 1 recently. He also started walking. They sent us a little video clip of it and Lily said, "I want to watch it a hundred times. Can I watch it a hundred times, Mom?" Yes, that's my second point. Lily has started calling us Mom and Dad instead of Mommy and Daddy. It is bittersweet. I miss being called Mommy, but know it is part of the growing up process...She pronounces things more clearly every day also. She has gotten to the point where she uses some of her vocabulary words in new forms. It has had Matt and I laughing undercover many times in the past few weeks. She is trying to explain something and she uses words from her vocab, but they don't always necessary apply to the situation. Two examples: 1) She was in her bathroom with the door closed. When she tried to open the door, the rug got stuck on her stool that sits on the rug and the door. I could hear her struggling a bit to get the door opened, but knew she could do it. When she came out, she came to me and said, "I couldn't get out of the bathroom." I asked her why and she started making circular motions with her hands and said, "The rug was all, all, all.....BLENDED up!" Example 2) She has learned how to cut her banana into pieces and sprinkle her cinnamon and sugar on top. So, the other day I was attempting to let her peel the banana and she said, "I can't get it unwrapped. Can you get it unwrapped, Mom?" It totally means the same thing as peeled, but it is just amazing how their little minds work.

So much more to catch up on. Pics to upload, etc. Will be intentional about adding them soon. I need to document some of these things.

Purging

The first 9 years of our marriage, I feel like I spent my time gathering/collecting items. For the last year or so, I keep randomly purging my house. Many times it has been my closet. I just make a quick (30 min) sweep and anything that I don't feel like I need, want, use anymore goes. The garage sales in our addition are next Thurs, Fri, Sat. I am strongly considering participating (more than likely I will). Therefore, I am making a clean sweep through our entire house. Every cabinet, closet, shelf, etc is getting a good look. Even things that I still LIKE, but don't use are leaving this house. Our house is not cluttered, but I am just sick of stuff. (is this a symptom of loss???) I literally cannot look in another drawer full of things that I do not use for one more week!

There isn't much hesitation in ridding of most items. The three areas that I KNOW I need to get rid of things, but am having a hard time are casserole and decorative dishes, scarves, work clothes.

Work clothes being high on the list.....Not thinking I am going back any time soon. When I worked, I had many cute clothes. However, I have finally decided that IF I ever go back to work, they will probably be outdated. So, out they go.....Blazers (dressy and casual), skirts, shoes, jewelry, etc. OUT, OUT, OUT!

I feel better already, but oh my! Maybe it is just a different stage of life? Being content with less.

Praising GOD for all events...

Lily got her teeth cleaned for the first time yesterday. At first, she was shy and very hesitant. However, Dr. Dan won her over, after many funny sayings and questions. He finally got her to open her mouth so that he could look at her teeth. And then, she allowed the hygienist to clean them with her sugar cookie flavored toothpaste. She did an awesome job!

I am realizing as life goes on that many things can be thrown at us, but little can be as painful as the loss of a child.

I am learning to thank God continually. Today I found myself praising HIM for the silliest things. For instance, thanking him for little things that seem to go my way. It has been a positive thing because I am realizing that HE does deserve all the PRAISE, even for the small events, even when my socks all match up:) (And I am grateful to have an amazing support system. Truly, I have great parents, a couple of really amazing loving friends, an intellectual perceptive Christian counselor, and a wise mentor that I adore.)

I am also re-learning that we are called to praise and thank HIM for our trials.

I Thess 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

James 1: 2-8 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Lily was sick today. I think she has the bug I had a couple of weeks ago. her symptoms are identical. Odd that it takes two weeks to culminate. Mine lasted 3 days, so we are only 1 day down. Kids are so amazingly sweet when they are sick. She cuddled and said little. She said a couple of times, "Mommy, I love you." Guess the vomit doesn't bother me as much when she is just so sweet. We needed a "down" day, so it was good to be home and comfy, especially since it is so cold out.

One other amazing thought for the day: I am down to my PRE-Lily weight! YAY!

Daisy Walk/Run is tomorrow. Looks like it is supposed to be such a beautiful day for it.