Just Plain Funny

Brian has a college friend who started a blog. He wrote a post recently about diaper changing stations that have instructions on them ... written in braille! Who knew?

Brian then told me about a pair of his boxers that say "change daily" on the inside tag. I didn't believe him until he showed me. I just had to take a picture - that's blogworthy right there. I guess guys need this type of reminder...





Too funny! I'm just glad that it doesn't say 'wash daily' cuz that just may not happen 'round here! Ya know?

Recipe Roundup: Soups and Stews

Leslie is hosting this months Recipe Roundup! I am so excited that Fall is here and it's time for soup and chili!

Here is a recipe for Taco Soup:

1 lb ground beef
1 onion
1 pkg Taco seasoning mix
1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch mix
1 can pinto beans
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can stewed tomatoes (Mexican flavor if you like)
1 can chili hot beans

Brown beef and onion. Add taco mix and HVR mix to meat. Add all vegetables (with liquids) and simmer 20 minutes. Serve over tostitoes or Fritos and top with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream!

Post a recipe on your blog and link to it at Leslie's. If you don't have a blog (Claire, Lurker) leave a yummy recipe in my comments section and I'll post it here for you!

Bragging ... just a little...

Every time I go to get the baby after she wakes up, I am greeted by this face...

She'll just smile so big at me...

And she does this big 'open-mouth' type smile...

And here she is laughing at her oldest brother ... he has a special relationship with her! He loves to 'watch her' for me and try to make her laugh.

Anyway ... I am so thankful for this sweet baby and her incredibly sweet and happy spirit! Just makes my day when I go get her after a nap!

Ride Em Cowboy

Today Daddy had the privilege to go to a Ligonier Conference to hear RC Sproul and Steven J. Lawson. (How incredible is that?)

So while he was gone today, we went to ChesterFest (a little carnival of booths, kiddie games, etc.) It's become a yearly tradition as well - sort of a neat little small-town gathering here in a suburb of Richmond. The kids got up the nerve today to ride ponies today for the first time. I know, I know, lots of kids ride ponies but for some reason, mine have been too scared to do it until now!!

Being a Mother

I listened to a sermon today by John Piper (not surprising huh? can you tell we like him around here?) entitled, "Marriage Is Meant for Making Children...Disciples of Jesus". It is powerful, convicting and encourages me to desire to stay on my knees in prayer for these little ones entrusted to us.

The observation that stands out most to me today is : "the most fundamental task of a mother and father is to show God to the children."

Wow! Just stop right there and that is a sermon in itself... but of course there's more. He goes on to say ... "Children know their parents before they know God. This is a huge responsibility and should cause every parent to be desperate for God-like transformation ... Children are absorbing from dad his strength and leadership and protection and justice and love; and they are absorbing from mother her care and nurture and warmth and intimacy and justice and love ..."

"...all this is happening before the child knows anything about God, but it is profoundly all about God. Will the child be able to recognize God for who he really is in his authority and love and justice because mom and dad have together shown the child what God is like. The chief task of parenting is to know God for who he is in many attributes and then to live in such a way with our children that we help them see and know God."

Will the child be able to recognize God for who he really is? Oh I sure hope so! I know that I fall short so many times and I am thankful for God's grace during those times. But I pray that we will be more intentional in how we live and in how we raise our children. I pray that we grow to be more like our Father so they will recognize Him for Who He is!

Read the entire sermons here.

County Fair

It seems that all of my posts lately have been strictly pictorial ... but that seems to be the easiest way to describe what's been going on around here.

For the past 4 years, we have made it a yearly tradition to go to the County Fair around the weekend of Emmie's birthday. So last Tuesday night we went to the County Fair with PawPaw and Granny ... here are the pics:

Coleman posing by the Pig covering the trash can ... well it is a County Fair!

Bumper Cars with Dad

PawPaw and Calvin

Coleman and Emmie in the cars
In the helicopter ... Coleman isn't big on heights, but we told him that it didn't go very high...

Calvin with PawPaw (he's not big on loud noises, can you tell?)

Granny and Emmie

Dad and the kids
Mommy and Ellerie

Hey I like the view up here!

Emmie as Superman

Coleman as Superman

Many fun memories! We can't wait until next year!

First Day of School

We started school here today! Dad worked today (fitting for Labor Day) so we went ahead and started our school year. The kids were really excited - in fact, they wanted to start last week. I am thankful that Ellerie is 4 months old and that she is such a sweet baby. She sleeps alot, naps alot, and is happy most all the time, which makes for a happy Momma! Her schedule and ease makes the school day schedule work out perfectly. I'm sure every day won't be this easy but today was so much fun!

Coleman started 1st grade this year.

Emmie started Kindergarten.

Calvin had some special activites to work with during school.

All in all, a great day ...