New toys...old toys...hours of fun!

Dallas new thing to do is ride his bike in the street. He loves who fast he can go!Asher has a new obsession with Legos. He could play for hours it seems!

I ordered a bunch of new thinking toys from www.thinkfun.com. They are awesome! We haven't opened all of them yet but the ones we have opened we have really enjoyed and I can see the brain working as they play them. This one you have to fit all the pieces back into the box. Not easy! A toy really for 8 and up but Dallas was very determined to get it. He worked for at least 30 minutes one day and then at least 30 minutes the next. I finally gave him the 3 hints it gives and he got it! Using that Dallas Determination to solve puzzles, I can now see how this trait will serve him quite well in the future!!

Sean's home thank goodness. I don't think I could have gone on much longer. After he got home I headed out to the movies all by myself. I just needed a break from the house. Got to see the new Julia Roberts movie, "Duplicity" and enjoyed myself fully!

Well Sean's still not back but my parents are and they picked Dallas up from school and Boston and I headed over there with Asher after school. Here they are helping Papa mow the lawn. Then we all headed to Chipolte for dinner. Two days of Chipoltle in a row!

Ya Sean is coming home tomorrow!!

Turtle Visitor

While the big boys were at school today Asher and I had a turtle visitor come in the front yard. Asher was so fascinated by him. He wanted so badly to touch him, but I kept him at a distance not sure if it was a snapping turtle. We took some pics to show the big boys when they got home. But in the meantime Asher got a special treat.

Finding Joy

I found out tonight that a friend just went into labor. We both found out we were pregnant around the same time and her due date was only a week different than mine. As her belly has gotten bigger when I see her at church it's always a reminder to me. In so many ways I feel selfish for feeling sad when seeing someone pregnant. I should feel joy for them. How horrible of me. Then I think, am I just overreaching to all this. People miscarry all the time. Do they all feel like this periodically? It's not like I'm upset all the time but there's a bit of sadness here and there. And today as I found out she's in labor I prayed, "Lord please don't let me get upset over this. Help me to be happy for them and not selfishly looking at my own feelings." He said to me, "Cricket, find your joy." And I thought: I have three beautiful boys. I didn't have to have a c-section with any of them. They are healthy and happy. I have a wonderful husband. I have a great house. I thanked God for all these things and I also thanked him for letting me see my baby, even though he/she was only 8 weeks along. At least I got to see him/her. And then I sang "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord." He is sovereign.

I must also add that for months Sean has been on me to focus on the positive. "If only you would just listen to me." Yes...I should listen to him more often. Find my joy. Yes, I will Lord.

Busy Sunday

After church today we had lunch with Wes and Suzanne at Chipolte. I love that place!! The boys were great at lunch and it was so fun spending time with Wes and Zanne. The boys were super excited to show them the motorcycle that is in my trunk! After Asher's nap we all headed to toys r us to use money from birthday presents and Dallas had some he had not used. They each bought a remote control (Boston a black hummer and Dallas a red jeep). They also bought some Star Wars characters from the original movies. I found some great learning and thinking games on clearance as well. Then we had a quick stop at Publix and off to Nena and Papa's house to unload the motorcycle. They were so excited to ride it! What fun they had! (I am so missing Sean though...can't wait for him to come home on Tuesday!)

Dallas eats eggs

This morning I made eggs. Dallas used to eat eggs when he was younger but no more. Well today I brought out the Disney eggs I had gotten on sale with my coupon (yes, Disney is now producing their own eggs complete with a character stamped on top of the egg) This interested Dallas, especially with all the characters he knows like Buzz and Woody. He picked the Pooh eggs and Boston picked Tiger. I made scrambled eggs and I also added that he would get muscles like Daddy if he ate eggs because it's got protein in it.

And would you believe he ATE ALL the eggs!!! It was a HUGE step!! Go Dallas! I'm so proud of you and all the foods you are trying now.

I also want to add that Dallas is really attempting to eat when I serve for dinner. This is also a big step as in the years past he would rather skip dinner and go right to bed than eat what is served, even if it's something he likes. I can't figure out the thought process there but he's realized that he's not getting anything else to eat and I guess it's finally sunk in his head (after a few years!!!) Boy is God teaching me some patience. A few night here and there of him eating is just enough to keep me inspired!

