Two Cuties

Here are a few pics that Josh captured of the boys a few months back! I am not savvy enough to know how to add these the correct way, so I apologize if they're not centered, or if they are too big for the site. To view all of the photos, check out www.perfectlypictured.com/cornfields.

"PUSH"

I hadn't heard the term "PUSH" up until a week ago. The novel I was reading taught me what it meant and then, randomly (or not-so-randomly), the next day...I received an email from a friend and the email was about "PUSH"ing.

P= Pray

U= Until

S= Something

H= Happens

In the book I was reading, a family needed a miracle (in regards to finances) and they prayed...nonstop....'round the clock....until something happened. They told friends and family of their need and asked them to join in prayer. I was so inspired by reading about this type of prayer. I would hope that if I had an immediate prayer request, I could call upon my dear family and friends to pray....until something happened! I am 'over blessed' (as my pastor would say) to have lots of people that I can call upon in times of need. Now...this type of prayer is meant to be nonstop. In the book, many people gathered in an old theater and prayed for nearly 24 hours straight. Some people stayed the whole time, while others came and went as they needed to. I know there is tremendous power in prayer. I have witnessed miracles and heard of hundreds of others. I know that we can't always PUSH. But...are you hoping for a miracle? Are you waiting for test results? Are you needing a clear and direct answer from the Lord? If so, maybe you should pray...until something happens!

..."The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

-James 5:16

"...Pray without ceasing..."

-1 Tim. 5:17

**Have you ever PUSHed before?? If so, please increase my faith by telling me about it!**

Will Work For Coffee

If you know me, you know that I love makeup. I mean....love it!

I love to try new colors, apply it, and play around! Over the years, I have contemplated going to school to "learn" the art of applying makeup. I have always thought it would be fun to work at the counter(s), too. Several (brave) friends have let me experiment on them! A few months back, I got to "work on" my friend, Theresa. She was attending a Murder Mystery dinner, and needed to look like a rich woman....so we really had some fun with her lashes and lips! This past weekend, my friend (Jacky) was a bridesmaid in her good friend's wedding...and so she came over "bright and early" for some primping. I got to do her hair and makeup, and she brought me Starbucks! Can't ask for better payment than that....

Jacky...all "done up!"

Look at those lashes! They are 100% REAL!

"Ms. Jessica Rochester" (a.k.a. Theresa) had some false lashes and bright red lips!

Call me crazy, but I think Theresa can pull this look off!

Pretty....pretty....!!

**I am a big fan of neutral lips and smoky eyes! So....both lovely ladies got the smoky eyes and I love how Jacky's neutral lips looked! Theresa needed the bright red lips to pull off her character....but a light lip on her would have looked great, too!**

A Lost "Art"

I have a Borders Rewards card/account and I receive coupons nearly every week! If you don't already have one, I highly recommend you sign up for one! It's FREE and easy (as opposed to Barnes & Noble... They charge to be a part of their "club!") Anyhow, I love going to "the bookstore!" It doesn't really matter which one! I love them all! I lugged my children to Borders last week...and I searched high and low for the perfect book on grammar, punctuation, and writing. I do believe(and I apologize for offending anyone) that correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation are a thing of the past! (It is mye deezire, that mye:; blogg have no errorz on! it. I trye reely hard, to make sure? i chek bak ovur mye" posts...surching for typoes.) Okay- back to the point. What was it again? Oh...yeah....I perused (fancy word, huh?) at least six books, one of which I remember having back in college! Oh, how I wish I could find it (in the 'black abyss' that is my garage)!! Some of the books I looked through were as much as $57.95, and the one pictured(which is the one I wound up with) was a mere $7.95. Lucky for me....I had my 40% off coupon....and my grand total was (drumroll, please) $5.19. This book is concise (another fancy word) and packed full of helpful writing information. The back of the book even contains a list of "1001 Frequently Misspelled Words!" I plan to use this book, to help in my blogging. Now- don't go correcting me yet! I haven't had a chance to actually read the book!

Time and Touch

I received this email today, from one of my most favorite women on the planet!!

Thank you, Darlene, for the reminder to take time for my kids...and to "train them up in the way they should go!"

October 20, 2009

Take It Easy
by Charles R. Swindoll

Proverbs 22:6

Maybe it's because I just had another birthday. Maybe it's because I'm a granddad several times over. Or maybe it's because of a struggling young seminarian I met recently who wishes he had been higher on his parents' priority list than, say, fifth or sixth. He was hurried and ignored through childhood, then tolerated and misunderstood through adolescence, and finally expected to "be a man" without having been taught how.

My words are dedicated to all of you who have the opportunity to make an investment in a growing child so that he or she might someday be whole and healthy, secure and mature. Granted, yours is a tough job. Relentless and thankless . . . at least for now. But nobody is better qualified to shape the thinking, to answer the questions, to assist during the struggles, to calm the fears, to administer the discipline, to know the innermost heart, or to love and affirm the life of your offspring than you.

When it comes to "training up the child in the way he should go," you've got the inside lane, Mom and Dad. So---take it easy! Remember (as Anne Ortlund puts it) "children are wet cement." They take the shape of your mold. They're learning even when you don't think they're watching. And those little guys and gals are plenty smart. They hear tone as well as terms. They read looks as well as books. They figure out motives, even those you think you can hide. They are not fooled, not in the long haul.

The two most important tools of parenting are time and touch. Believe me, both are essential. If you and I hope to release from our nest fairly capable and relatively stable people who can soar and make it on their own, we'll need to pay the price of saying no to many of our own wants and needs in order to interact with our young . . . and we'll have to keep breaking down the distance that only naturally forms as our little people grow up.

Time and touch. Listen to your boys and girls, look them in the eye, put your arms around them, hug them close, tell them how valuable they are. Don't hold back. Take the time to do it. Reach. Touch.

When you are tempted to get involved in some energy-draining, time-consuming opportunity that will only increase the distance between you and yours, ask yourself hard questions like, "Could my time be better spent at home?" and "Won't there be similar opportunities in the years to come?" Then turn your attention to your boy or girl. Hold nothing back as you renew acquaintances.

Take it easy!

The two most important tools of parenting are time and touch.

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

Our San Diego Stay

Josh and I got to take a weekend trip to San Diego this past weekend. My parents stayed at our house with the boys, while Josh and I celebrated our 11th anniversary! The weekend was amazing...We had perfect weather (for most of the weekend), ate yummy food (and lots of it), walked along the boardwalk, shopped in Seaport Village, visited the USS Midway, slept in, worked out in the hotel gym, spent lots of time in the jacuzzi, played games by the pool, stopped for ice cream (several times), took a short trip to Coronado, walked around the Gaslamp District, and best of all- we enjoyed each other's company.

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Manchester!

Our room was very nice!!

(We used Priceline, and did the "Name Your Own Price"....We got a great deal!)

Our view....so beautiful!

....another shot of the hotel!

My goofy hubby, at Seaport Village....

Yes, I am a Bath Junkie!

The impressive USS Midway....

We went on a self-guided tour of the aircraft carrier....

The bunks! Can you imagine 3, 500 men on this carrier, with such tiny quarters?

Controls for something....not sure what, though!

One of the Navy helicopters....

An amazing view from the "island" on the USS Midway....

We had to stop for a pic!

The Kissing Couple....

At The Fish Market for lunch....

...our beautiful view at lunch!

A (gorgeous) historic home on Coronado!

It was so foggy on the Coronado bridge!

October 17, 2009...Our 11th anniversary....at Ruth's Chris!

The ever-so-delicious Creme Brulee!

We were bein' goofy in the elevator and tried to take lots of pics together!

Quote from Josh: "Two days, two people....six bags!"

Why I Love My Man....

Tomorrow, Josh and I will celebrate 11 years of wedded bliss!

Here are 11 reasons why I love YOU, "my main squeeze"......

1. You take your role of provider seriously. You always have.

2. You are sensitive and caring.

3. You are quick, witty, and funny.

4. You rub my feet...pretty much every night.

5. You ALWAYS put me (and the boys) first. You are very selfless.

6. You take out the trash, scoop the poop, and clean out the fish bowls.....You do all of those "yucky" jobs without complaining.