Knowing God's Love

Wow what a wonderful morning at church this morning. In Life Group we studied the end of Acts where Paul was on a ship that got shipwrecked (Acts 27). It is an incredible account of the voyage on this ship and how they got shipwrecked. The details are amazing. What's even more awesome is that the 4 anchors the they cut off before running aground were found a few years ago! It's always so great when people are able to use the bible and it's details to actually find artifacts from what is being written about in His word! Below is an article I found about the discovery of the 4 anchors.

http://nordskogpublishing.com/publisherscorner/2008/03/anchors-from-apostle-pauls-shipwreck.html

While in worship we sand the song, "Blessed be the name of the Lord." Since having miscarried this song has new meaning to me and a few weeks ago brought me to my knees crying. In the song there's a verse that says, "You give and take away. You give and take away. My heart will choose to say Lord, blessed be your name." This week I found much healing, especially while attending the prayer get together we had on Wednesday night. I so badly didn't want to go (of course that was the devil trying to stop me because he knew how healing and uplifting this time would be!) But today I was able to sing it with joy (not sadness). I was able to praise God for how good He is. I was able to thank him for unconditional love, even when I was angry at Him for causing me this pain and taking my baby away. I trust Him fully and I can rest in that trust. I realize as I write this that I never took the time to recount what happened on Wednesday night.

Wednesday night we ended our study of MasterLife 1 (the first book of 4) by having a time of prayer together. We started reading the Word aloud and sang a hymn. Then we had some individual time in prayer and reading. I talked to God and was very transparent and open with Him. Then I opened the bible. I was drawn to Psalm 121, which I had been reminded this week of and felt God calling me to read it but I just hadn't taken the time. I was reminded of verse 3-4 "He will not let your foot slip-he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."

Then I looked up Joy in the back because this is my word for the year (last year it was peace-and God taught me A LOT about peace last year and by the Holy Spirit He gave me a lot of it!) I was then lead to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire, do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil" Wow. This was exactly what I needed to hear. It was as if God was talking clearly to me. I am to be JOYFUL ALWAYS, PRAY CONTINUALLY AND GIVE THANKS IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE because it's GODS WILL!!!!! Can't get much clearer than that. I think these will be words I live by everyday from here on out!

Then my dear friend Tiffanie and I got to pray together and for each other. What a blessing this time was for me! I'm so blessed to have such great spiritually full friends that we are able to worship God together. You can't get much closer than that!

Then it was the time in the evening that each person sits down in a chair individually and everyone else stands around them and lays hands on them and prays outloud for them. When I sat down for my turn they asked what prayer requests I have. I asked for them to pray for me as it's been very hard for me lately with the upcoming old due date approaching and also for our decision regarding Boston's schooling next year (whether we should send him back to Oakland or homeschool.) First our teacher prayed for me and it was just the most awesome thing ever! I wish I could remember all that she said. But just know that God knew exactly what I needed to hear and he said it through her (and then Tiffanie and Karen that prayed for me next.) A funny thing she said while praying was "Lord give Cricket peace in their decision to homeschool next year." I thought, "we haven't made that decision yet." Then I thought, "I wonder if that was God talking to me?" Later Tiffanie said to me, "I think Dawn made the decision for you tonight!" Dawn also prayed for the boys, for their salvation and for their future wives. Oh what a blessing that was!!! Tiffanie also did an awesome job of praying over me regarding our lost baby and asked for peace for me and for me to fill God's arms wrapped around me. Karen asked for Him to heal my pain. I so wish I could remember all that they said, but I do know that they for sure interceded for me and God spoke to me that night. I've had peace and felt comfort and closure in all aspects of my life. What a blessing it was that I can hardly even explain.

Boston just walked in and was singing this song (which I don't think I've ever heard before-they must have sung it this morning and he has it totally memorized.) What a blessing when God speaks love and comfort to you through your own children. What an awesome God he is.

Here's what he was singing:"You are my best friend that I can ever known. When you died for me. Up on that cross you took away my sins and shame. I'm going to clap my hands to show I love you. Gonna shout out loud gonna sing your praise. You are everything to me. Jesus I love your name."

I only wish everyone I knew could know God's love like I feel I do. Doesn't mean times won't get hard or that I won't feel pain or suffering but I can look to Him and give thanks in all circumstances because I know His love for me is more than I will ever know!

Asher's new ride

Since Sean is out of town and Lina's husband is out of town she asked us if we wanted to come over and hang out. Of course the kids were thrilled! So we headed over their after nap time and played in their front yard for a while. They were looking to get rid of this Harley Davidson riding bike and asked us if we wanted it. My boys were beside themself and I think could hardly believe it.

Then the kids swam in the pool for a few hours, we had dinner and the kids watched a movie while we got to chat some more. What a great Saturday, especially since Sean is out of town. Sure did break up the day. What a blessing to get to spend time with a good girlfriend while all your kids play.

Family Movie Night: Star Wars IV

Boston got Star Wars IV, the original first one. It's been many years since saw it and I was telling the boys it came out the year I was born, that's how old this movie is. They have been looking forward to watching it all week long. It was so funny to watch it through their eyes. Sean is out of town and we sure do miss him. I was hoping to save the movie until he got home but their was no convincing the boys of this since they have been counting down the days until Friday movie day!(Picture of Asher and Dillard snuggling right before the movie and popcorn)