7. You let me pick the restaurants and the movies.

8. You love me, despite my MANY flaws.

9. You always make me feel like a queen, and you tell me that you think I am beautiful.

10. You are very talented, and you are never prideful.

11. You are a man of integrity.

**Okay...so I could come up with a million more reasons why I love you. I can't imagine 'doing life' without you. You are the most amazing husband and father. I am convinced that I am the most blessed woman in the world. I am SO thankful that the Lord ordained our marriage and is in the center of it. I remember that Eph. 4:9-12 was read at our wedding and it holds true for us today. I love you, Josh. I always will. You have my heart forever.

XOXOXOXO

Free Stuff!!

Thank you to Marissa, for passing along the good news!!

Who doesn't love free stuff?!

Enjoy....and happy sipping!!

Our Pumpkin Flavor is Back!

Enjoy a complimentary Pumpkin Ice Blended Drink or

Latte at your local The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf!!

When: Friday, October 16th, 4-7pm

Where: Participating The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations

*Offer only valid at participating The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

store locations in CA, AZ, TX, excludes all Ralphs

locations. Valid only on October 16, 2009, from 4-7pm.

Offer applies to 12oz. Pumpkin Ice Blended drink or latte only.

No substitutes. Limit one free drink per customer.

Psalm 100

Bryson is learning Psalm 100 at school, and it is such a wonderful psalm to commit to memory....The Bible tells us to "hide God's Word in our hearts!!"

PSALM 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is He who made us, and we are

His;

We are His people, the sheep of His

pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and

His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His

name.

For the Lord is good and His love

endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all

generations.

Are You....

....ready to be really impressed???

I mean....this is really impressive!

Super-duper impressive!

Last night, I built my first Lego "creation."

I actually followed every step in the book, and completed it (on my own).

Oh, sure...Bryson sat there and found the pieces for me...and he got upset when I commented on the fact that I was doing it alone. He even had the audacity to remark that by my saying I was doing it alone....I made it sound as if "I was better than anyone else!" (That kid. He kills me.) Anyhow, this Lego set is geared toward kids aged 7-12....so I am a little behind....but that's okay. I felt a huge sense of accomplishment, which is actually pretty pathetic...I know! But, just give me this moment, would you?? I am not proud in the "haughty" sense, but proud to have finished a little project. So, please don't misunderstand this post and think me arrogant. Just think of me as one who delights in "simple pleasures!"

(You likey my jet???)

"The Lord detests the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished."

-Proverbs 16:5-

"Hot Dog Fingers"

Hudson puked this morning and I threw him in the tub, to get the stink off! I let him stay in for quite some time. After I pulled him out, I realized that he had wrinkly fingers. I told him so...and he said, "No they're not! They're hot dog fingers!" He didn't mind "posing" for me...to show me his "hot dog fingers!"

Integrity and Sass

Bryson is constantly saying things that we want to write down and keep forever. Sometimes, he uses big/fancy words, other times he asks something inquisitive, and more often than not....he comes up with something funny and/or cute. Last week, we were on our way home from school and I was asking Bryson about his day....

Bryson: I shared my brown crayon with 'So and So'....because he lost his....

Me: Oh, Bryson.....that was very nice of you! Did Mrs. Irwin see you sharing?

Bryson: No, nobody saw me. But, mom...that's okay that nobody saw me. I want to have integrity and integrity means 'doing the right thing, even when nobody's looking!'

*That boy melts my heart.*

Yesterday, however.....

Me: Bryson, can you please carry this into the house?

Bryson: Mom, would it be sassy if I said....'Do I look like I have any free hands to carry that?'

*'Nuf said!*

I Need Your Help!

OR ??

Our 11th anniversary is quickly approaching and Josh and I don't know what to do. We get to go away next weekend (sans kids) and Josh says he'd like to do "something different." I can't seem to come up with any "different" ideas. Can you?? Here's the thing....we can't go wine tasting, since Josh is allergic (and I don't care for wine). We can't really afford to fly somewhere, and we don't want to spend half of our time in the car! See?? It's kind of hard, isn't it? My question for you is....should we go to the beach or the mountains, or somewhere in between?! The only different idea I had was to go sky-diving. The thing is....if we didn't die doing it, my mother would kill us! So....if you have any good ideas for us, they would be greatly appreciated!

"Fall" ing For a Yummy Treat!

My aunt (Gerene) and my mom always have this "Fall" treat in their homes!

Watch out....it's highly addictive!

You will need one bag of candy corn and a jar of dry roasted peanuts!

Mix them together for the perfect blend of salty+sweet!

You can thank me later.....

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow....

A while back, I did a post on my love of Fiber One bars. My love has now expanded to more than just their bars. I love Fiber One pancakes, Fiber One yogurt, Fiber One toaster pastries, and Fiber One muffin mixes. I have been making their muffins a lot lately! My whole family loves them and gobbles them up, and within a day....12 muffins will disappear before my very eyes!

**NOTE: I still tend to mentally count Weight Watchers POINTS, and Fiber One muffins are 3 POINTS each. However, you can supplement the oil and eggs with applesauce and egg whites, which will reduce each muffin to 2 POINTS. The muffins are moist (I hate that word, but they are!) and yummy!! Put a tad o' butter on them and eat them fresh out of the oven for a yummy breakfast or snack! Fiber One muffins come in Banana Nut, Apple Cinnamon, and Blueberry. My favorites are the Banana Nut and Blueberry!**

Beware....their products are SO delicious that though they are "here today," they will be "gone tomorrow!"

Crazy Love

Okay, so I love to read. I mean....LOVE to read. I have always enjoyed reading (it's my #1 hobby), and I can't stand being without a book. Well....here is one that is life changing! It's a "must read," if you will! My friend, Leah, introduced me to Francis Chan. Francis is the author of Crazy Love, and he is also the pastor of Cornerstone Church, in Simi Valley. He also has a new book called Forgotten God. I just started that one yesterday! Anyhow...back to Crazy Love. Don't you just love to say the title out loud? Try it! It's just a fun title, and it's an excellent and challenging read. It's convicting and cuts straight to the heart. But, in the times we are living in...times where many so-called Christians look NO different than the rest of the world....that is what we need....a "word" that cuts straight to our hearts and challenges us to get up off that couch and get out into the world. I am including some quotes from the book, so that you will know what to expect. Caution: You cannot read this book without being tremendously challenged!

From the back cover:

Have you ever wondered if we're missing it?

It's crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe- the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor-- loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.

Whether you've verbalized it yet or not...we all know something's wrong.

Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts-- it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same.

Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.

From inside:

The core problem isn't the fact that we're lukewarm, halfhearted, or stagnant Christians. The crux of it all is why we are this way, and it is because we have an inaccurate view of God. We see Him as a benevolent Being who is satisfied when people manage to fit Him into their lives in some small way. We forget that God never had an identity crisis. He knows He's great and deserves to be the center of our lives. Jesus came humbly as a servant, but He never begs us to give Him some small part of ourselves. He commands everything from His followers.

(page 22)

The greater good on this earth is God. Period. God's one goal for us is Himself.

(page 62)

Are we in love with God or just His stuff?

(page 62)

But when the seed is sown in good soil, it grows, takes root, and produces fruit. My caution to you is this: Do not assume you are good soil.

(page 67)

Has your relationship with God actually changed the way you live? Do you see evidence of God's kingdom in your life? Or are you choking it out slowly by spending too much time, energy, money, and thought on the things of this world?

(page 67)

Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe "good Christians" do, so they go.

(page 68)

Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives.

(page 69)

Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you that they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn't really possible for the average person; it's only for pastors and missionaries and radicals.

(page 73)

**Okay....I will stop there for now! I could go on and on...all day long. Francis was definitely gifted by our Lord and Maker. There were many times I had to stop and really ponder the questions asked in this book. It's thought provoking and it's a book that I could read again and again...and gain new insight each time. I am praying that the truths that "hit" me will stick with me, and that I will never be the same. My God is crazy about me and daily I am growing crazier about Him!